I finally visited Buenos Aires, Argentina, the “Paris of South America,” the city I’d always dreamed of! Tango music wafted through the streets, and the buildings were so beautiful that just walking around made me happy. But! Beyond all the excitement, there were also many heart-pounding moments.
I’ll share with you, as if I were chatting with you, “How to Survive Buenos Aires,” from my own personal experience. If you’re planning a trip, keep your eyes peeled!
Do you know what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you first arrive in Buenos Aires?
“Wow, I want to take out my phone and take a picture!”
But you should never, ever use your phone on the street.
Once, I got lost and briefly opened Google Maps near the obelisk.
A friendly local man passing by approached me and, with a sly gesture, threatened me, “You’ll lose your phone if you keep doing that! Put it in your bag!”
There are a lot of “motochoros” (motorcycles) who snatch money from people as they zoom by. When navigating, always check inside cafes and stores!
And when it comes to Argentina, one thing you can’t miss is the magic of currency exchange.
While walking down Florida Street, you’ll hear “Cambio! Cambio!” everywhere.
This is the sound of private currency exchangers, and they offer “blue dollars” that are much higher than the official rate.
At first, I thought, “Isn’t this illegal? This is scary…”, but it turns out this is practically the rule here.
I brought new dollar bills with me to exchange, and when I received a wad of cash, it felt like I was in a spy movie.
When counting money, always do it in a crowded place and be alert and watch your step!
Oh, and the thing that really caught me off guard was mealtime.
I was so hungry that I went to a restaurant around 7 p.m., and the staff were just setting the table. “Excuse me, I’m here to eat…” I said, and he laughed, saying, “We don’t open until 8:30.”
These people don’t really start grilling beef (asado) until 9 or 10 p.m.
I stayed up late to get a feel for the local atmosphere, and I almost collapsed from hunger. But after a glass of wine in a bustling restaurant late at night, I realized, “This is what real travel is all about!”
Let me tell you a slightly scary story.
If someone on the street says, “Oh, there’s bird poop on your clothes,” or “There’s mustard sauce on them!” and tries to wipe it for you, just yell, “No thanks!” and run away.
That’s a common pickpocketing tactic.
They pretend to clean your bag while they steal it.
I also avoided eye contact when someone approached me, and nothing happened.
Finally, the famous La Boca district! It’s a colorful place where you’re guaranteed to get a great photo, but you really need to focus on the touristy Caminito Street.
Even one wrong block can make the atmosphere suddenly heavy.
Once the sun starts to set, it’s essential to call a taxi or Cabify to get back to a safer neighborhood.
It’s more nerve-wracking than you might think, isn’t it? But even this tension is part of Buenos Aires’ charm.
If you keep your wits about you, it’s a city more passionate and romantic than any other in the world.
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