Comments on: Fitting into Buenos Aires society, one cafe con leche at a time

By: Archana

Archana — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:44:04 +0000

Thanks for your input! I’m definitely glad to hear from someone born and raised in Buenos Aires. I’m sure we didn’t get the full scope of life there since it was a mere 7 weeks and we were in Palermo, which I do acknowledge on a couple points, but I tried to comment on what I saw. We also had Argentine friends who’d fill in some blanks for us. My boyfriend got very into the mate culture, so we got a taste of that so to speak. But everyone we met at the cafes (outside Palermo as well) were coffee-drinking locals. And I love dogs! I was just commenting about what’s left behind. I’m from New York City, so I’m used to it, but it seemed like I was walking carefully more then usual. As far as the service charge, I simply thought it was strange that a local waiter would explain it to me as “paying for the bread basket and music.” With the refrigeration, we saw that at Disco, very much a big supermarket. And compared to other Spanish-speaking countries we’ve visited (like other parts of S. America, Spain, Mexico, Panama), the Spanish in BsAs was incredibly fast for us. It’s not a sentiment I alone share, so I think it’s a fair observation as an outsider looking in. Americans say the same thing about Scottish or Irish dalects. It doesn’t make it bad or a lesser accent in any way; it’s just the way it’s perceived by someone not born there.

All that said, I’m really glad you chimed in. It’s nice to hear from someone whose spent many years there. But I think there’s always room for a tourist’s take on things.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:29:14 +0000

I encountered this blog and felt I could contribute by saying your image and comments on Buenos Aires are way biased by the fact you lived in a “foreigners bubble borough “.
90 % of us work 10 hours a day, rush from work to our homes at 6 p.m with no time to have these “meriendas ” ( coffee with croissants ) . Even if we did have time, only bars in rather posh areas serve it with the items you mention.
Dogs stuff ir real, they are everywhere in the city.I own a beautiful minimaltese.
No idea why you find service charge in restaurants irritating, you pay more as mandatory tip to waiters in USA. And there is a difference you may have not noticed ,waiters here are low-class workers, no university student would wait tables in Argentina.
When we have time for teatime, we don´t drink lattes , we have mate.
Refrigeration policies are sometimes lax in small markets (mostly owned by Chinese immigrants ) , not in supermarkets.
Our way of speaking Spanish is not nuts. Every country in Latin America, and Spain, has many ways of speaking it. In any case our way does not differ from Madrid or Mexico as much as English from low classes in Australia ( I kaim to die -I came today ) v. upper classes in New York, or a Welsh or Irish ( me mite is in the poob -my mate is in the pub ) v. a guy from Texas.
All in all, I volunteer to give you all the cultural info on Buenos Aires you want. I was born and raised here.

By: fareesa

fareesa — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 06:07:39 +0000

Arch.. you + BA + food all seem amazing. I keep trying to imagine you and eaman walking around and sitting at these cafes! Your happiness gives you a glow

By: Mina

Mina — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:53:40 +0000

Salaam Eaman and Archana joon looks like you two are having good time I like your apartment, looks nice and colorfull and I like what you guys are eating looks yam,yam enjoy nooshejon. love you guys missed you.

By: Shy

Shy — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:24:27 +0000

Whoops I meant BA is my type of city

By: Shy

Shy — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:23:56 +0000

OMG everytime I read your posts, my next search is for tickets. Argentina looks like my type of city! AND I LOVE that you’re wearing the necklace .

By: Cat

Cat — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:41:16 +0000

Looks amazing- love the updates! I can totally picture you two strolling the streets and taking in all the sights. I want to come visit ASAP!

By: Tanner

Tanner — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:47:33 +0000

DYING to eat those SNACKS. And no ATMs? WTF?? Also, I can’t with unrefrigerated eggs and milk. Just, like, no. LOVE the updates, Archie and Eamon! Keep ‘em coming!