1. It's a coastal city, yet with no access to the shoreline due to heavy industry. This is why it is not more of an international tourist destination, IMO.
2. The guidebooks were right, Argentines love steak, pizza, red wine, beer and ice cream. Hard to find and order a vegetable or salad here. Average body type therefore, very Americano.
3. The architecture is stunning, but the sidewalks, streets and public parks are all a little shabby by our standards. They need some Chicago-style "Streets and Sans" and "Parks and Rec" patronage jobs down here.
4. The interior walls are all hard plaster or marble with no drywall to be found.
5. The sidewalks are all tiled (and cracked) with very little poured cement.
6. Red wine is so very plentiful and cheap here - by more than half in the stores (our $12 bottle is $5 here) and by two-thirds in the restaurants (our $36 bottle is $12 here, even in the actual restaurants).
7. The traffic is crazy, but nothing like what I am expecting in India
8. Their super-wide Avenues (up to 16 lanes wide) are just amazing to see in person
9. Like many European cities, it runs on a very late clock (which suites the Wychocki family perfectly). Restaurant kitchens open at 8 PM and people are still eating pizza in the sidewalks cafes well past 1 AM (even on work nights).
10. The French auto industry owns this town with the majority of cars being Peuguots and Renaults; followed by Fiat and VW, then probably Chevy and Ford. Some Toyota. I was very surprised by this!
BONUS. 11. Like many large international cities, hordes of 125cc - 250cc motorcycles buzz around the cars likes flies. A friend-of-a-friend we met here promised that her brother, who has two extra motorcycles, would take me out with him to try my motorcycle skills in this traffic before we left. I hope that happens!
2. The guidebooks were right, Argentines love steak, pizza, red wine, beer and ice cream. Hard to find and order a vegetable or salad here. Average body type therefore, very Americano.
3. The architecture is stunning, but the sidewalks, streets and public parks are all a little shabby by our standards. They need some Chicago-style "Streets and Sans" and "Parks and Rec" patronage jobs down here.
4. The interior walls are all hard plaster or marble with no drywall to be found.
5. The sidewalks are all tiled (and cracked) with very little poured cement.
6. Red wine is so very plentiful and cheap here - by more than half in the stores (our $12 bottle is $5 here) and by two-thirds in the restaurants (our $36 bottle is $12 here, even in the actual restaurants).
7. The traffic is crazy, but nothing like what I am expecting in India
8. Their super-wide Avenues (up to 16 lanes wide) are just amazing to see in person
9. Like many European cities, it runs on a very late clock (which suites the Wychocki family perfectly). Restaurant kitchens open at 8 PM and people are still eating pizza in the sidewalks cafes well past 1 AM (even on work nights).
10. The French auto industry owns this town with the majority of cars being Peuguots and Renaults; followed by Fiat and VW, then probably Chevy and Ford. Some Toyota. I was very surprised by this!
BONUS. 11. Like many large international cities, hordes of 125cc - 250cc motorcycles buzz around the cars likes flies. A friend-of-a-friend we met here promised that her brother, who has two extra motorcycles, would take me out with him to try my motorcycle skills in this traffic before we left. I hope that happens!
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