hikerboy

Eddwarm, TA is an acronyn for tripadvisor. Many travel junkies are cross-addicted to Fodor's and tripadvisor.

I use them both, and also participate in The Travelzine moderated by Don and Linda Freedman. http://www.thetravelzine.com/ The travelzine operates a moderated yahoo general travel discussion board, and distributes e-mails to members listing posts on the board covering a variety of travel subjects chosen by members.

Don and Linda spent the winters of 2008, 2009, and 2010 in Buenos Aires and have written beautifully about their experiences (see drop down travelogues listing on left of the home page)

Just below that is a link to the Travelzine Group.
I would join it if I were you.

For the collectivos, the Guia T is available at any news-stand for 15 pesos. It is very helpful.

Here is the most marvelous tool to plan your collectivo journey, assuming you have a laptop or netbook with you, or access.

http://www.omnilineas.com.ar/colectivos/

You click on "collectivo" in the upper left, then find your start point on the map and click on it.

You don't have to know the name of the st., you can just find Centenerio Recoleta, or Congreso or any place you want to go. Click the start, then mouse over to the destination and click again.

Then, presto! You are shown a primary choice, with the entire route for that bus, and with your selected start and stop points on that route "pinned." Alternative buses are listed to, and you click those and it shows that route.

Then at the bottom,you can reverse the search to find the way home, or clear the board and start again. It's great!

Be sure to write down the cross street you are heading to because you need to tell that to the driver when you board the bus, and he will tell you the fare to deposit in the coin box. For a newbie like me, you need to be aware when you are approaching that cross st at the end of your trip so you can get up, push the button, and alight from the bus.

Also write down and take with you, a note about the return route because the return route is likely to be on a different st., usually one street over.

When you go out onto the st. to find the bus stop, look for posts or poles with the route numbers on them. When you see your bus approaching (the bus numbers are quite large), step into the street and raise your hand and the driver will stop for you.

Try to have exact change, or a little more. State the cross st. you are headed for to the driver. He will tell you the fare. Deposit your coins in the box. The machine will give change is you do not have exact "moneda." You must have coins, so grab them and hoard when you can. The fare runs to the equivalent of US 28 cents to 35 cents, depending on the distance of your trip.

You will get the hang of it.

Sorry if this all sounds unnecessarily complicated. It is not, though there is a small "learning curve" involved. On balance, we have found it a very satisfying experience. Drivers and fellow passengers will be kind and helpful, and you will have a chance to see a courteous and charming aspect of the porteno personality.

avrooster

Getting back to the "cartoneros" from San Martín, this was published today:

http://www.clarin.com/politica/desec...426557478.html

hikerboy

Oh, avrooster, that is the sad back story to the whole "cartoneros" scene. It's more complicated than I thought.

Eddwarm

Thanks for answering my query, avrooster and hikerboy. I use both sites and their forums; I even write at both, too! ...found it cute when someone alluded to the fact that hikerboy began writing about his adventures at TA first instead of here! I viewed the marked at being a facetious one!

Do continue to update "when you get the chance," but try NOT to feel too obligated to do such while you're on holiday. It will all come back once you return home, as I presume you are young and can recapitulate your experiences much more readily and easily!!!!!

avrooster

For some reason or other, I suspect hikerboy is no longer THAT young, in spite of his screen name! LOL!!!!!

hikerboy

A boy at heart, eddwarm.

But as avrooster obviously has figured out, I've been up and down more than one or two hills in my day.

Your point is well taken though. Wring the most out of living the experience in the moment. Share with others by writing about it later.

avrooster

Should we expect a full trip report, beyond the first 72 hours, maybe featuring Vince Leghorn?

MarnieWDC

I had been traveling in Argentina and missed most of this thread...now I caught up with it and am so pleased that I did. Wow, hikerboy and DH, youall really did so much in your time in Arg. I have noted a number of your finds for our own future meanderings through BsAs. So, thank you both. (I can picture exactly where your apt.is located.)

Continue to enjoy.

~MarnieWDC

hikerboy

We've just returned home on the weekend from our wonderful, six-week stay in Buenos Aires. It was a long trip back: 4 airports, 6 walk-through detectors, 4 luggage probes, 4 "wandings" and two full body scans.

I need to take a couple of days to sort things out and take care of business. A full trip report will follow, and will include the curious incident of the impostor, Vince Leghorn!

avrooster

Great!

What does "wandings" mean?

hikerboy

"Wanding" may be a made up word. Similar to a pat-down, but the security guard uses a wand instead of his hand, and the wand buzzes when metal is detected.

MarnieWDC

It's what happens to some women when wearing an underwire bra, for example...so be aware !

And Welcome Home, Hikerboy and DW.

~Marnie

MarnieWDC

Ooops - Through airport security, that is...
~M

santamonica

Good report. We're visiting our son in two weeks, staying in san telmo. Thanks for the bus lesson. We look forward to hearing more. You write well.