Job Discussion Forums

vivaBarca · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:32 pm Post subject: Belgrano = cool ???

Hey guys..quick question about Belgrano. While I thought for awhile I'd want to live in Palermo Viejo, I think I may have found a nice setup in Belgrano w/ a local. How do the two neighborhoods compare? Do you think Belgrano is an OK bet, even though its so far from the center? But...more importantly...does it have enough of the basic cultural offerings to keep an energetic young person such as myself occupied, or is it more of a residential area where I'd only go to sleep? Of course, I suppose I could live in Belgrano and just see how it goes, and move to Palermo Viejo eventually...but it'd be nice to get any feedback from you guys on the ground, like sqwerl or sneilz.

sqwerl · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 72 Location: Buenos Aires

i have been here for about a week.
There is plenty to keep me occupied and the sube is very close to where I live..and there is a train station very close too.
The area is very nice.
If you want to go out somewhere outside of Belgrano, taxis are super cheap.
I like it here honestly.

snielz · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 165 Location: Buenos Aires

It�s true the subway is close and the neighborhood is very nice. It has got to be one of the nicest in the city. And there is stuff to do there, but lets just say I never go up to Belgrano for a night out or some cultural activity. For those things, I usually find myself in Palermo or closer to the center...but if it is a really good deal (I imagine it is expensive) then it won�t take you long too long on the subway...

But I recommend Palermo (because I�m guessing your not an old, rich person).

eo-nomine · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 72 Location: Berlin, Germany

I personally dislike Belgrano. Sure it's nice and all with all the trees and the flowers and parks and silly singing birds and whatnot, but the barrio is about as thrilling as watching paint dry. You have maybe three museums in the whole neighbourhood worth seeing and a little fair around the Redonda for rich people where you can buy scarfs that look like my disastrous first and only attempt at knitting for ARS 30, fancy mate cups and other trinklets.

They all praise the subte... I say beware the subte! There is nothing worse than the subte (except Fernett) between 07h30 and 09h00 and 17h30 and 20h00. If you teach English in companies, you will most likely have to take the subte at those times - and believe me, it is excruciating. Sure, going from Catedral to Olleros or Juramento only takes you about 30 minutes, but by the time you get out, you will feel like a dog with no legs that has just finished climbing the Aconcagua. And also, the subte closes at half past ten or so, so by the time you leave your house to start the evening, it will be closed already and you will have to take a collectivo.

Finally, the area is expensive. Everything is expensive there! Even the nearby Barrio Chino is expensive! You have a lot of fancy places between the Belgrano C station and the street Vuelta de Obligado which are certainly nice, but they will burn holes in your wallet. Unless you have a really sweet deal, I wouldn't consider it.

Here... remember, this is just my personal opinion. Wink

vivaBarca · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:04 am Post subject:

thanks guys...very much appreciate the feedback. Unfortunately I'm not quite sure if this legit deal is coming through, because it seems to be very difficult for me to line up anything this far in advance (2 months)...so it may be back to Palermo Viejo. Is it completely naive to hope I can find a suitable apartment within a week or so of arriving?

sqwerl · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 72 Location: Buenos Aires

what is the deal you are talking about?

And a week within arriving sounds hectic, but I have never bought a place soo..

vivaBarca · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:48 am Post subject:

sheena maclean · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject: rent

hi viva
I was looking at your post because I'm thinking of coming to Argentina. Is $750 living on your own or sharing. If it's sharing It sounds like a shit load of money. I live in a posh part of bogota (Colombia) and I pay half that all in for a huge room. If thats the normal price for rents I think I'll have to reconsider my planes.
Can anyone advise me please on rent prices for a roomin a shares flat (not too fussy about it being a swanky neighbourhood tho!!)
thanks
sheena

vivaBarca · Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 2:06 pm Post subject:

Well for one that's $750 Argentinian (About $250 USD)...and yes, it would be sharing. It very well could be a bit more than any local would pay to live in Belgrano, but it is a nice area, and it is a new apartment. Regardless, I don't even know if it'll work out anyway....so I'll be back to sqaure one, arriving in BA with nothing more than a week booked at a local hostel....so goes it!

eo-nomine · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 72 Location: Berlin, Germany

ARS 750 for a shared flat is a lot. Sure, it depends on the neighbourhood and the flat itself, but you can find sweet deals in other parts of town for half as much. Good areas (IMO) to live in are Congresso, Microcentro, Abasto, Once... San Telmo is nice as well, the bit between Independencia and Juan de Garay and 9 de Julio and Piedras is still a bit dodgy but if you're vigilant enough you'll be fine, I think.
Those areas are cheaper - admitedly not as nice as la Recoleta, Belgrano or Palermo, but they're way cheaper and even Once or Abasto aren't far from the all the action and nightlife.

snielz · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 165 Location: Buenos Aires

Viva,
Just something to thing about...I have been here six weeks and I am finding that just about everything I set up over the internet or bought in my first weeks here was a rip off...This is everything from clothes to restaurants to my upcoming trip to Uruguay. (Admittledly, the big expense-an apartment- I got through a friend in the states and it has been great) but everything else has been a learning experience. I find now after just a month or so that I already know better places to go for whatever I want to buy or do. You may really need a place as soon as you get here, but if not, try to hold off. This is my opinion. This goes for everything...apartments, clothes, restaraunts, internet cafes...basically don�t eat or do anything for the first month. Good luck.

vivaBarca · Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 3:50 pm Post subject:

amy1982 · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 192 Location: Buenos Aires

viva-

i just arrived a few days ago. the shock and awe has worn off a bit and the castellano is coming back. i�m really enjoying the city Laughing

im currently staying in a hostel and will start with ebc on monday. i can already tell that a hostel is NOT a good place to be while taking an intensive course unless you have a private room. between people going to bed at 8, snorers, and others coming in at all hours, it is really hard to get a decent night�s rest or any work done. i�ve been making up for it with afternoon naps, but that won�t be possible once the course starts. on top of that, even a hostel is expensive for an extended period of time compared to renting or sharing an apartment.

i have a good friend from when i was here before who is helping me A LOT in the apartment search. you can buy a garantia for cheap (less than 100 pesos) and you get a list of apartments to choose from. you can get a pretty nice apartment in a non-touristy area (not recoleta, barrio norte, etc) or a less nice apt in a more overpriced area... so you can choose the balance. you can also buy a more expensive garantia to have more options. once i get something more concrete that can help, i�ll be happy to pass it along.

definitely get involved in some sort of fun activity and get to know some argentines. in general, they are quite nice and many times will offer to help before youve even asked! everyone knows somebody who knows somebody who has exactly what you need. but snielz�s strategy is even better - if you can find someone there who has some connection to argentina that may be able to set you up ahead of time, it will be much less to worry about once you�re here trying to get the language, new friends, pass through ebc with flying colors, get jobs, etc.

sqwerl · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 72 Location: Buenos Aires

How long are you here for Amy?

I would like to learn more about the garantia. I plan to move out of this host family's house eventually, but probably not for a few months.
I don't want to get ripped off on an apartment...

amy1982 · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 192 Location: Buenos Aires

sqwerl-

i�ll be here for a while, at least until Christmas. but if things are going well, i�ll stay longer... i can�t imagine anything other than not making enough money would be sufficient for me to leave - knock on wood and all that.

as far as the garantia, i dont know much yet... just the glorious claims of my amigo argentino that it will be quick, easy, cheap, and get me an apartment. im trying not to get my hopes up too high. ill let you know how its going when i have more to tell.

and i�m almost always up for some caf� or a night out and about... Smile