Hi all! Thanks for all of your helpful information. We are settling in BA after a few days here and having been to Punta del Este & Mendoza. As you all warned me- I'm not thrilled being in Puerto Madero. I thought it would be great having the pool, etc. for 2 babies but it is SO far from everything. We walked one day to Recoleta Cemetery and though I'm a walker it took forever with two strollers wobbling over the sidewalks. We did have a wonderful brunch today at Central Market (thanks Scarlett).

Today I fell in love with Farmacity- stocking up on panales for the babies, etc.

Our biggest problem is food- as our kids go to bed at 7:30 our options are quite limited for dinner.

1. We are in major need of a supermercado- we went in Disco in Recoleta - which I loved- but weren't able to stock up at the time. Any ideas of the closest one to us- we are willing to walk a bit as well. We keep getting directed to mini-markets. We seem to have to run down to get a small milk every day for the babies.

2. Any suggestions of places that would deliver to Puerto Madero- we find we are often grabbing sandwiches at "Corner" a mini market that are quite gross.

3. Any suggestions on a cooking class- I'd love to take one- the only one I'm finding is for Teresita outside of the city

4. Any crash courses for Spanish for the traveler- my husband would like to take one

Thanks,
Julie

1-Coto, Viamonte 1571, Microcentro (www.coto.com.ar).
Check online for additional locations. Open daily 9am-9:30pm.
Carrefour, Santa Fe 1680, Recoleta (www.carrefour.com.ar).
Check online for additional locations. Open M-Sa 9am-9:30pm, Su 3-9pm.

You can go to these markets and have the things delivered or just grab a taxi back with your bags and babies..

Carrefours are all over as well as Disco and Coto is great too.

2- Again, while out walking during the day, grab cards from restaurants and cafes, they all deliver to a certain degree .. ( this is what I was afraid would happen )

3- Look at www.saltshaker.com

4- Crash course as in a private teacher or going to a class.
CODE on Junin between Juncal and Santa Fe is good .. look on an expat blog, there are always people who want to teach ..

http://landingpadba.com/

http://www.batravelguide.com/
This lady speaks flawless English and is one of those most helpful people I have ever met, anywhere.. she can give you practical advice as well as help with other things you might have questions about .. Tell her I gave you her email ..

Hope this helps ..

I believe I already gave you my e-mail, julieod.

If I'm wrong, tell me so.

If you wish, e-mail me your phone number, indicating what are good times to call you.

Both avrooster and scarlet know more than I do about Bs As, only thing I wish to add is that my daughter orders by mail from Carefour Supermarkets.
Good luck

Also get in touch with a reliable and good remise service.

Taxis Pidalo are well know for doing errants for clients.

Have you tried Siga la Vaca. It is an all you can eat Parrilla restaurant in Puerto Madero. Not haute cusine, but good value and I am pretty sure it is open all day.

http://translate.google.co.uk/transl...ial%26hs%3DgsH

Perfect- will check out Coto tomorrow as we'll be in the area after the Buenos Aires Tour. Loved saltshaker.net now I have even more restaurants to add to my list!

Just saw the additional posts- Thanks Graziella5B- I love a market that delivers.

Crellston- I looked at the site- with the kids- we are not looking for haute cuisine every day. It says Atención especial de 16 a 20hs. Does that mean they are closed during that time?

julieod Hola,

I believe that Scarlett was referencing a link to your question of cooking classes. This is Saltshaker's cooking class info.

http://www.saltshaker.net/class-schedule

As to your DH's interest in Spanish language classes, CODE on Junin Betw/Santa Fe and Juncal has been highly recommended: CODE Servicio Lingüístico (http://www.codesl.com.ar/)

As has Expanish and here is another general lang. classes link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._District.html

And on line - There are free lessons at:
http://www.studyspanish.com/

How do you rate BsAs as a place to visit with 2 babies ? I hope you are enjoying yourselves, despite the travailles you have described (with some humor, I note).

~MarnieWDC

Julie: "Atención especial de 16 a 20hs." means they are open, but with less staff. It should be ideal for you.

One thing about this kind of "all you can eat" restaurant: unlike other restaurants, you are not allowed to take leftovers with you.

Thanks!

julieod,

Did you find any good cooking lessons?

Ms Lizzy-I contacted saltshaker.net but they are on holiday and don't do Argentinian cooking. I actually just emailed teresita- she seems to have the only cooking classes in the area. I did a bit of searching but didn't see anything else. Good area if anyone is looking to start a little business

We made it to La Bistecca today which was good & my body almost went into shock having a salad! A 30 minute wait at 3 p.m.- lots of very big tables of locals and businessmen. With most things not opening till 11- and the roads, buses and subway so crowded all day- I'm still trying to figure out when people work here

Had a DELICIOUS pizza lunch at Guerrin yesterday- best we've had (and we've eaten it quite a few times already b/c it's easy if the boys are acting up and we have to eat on the run) and a successful trip to Coto. The food was extremely cheap (especially compared to what we are paying in Puerto Madero for things) and we filled up the taxi. I plan to order next online as they don't deliver to our area.

