Saturday, February 26, 2011

I simply remember my favorite things...

Here are a few of my favorite things about living in Buenos Aires...

Best ice cream I have ever eaten. The helado here is so thick and creamy you could chuck some at the wall and it would stick. Dulce de leche granizado and tramontano are my favorites! (Dulce de leche is a caramel-like milk based spread-very popular in South America)
Red wine. You can buy a deliciously smooth bottle of Malbec (Argentine grape) for less than $7 (US). Don't get me wrong California has good red wine, but it wine just seems to taste better right after a bite of bife de lomo.
Weather. Summers get really hot but are not too humid and apparently in winters you can still wear sandals and dine outside.
Grid system. For someone like me who is awful with directions, I really appreciate how this city was built. The grid system makes it a lot easier to get around and the main streets are a good point of reference.
Long days. If your a Cali girl like me, there is a certain level of sun required to feel balanced. Furthermore, when the sun is out longer psychologically I don't feel as rushed to get things done (I suppose this can be a good and a bad thing).

Like with almost anything you encounter in life, when there is upside there is a downside. Living in a different country requires patience and perhaps sometimes a realization that it could just be the language barrier. My hopes are to give you some insight, instead of sounding judgmental, in telling you some things I am not so fond of living in Buenos Aires...

Uncertainty. You never know if a store might randomly be closed or if the owners decided to go on vacation.
No fresh fish. For a city that is so close to the sea you would expect at least a couple fish markets or fish restaurants. Perhaps they exist we just haven't found them but I am pretty convinced meat has taken over this city. Although they do have a thing for salmon. Go into any sushi restaurant here and you will find 30 different rolls that have creatively combined salmon and cream cheese.
No healthy/organic food. I have yet to find a health store or even a section for healthier choice. I would kill for a bag of trail mix or dried fruit from Trader Joes!  

3 comments:

  1. Saludos! After having lived here (from Los Angeles) for 8 years, I don't agree with all of your points, but the ones I do agree with are SO RIGHT!

    Please keep on posting your experiences, which are refreshing to us old-timers.

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  2. send me your address and ill send you some trail mix!!!!!!!!

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  3. Hola !
    There are 2 very good fresh fish markets in Recoleta on Rodriguez Peña ..
    There will come a day in the winter that you will wish you had a puffy coat, and boots will be all you will wear.

    YUKI .. google it and get the address, Real Sushi !! no cream cheese.

    I hope you enjoy your time here, it is a wonderful city made more wonderful by the people who live here !
    Suerte ~

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