Crime and Personal Safety
Argentina is one of the continent's safest countries in which to travel and, as long as you take a few basic precautions, you are unlikely to encounter any problems during your stay. Indeed, you'll find many of the more rural parts of the country pretty much risk-free: people leave doors unlocked, windows open, and bikes unchained. More care should be taken in large cities and some of the border towns, particularly the northern ones, where poverty and easily available arms and drugs make opportunistic crime a more common occurrence. Some potential pitfalls are outlined here, not to induce paranoia, but on the principle that to be forewarned is to be forearmed. By Argentine standards, Buenos Aires is currently suffering something of a crime wave, and incidents of violence and armed robbery (some by corrupt police officers out of uniform) are definitely on the increase. Portenos speak of these matters with mounting anxiety, and the De la Rua administration has vowed to make tackling crime and corruption a priority. It's sometimes difficult to know how much anxiety is due to a real increase in crime and how much to middle-class paranoia, but, in general, serious crime tends to affect locals more than tourists. Nevertheless, you should not take unofficial taxis from the airport and you're advised to be wary when taking a taxi from areas where serious money circulates (the new casino for example). Though Buenos Aires doesn't really have any "no go" areas, avoid walking around the quieter neighbourhoods after dark. Taking some basic precautions will vastly reduce both the risk of you losing anything or of you getting into any situation you'd prefer not to be in. First, only carry what you need for that day, and conceal valuable items such as cameras and jewellery. Secondly, always try to look like you know what you're doing or where you're going, even if you don't: muggers and con-artists tend to pick on the less confident-looking tourists. Thirdly, if you're not sure about the wisdom of walking somewhere, play it safe and take a cab. Fourthly, always keep your bag secure - across your shoulders, rather than over just one - to cut out the chance of someone distracting you on one side whilst their accomplice snatches the bag from the other. Take especial care in markets and crowded places such as busy subway stations and bus terminals (particularly Retiro in the capital). Finally, beware of pickpockets operating on crowded urban buses and on Buenos Aires' underground. And in the rare event of being held up at gunpoint, don't play the hero. Locals warn that this is especially the case if your mugger is a kid, since they know that, as minors, they can't be jailed even if they shoot someone. Theft from hotels is rare but, as anywhere else in the world, do not leave valuables lying round the room. Some hostels have lockers (it's worth having a padlock of your own), but in any case, reports of theft from these places are rare. Compared with other Latin American countries, you are extremely unlikely to have things stolen on buses , but it makes sense to take your day pack with you when you disembark for meal stops, and, particularly at night, to keep your bag by your feet rather than on the overhead rack. Few of the more elaborate Latin American scams are practised here, but a weary one that still gets practised from time to time in places such as Buenos Aires is having mustard, ketchup, ice cream, mayonnaise or some similar substance "spilt" over you (often in the most unlikely of situations). Some "helpful" person (or persons) then offers to help clean it off, extracting your wallet or watch as payment. If this happens to you, push them off, get away from them fast and make as much noise as possible, shouting "thief!" (" ladron !"), "police!" (" policia !") or for help (" Socorro !"). Note, too, that, though the police are entitled to check your documents, they have no right to inspect your money or travellers' cheques: anyone who does is a con-artist, and you should ask for their identification or offer to be taken to the police station ( gendarmeria ). If you ever do get "arrested", never get into a vehicle other than an official police car. Note that drugs are frowned upon in general. There is far more stigma here than in most European countries, for example, and Argentine society at large draws very little in the way of a line between "acceptable" soft drugs and "unacceptable" hard drugs. Drug use, particularly of marijuana and cocaine, is increasing amongst the younger generation, but you're very much advised to steer clear of buying or partaking yourself - the penalties are stiff if you get caught. Women travellers are unlikely to experience any particular problems in Argentina: though you will receive plenty of male attention, it's very rarely threatening and far less likely to be backed up by the kind of aggressive drunkenness encountered in many European countries. A pervasive national custom is the piropo , a flattering comment made in the street, traditionally made by a man to a woman and often little more than a sharp intake of breath or a muttered exclamation, though sometimes far more elaborate and - occasionally - crude. Many, if not most, Argentinian women profess to enjoy receiving piropos and few find them offensive, but if they do irritate you, the best thing to do is simply ignore them. It's always advisable to take photocopies of all important documents (passport with entrance stamp and entry card, airline tickets, insurance policy certificate and telephone numbers) in case of theft of the original: keep one with you, separate from the documents themselves, and leave another copy at home. And if you are unlucky enough to be the victim of a robbery ( asalto ) or lose anything of value, you will need to make a report at the nearest police station for insurance purposes. This is usually a time-consuming but fairly straightforward process. Check that the report includes a comprehensive account of everything lost and its value, and that the police add the date and an official stamp ( sello ). These reports do not cost anything.
your food is yummyisabella says "i think yalls food is super dooper yummy keep up the good work
" whatsamanth says "nothing. you can survive on your own. dont go there its a horrible place." what you needkatie says "bring lots of food and water. try to bring non perishable food. and bring warm and cold clothes. you will need it." Buenos Aires City of DesignBob Frassinetti says "In August 2005 Buenos Aires was appointed City of Design by the UNESCO. This is recognition the city of “good airs” shares with other top notch design areas of the world such as Berlin, Montreal.
This appointment evidences recognition towards what Buenos Aires is doing in this particular area, and it cannot be understood if not put in perspective to the recent boom that took place in this area recently. BA features a constant flow of movement in terms of design, from mind-blowing creations to average regular, items the broadness of the design movement in the Argentine capital provides a wide rainbow of options featuring something for every taste.
Buenos Aires has been among the firsts of the American Continent to take upon the challenge of design together with Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Mendoza in Argentina –as well-. The turning point in contemporary design in South America can be dated at the end of the 1950s and all throughout the 60s. The decade of 1960 was a strong decade for innovation, creation and design in the deepest sense of the words. The Arts in general had a strong input back then, and design was not an exception, from aesthetics to usefulness, Argentina has been taking upon the challenge of designing new and innovative objects ever since. After a couple of decades of ups and downs, ins and outs, always in tune with the general panorama of what was going on in our country, today, Buenos Aires is breeding and furthering some interesting aesthetic and conceptual approaches to objects.
In terms of industrial design today in Argentina, there are at several different disciplines working in an avant-garde creations and innovating in theory and practice in this sense. The range goes from industrial products to vehicles, furniture and lighting, making of Buenos Aires a design spot pretty much hyper-comprehensive in terms of design for the visitors.
An interesting insight on design in Buenos Aires is provided by worldly known Argentine architect and designer Ricardo Blanco in his book entitled Crónicas del diseño industrial en la Argentina – Chronicles of the Industrial Design in Argentina-, where he reconstructs the path of evolution thru means of a particular historical perspective and journey. Not aiming to cover the entire historical process, but more in the sense of providing an organized insight into the world of useful aesthetics, Blanco attest to evidence the intention and cultural bases of the Argentine design path.
Thru means of the current literature and the ever growing production of industrial design objects Buenos Aires takes upon new airs of discovery, as it mutates from the traditional city of beef and tango to a much more interesting and amusing spot of arts, design and aesthetics… And all in all, in the meantime we explore the new inputs of design we can always stop to enjoy the delightful Argentine cuisine and culture, but now in a broader and richer way.
Bob Frassinetti, Buenos Aires, Argentina" GanjaFaith says "look for ganja at all times"
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