Buenos Aires & the Best of Argentina Alive! (Hunter Travel Guides)

537 Pages·1999·4.84 MB·English

by  Arnold Greenberg

BUENOS AIRES
& THE BEST OF
ARGENTINA
E
V
I
L
A
Arnold Greenberg
Harriet Greenberg, Editor
HUNTER
HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC.
130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ 08818
732-225-1900; 800-255-0343; Fax [phone]
[email protected]
The Boundary, Wheatley Road, Garsington
Oxford, OX44 9EJ England
01865-361122; Fax [phone]
ISBN 1-55650-881-6
© 2000 Alive Travel Books, Ltd.
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybe
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmit-
ted in any form, or by any means, electronic,
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without the written permission of the publisher.
This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all
such activities contain elements of risk, the pub-
lisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies
disclaim any responsibility for any injury, harm, or
illnessthatmayoccurtoanyonethrough,orbyuseof,
theinformationinthisbook.Everyeffortwasmadeto
insure the accuracy of information in this book, but
the publisher and author do not assume, and hereby
disclaim, any liability for any loss or damage caused
by errors, omissions, misleading information or
potential travel problems caused by this guide, even
if such errors or omissions are the result of negli-
gence, accident or any other cause.
Maps by Kim André © 2000 Hunter Publishing, Inc.
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Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the relevant copyright,
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Acknowledgments
W
ith special thanks to Susan Brushaber for all her
valuable assistance in this revision.
About the Alive Guides
R
eliable, detailed and personally researched by
knowledgeable authors, the Alive series was
founded by Harriet and Arnold Greenberg.
Arnoldhasco-authoredSouthAmericaon$40ADay,as
well as Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao Alive.
Harriet has co-authored the Virgin Islands Alive and
St. Martin & St. Barts Alive and is currently research-
ing Puerto Rico Alive, to be published next year.
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Contents
Introduction 1
Getting to Argentina 3
By Air 3
Overland 5
Health & Safety Tips 7
Entry Requirements 9
Climate 9
Measurements 10
Packing For Your Trip 11
Money Matters 11
The Telephone System 14
Language 15
A Capsule History 16
The Population 31
The Culture 33
Religion 44
Dining 44
Buenos Aires 49
Upon Arrival 51
Getting Around Buenos Aires 53
A Note On Safety 56
Orientation 59
Best Places to Stay in Buenos Aires 69
Deluxe Hotels 70
Expensive Hotels 79
Moderate Hotels 83
Inexpensive Hotels 86
Best Places to Eat in Buenos Aires 89
Confiterías & Sidewalk Cafés 91
Hotel Dining 93
Dining in Puerto Madero 94
Dining in Recoleta 101
(cid:1)
vi Contents
The Design Center/Plaza Del Pilar 106
Downtown Dining 109
Barrio Norte “Sud” 117
The Carritos of Costanera Norte 123
Dining in San Telmo 125
Dining in La Boca 129
Dining in the Suburbs 129
Buenos Aires Dawn to Dusk 131
Citywide Pleasures 132
Exploring Downtown 133
Exploring Puerto Madero 145
Exploring Barrio Norte 148
Exploring Buenos Aires’ Southern Quarter 160
San Telmo 161
La Boca 175
Palermo 185
The Parks of Buenos Aires 189
Flea Markets 190
Book Fairs 191
Spectator Sports 191
Participant Sports 194
Two Special Attractions Outside the City 196
Buenos Aires Museums 199
Art Galleries 208
Buenos Aires After Dark 211
Entertainment Information 212
Theaters & Concert Halls 212
The Cinema 215
Tango 215
Pubs & Cafés with Live Music 220
Discos 223
A Gay Club 227
The Cantinas of La Boca 228
The Carritos of Costanera Norte 229
For Quieter Types . . . 230
Cabarets 231
(cid:1)
Contents vii
For Men Only 231
Shop Till You Drop in Buenos Aires 233
Best Shopping Areas 234
Shopping Centers 235
Once 238
Hotel Shopping Arcades 239
Shopping Tips 239
Best Buys 241
Leathers 241
Leather Shoes & Boots 243
Fur Salons 244
Jewelry 245
Knitwear & Sheepskin 248
Antiques (Antiguedades) & Silver 249
Handicrafts - Regional Gift Shops 251
Argentine Fashions for Women 253
Equestrian Shops 253
Bookstores (Librerías) 254
Antiquarian Bookshops 256
Bonbons 257
Coffee 258
Wines & Liquors 258
Cigars 259
Music 259
Buenos Aires A-Z 261
Around Argentina 265
Travel Within Argentina 267
Bariloche 269
Getting There 270
Climate 271
Arrival 271
Orientation 271
Best Places to Stay in Bariloche 274
Best Places to Eat 282
Dawn to Dusk 289
(cid:1)
viii Contents
Sightseeing 294
Crossing to Chile 295
Winter in Bariloche 295
Local Tour Operators 296
Bariloche After Dark 297
Shop Till You Drop 298
Bariloche A-Z 301
Córdoba 305
History 305
Geography/Topography 308
Climate 309
Getting There 310
Arrival 311
Orientation 311
Best Places to Stay in Córdoba 314
Best Places to Eat 322
Dawn To Dusk 331
Córdoba After Dark 356
Discos 357
Bars & Pubs 358
Discos in Carlos Paz 359
A Casino 359
Shop Till You Drop 360
Córdoba A-Z 361
Mendoza 365
History 366
Geography/Topography 371
Climate 373
Getting There 373
Arrival 374
Orientation 374
Best Places to Stay in Mendoza 375
Best Places to Eat 379
Dawn to Dusk 384
Mendoza After Dark 405
Gambling 406
(cid:1)
Contents ix
Pubs 406
Discos in Chacras de Coria 407
Shop Till You Drop 407
Mendoza A-Z 411
Iguazú Falls 415
Getting There 417
Best Places to Stay at Iguaçú Falls 418
Best Places to Eat 422
Getting to the Falls 423
Dawn to Dusk 424
Itaipú 425
Iguazú After Dark 427
Shop Till You Drop 427
Iguazú A-Z 428
Mar Del Plata 429
History 431
Climate 433
Getting There 433
Arrival 434
Orientation 434
Best Places to Stay in Mar del Plata 435
Best Places to Eat 441
Confiterias 446
Dawn to Dusk 447
Mar del Plata After Dark 462
A Few of the Better Theaters 463
Gambling 463
Pubs & Discos 464
Shop Till You Drop 465
Mar Del Plata A-Z 466
Ushuaia/Tierra Del Fuego 469
Some Background 470
History 471
Getting There 474
Orientation 476
Climate 478