Marnie- We are enjoying our time here- but our kids are the toughest travel companions I've ever had. They wake up too early (today at 5 am), require to be regularly fed (my DH and I are bad about skipping meals when we are on the run) and go to bed too early for this city! We are trying to get out to one thing a day & a meal but some days that proves to be too much for my almost 2 year old. All he wants to do is run around & leave the restaurant we are eating in. The little one usually will sleep through most of our outings so that is better.

My biggest complaint- the sidewalks! Maybe I never looked in other cities that closely, b/c I wasn't pushing a stroller, but there are missing stones, giant holes, wooden crates covering areas and train tracks. It does make me appreciate my flat area of NYC. I hold my breath as I cross from PM to the city center. I still don't understand the flow of traffic in the circles and some areas don't even have lights. Though PM may be remote, after I made it across today at rush hour, it was very relaxing to see the harbor and listen to the quiet. We are trying to take it all in stride and push ourselves to get out each day to somewhere new.

We will start using a sitter to try to get out a little at night (thanks to avrooster) so that will be nice.

I've wanted to try La Bourgogne- but i just saw dress said elegant/formal. My husband didn't bring a jacket/tie. The dressiest he has is linen pants & a button down shirt. I'm guessing this is too casual?

How about for Thymus?

Julie, is there a big problem with mosquitoes in the Puerto Madero area? This question is related to our GTG in January.

I'll check for you about La Bourgogne's dress code, but my guess is that the clothes your husband brought are OK.

You can also call the Alvear's concierges 4808-2100, to ask about the dress code and reserve a table. Tell them I (the name in my e-mail) suggested you call them. They'll probably refuse to reserve for you. Just kidding. You can also ask them to reserve for you in other restaurants. They should also know all about the restaurants in our Tigre Delta.

Thanks julie

A friend told me she took a cooking lesson earlier this year in the Tigre Delta but it was arranged for her tour group and she didn't have info.

I just asked on another foodie thread and will tell you if I get any answers.

I am getting a little nervous about being overwhelmed with the noise/congestion of the city. I live near Ottawa, Canada which is a beautiful, green, clean and relatively quiet city. I live in the country near a quaint small town and although I have been to cities all over the world, this one sounds very busy. In January I understand many people leave. I'm staying in Recoleta. Is it quieter there? I was thinking it would be a little like Paris.

I cannot even imagine traveling with two children so young. I traveled alone with my mildly disabled son through Europe for five weeks when he was 15 and it was very rewarding seeing things through his eyes as well as my own. Many people responded well to him especially when he wore his soccer shirts and so I had the opportunity to meet people I may not have otherwise.

Are you going to take a tango lesson on one of your 'date nights'?

MsLizzy, there are parts of Recoleta that will remind you of a spot in Paris , the parks with the statues and a lot of the old buildings built in the French style.. It is more quiet at this time of year, but that is not saying that much.
It is a constantly busy and noisy city.
If you feel overwhelmed, go to Puerto Madero and sit by the water .. or go to one of the huge parks and sit on a bench and listen to the incredible bird song that you can hear every single day .. Be prepared for amazing birds in amazing trees with flocks of bright green parrots flying around fussing at everyone.

Here are some photos
Our park in Recoleta
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1261539282

another view of the park
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1261539334

Downtown
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1261539444
Looking at the city from Puerto Madero
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1261539385

I always seen men at La Bourgogne, dressed with jackets . . but that doesn't mean that some are not wearing jackets.. I just noticed the ones with jackets

Hi, Julie!

The Alvear Palace Hotel owns and runs "La Bourgogne" in association with French chef Jean Paul Bondoux. It is the only Relais & Chateaux in BA, I believe.

Their website http://www.alvearpalace.com/v3/eng/i...to=labourgogne indicates the dress code is "Elegant casual wear / Formal".

This means shorts and sleeveless shirts are not allowed. Therefore, your hubby's ¨linen pants & a button down shirt¨ should be OK. I'll make sure of this and I'll let you know.

Since I am just blocks from the Alvear, I will try to walk by and ask today .. or at the least, I will look in and count jackets vs no jackets lol

You can shop in the bakery next door and bring home some tasty treats too .

Julie, La Bourgogne's answer was: no tie required, but a jacket IS required. They'd be happy to lend your husband a jacket.