kywood1955

Souvenirs? Gifts? What did you buy? What's a good deal? Thanks.

raquel_z

CDs and DVDs, alfajores, dulce de leche. Also bought some stuff at the various markets - glass necklaces.

raquel

Orlando_Vic

Leather is a very good deal. I bought 2 leather belts, one suede jacket and one leather jacket.

Also brought back some alfajores from the local Havanna store. Alfajores, for those not familiar with them, are sort of like a shortbread cookie, filled with Dulce de Leche. Yum!

MichelleY

We went to Argentina about 10 years ago. At the time, their peso and our dollar were worth the same, so everything was very expensive. But that didn't stop me. We bought some rhodacrysta(?) & Silver jewelry, mate' & a mate' cup made of a gourd & silver, Xmas decos made of gourds and boladores(the lasso-type things the gauchos use).

Jewelry & Xmas items made great gifts.

MY

tompack

Mate paraphernalia is good and unique. I bought a sugar/yerba/mate set that is very nice in a shop in Tucuman province for ARG$40.

I can buy alfajores (inc. Havana), yerba, chimichurri, dulce de leche, etc., here in the States at a local Argentine restaurant, so I wouldn't bring that back. If you're in the DC area, that's worth considering. Though it's cheaper in country.

I bought several latin and classical CDs in Argentina, because the prices can't be beat.

Leather/gaucho stuff is good, especially in Mendoza. I bought a riding blanket for maybe ARG$20 that is great. The silver jewelry is nice. You'll find a lot of stuff with a pink semiprecious stone that is very nice.

I bought a couple of random patches/pins from a military surplus store. Unique items, to be sure.

If in Bs As, antiques from the San Telmo Sunday market, as well as the daily antique market a couple of blocks away, can often be pricey (though not by US standards), but are unique and great pieces to bring home.

Scarlett

Alfajores ( you can get Havanna at the airport in nice tins if you want to wait)
CDs...my favorite right now is Otros Aires 1 & 2
Jewelry from all of the ferias .. the pink stone that is from here ( rhodocrosite )
The shawls and scarves the ladies make and sell at the feria with hand carved wooden pins.
Soccer tees for kids.
No one in my family likes maté so the tea and the cups are useless lol..
Antiques...there are so many places to buy old things..if someone you know collects a particular old thing, you might find it here at the flea markets.

and shoes and handbags.
Shop in Palermo for those or Recoleta if you have a larger souvenir budget

Have fun shopping..winter clothes are starting to appear in the stores ~

skatedancer

I really liked the cotton they use in shirts there. Not sure what's different about it, but everything I bought is just really soft and very comfortable.

dweissnj

If you want leather in Buenos Aires, go to Murillo street. Its a little out of the way from the touristy areas, but its like factory outlet heaven. Lots of little shops, easy haggling and prices much better. I got two jackets there. Taxis are cheap, so just go. We also brought back lots of wine. No sulfites, so its so much better than the same label in the US.

AndrewDavid

we bought lots of cd's for ourselves and friends: piazzola and tangotronica ( electro tango); catalogues and a flash purse for my Mom at MALBA; casual clothes in Palermo Soho boutiques including a pair of plaid high tops for dancing and an over priced didital camera as my newly minted husband left ours in a taxi!!
cheers
Andrewdavid

MichelleY

We also brought back Malbec from Mendoza. Salud!

k

We had gorgeous leather jackets made to order and were able to pick out the quality, color of the leather, lining and style. They are gorgeous and have worn very well over the past couple years. Price was very good and exceptional, considering they were made to order.
We also loved the antique market at San Telmo. And love the music cd's we bought. I also bought a mate (native tea) cup/gourd trimmed in silver. One of my favorite mementos from all over the world. Brought Soccer memorabilia back too. We also ingested a lot of great food that we are still wearing......unfortunately!!

Wildfire

From several different parts of the country and several trips:

gaucho pants. ask for bombachas de gaucho, I was told bombachas without the gaucho connection are womens undies.

Poncho salteno- from salta. not expensive, and a nice decoration.

sweaters,caps etc-woven by villagers. i got these on the expedition to las nubes that follows the traintracks. northern argentina.

mate- i got several. for drinking i got one from each place i went that was particularly representative of the region. In buenos aires i got some nice replicas of antique mates
NOTE- in northern argentina some dealers will say its plata boliviana (bolivian silver) which is not high grade regular silver, but sold at exhorbitant prices just the same.

replicas of paintings of some santos

boots-carpincho skin. i love this skin,though the jackets look a bit goofy. boots are comfortable and the piel has held up beautifully in heavy use, still looks quite new. this was a good deal, i bought them in Salta.

dvd-s- be careful buying DVD in argentina, they are not always compatible format with players in the usa.

northern argentina- you can get picture frames made from the giant cactus wood.

TracyB

I bought a leather purse and shoes in Buenos Aires, and lots of local jewelry in Bariloche...My husband bought loads of belts and wallets, i am sure he will be good for life...Also bought some flip flops called havaianas...

I wish i woulda had more time to try on leather jackets, but oh well!!

kywood1955

Thanks, everybody. Great info. I think I'll buy one of each!!!

Wildfire

and dont forget a squeeky toy shaped like a steak for your perro when you get home.

susanb_nj

Leather goods, for sure. Great and unique, well-priced stuff at the Recoleta craft fair in Buenos Aires (every weekend), and unique scarf clips -- these were my best souvenir, especially to bring back for friends and I kept a few for myself as well - silver, other metals mixed with leather, carved bone, etc. You can get different kinds all over, starting at about $5 US.

MonaManuel

In addition to leather and wine, I bought a beautiful large throw blanket woven from camel and alpaca wool. I bought it at a store in Jujuy and paid about $50 USD; it is not one of the Peruvian or Bolivian imports sold by street vendors all over the north. Sadly, it's too itchy to cuddle up in, but it is still a beautiful reminder of a beautiful trip.

I also brought home a painting by Miranda, the famed artist and ice cream artisan of Cafayate, also in the northwest. Another great and cherished memento.

jcasale

We went crazy with jewelry in San Telmo and Recoleta at the fairs. Especially the rhodochrosite. I also bought some great "funky" gauzy pants and a top to go with them in La Boca. We usually don't bring home much except photos and memories from our trips, but South America seems to entice us to buy - especially at the markets. We did the same thing in Rio at the Hippie Fair. It was a good thing I went to the bank for more cash before leaving home ;-).