Things I expected to be different about BA.

Before I arrived, I thought that there would be more shit-box cars on the road. There are some, but most people drive newish Volkswagens and Fiat hatchbacks.

I had the idea that everything single Argentinean person looked like a model. While it’s true that there are a number of people who look like models, Buenos Aires also has its fair share of ugly people.

I expected more beggars, but there aren’t many. Probably even less than Sydney.

I expected the night-life to be good, but I didn’t realise just how many things there are to do at night, and how many people go to do them.

I didn’t expect so many high rise buildings. But there are heaps.

I didn’t expect the subway system to work as well as it does. You never wait more than 3 minutes for a train, and you can go most places in the city within 30 minutes. For AU$0.30.

I was slightly concerned that Argentineans might live up to their arrogant reputation. But they have been nothing but kind and helpful, and patient if you try to speak Spanish with them. Except for one cab driver who was a bit of an asshole.

I had heard about the steak in Argentina, but I didn’t actually expect it to be amazing, especially with the amount of good steak we have in Australia. But I had a steak the other night, and I can’t remember one I’ve ever had that was better.

I expected the beer to be cheap, but not as cheap as it is. It’s less than a Pepsi sometimes. I bought three one-litre bottles for 11.50 pesos the other day. That’s about AU$3.50.

I didn’t expect the shopping centres to be so modern. But Abasto shopping centre has everything, including Gucci, Prada, a surf/skate shop called Cristobal Colon (Christopher Colombus). That’s like a skate shop in Australia being called Captain Cook.

I thought that the city would be more overtly religious and conservative. But I haven’t gotten the impression that it is. Women wear tight clothes and there are a number of sex shops (some of which are advertised in the street by placard bearing 65 year old women wearing funny hats).

I expected the traffic to be much more crazy. But it’s not. Most of our cab drivers have driven slowly and defensively, and we’ve rarely been stuck in traffic anywhere.

I expected BA to be much more different than it is to Sydney, but apart from the obvious differences such as Spanish, the non-need to clean up after your dog, and the occasional broken footpath, it’s really not that different.