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Bienvenidos a Buenos Aires!

After a long 11-hr flight, I arrived in Buenos Aires to find a distinct chill in the air, but wouldn't exactly call it very cold.  Since Argentina is below the equator, and parts of it actually touch Antartica, the seasons are reversed.  After sweating out ninety-degree heat in Baltimore before I left, the fifty-degree temperatures are actually rather refreshing.

My first impression of Ezezia Airport was that it was very clean, and the city itself hasn't failed to disappoint, as it is fairly clean itself.  Much cleaner than New York or Rome.  A twenty minute cabride from the airport to my hotel downtown in the Retiro neighborhood was a mere $20 for two, and the prices have only gotten cheaper. 

The first lesson I learned in Buenos Aires - eat late.  I'm not talking like 8pm or 9pm, which would be on the late side for dinner in the US.  No, not until 10:30 or 11pm do the restaurants really begin to get a steady flow of dinner customers, and you can still find people eating large meals at 1am!  As for the food - it seems that the portenos (city dwellers) of Buenos Aires consume some sort of meat, namely beef, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The free-range Argentine beef is absolutely spectacular - tender, juicy, and also incredibly cheap.  A dinner of sirloin (bife de chorizo), salad, wine, and dessert totaled the equivalent of US$18 for two!  And I'm not talking a small steak either - check out this picture!

As for beer, Quilmes, brewed in a local suburb of the same name, is the Budweiser of Argentina.  In fact, at the bar I didn't see a single beer drinker not swishing a Quilmes.  This bodes well for our position in beverage company Quinsa (LQU:NYSE), owner of the Quilmes brand. 

Buenos Aires is a city drenched in fascinating culture.  Quirky street performers and sultry tango dancers can be found on every corner.  The people are friendly, and since it is winter here there is not the influx of tourists that you would find in the warmer months.  In short, it's just as enchanting as I'd read, and then some.

Tomorrow I have arranged an exciting private tour of the Argentina stock exchange, Bolsa de Comercia.  I'm anxious to see the trading floor, and to meet with the Operating Manager of the exchange.  I'll give you a full report tomorrow evening.  Hasta Luego!

Erin

June 20, 2005 in Erin Beale | Permalink