Things you hate about living in Argentina.

Quote from UK Man

You've probably seen most of my moans and groans posted on here over the years but as they're not all in the one place I thought I'd start a thread. Reason being tonight I was sitting out in the moonlit garden smoking my pipe and just thought of another one. The time it takes to get to the apartment in Buenos Aires door to door from here. We're only 150kms away yet it took us over 3 hours. Living in Glasgow I could have travelled to Amsterdam or several other European cities in the same time.

The road and rail network is bloody awful here.

That travel time is about right by car and would probably be longer by bus. Both R5 and R8 have been significantly upgraded in recent years and I've used them both by motorcycle with very little traffic until you hit Pilar and Moreno.

As for rail, it suffered the same fate as the British rail system way back.

What do I hate? Argentine bureaucracy and any kind of red tape.

What I really hate is the lack of accountability. Not only professionally, but also personally. A lot of things could be better if people cared. They could care out of their own good will or out of convenience, but at least they would care.

I am thinking about plans that fall aparts with no notice, ghosting, taking advantage for others and forgetting about them the minute they don't need you anymore, lateness and no show.

i have lost count of the no show appointments, for example when my husband is selling something on the internet, he gets at least 3 purchasers and no one eventually shows up. They even say they'd come within one hour and then simply stop texting. No "I changed my mind", "sorry, I can't make it today", nothing. They keep you hanging there for hours until you realize it. They are pretty childish and cowards, with little regard for other people's time.

For example, the other day we had a check-in in the STR that was between 2 pm and 3 pm. The guests are a family from Mar del Plata coming by car for Easter's long weekend. My husband went there at 1.30 pm to finish prepping the bed and to check a couple of things.

At 2 pm, they texted him that they'd arrive at 7-8 pm. I.e. they had not even left Mar del Plata and it is a 5-6 hour trip by car. They could have told us sooner.

We are lucky we have a car and live 10' from the STR. If we had to pay someone to go there twice for the check-in, I would have been far more pissed.

Quote from serafina

At 2 pm, they texted him that they'd arrive at 7-8 pm. I.e. they had not even left Mar del Plata and it is a 5-6 hour trip by car. They could have told us sooner.

That would drive me nuts!

On the whole, the pros outweigh the cons for me and I'm very happy living here. However, I do dread family get togethers which happen for whatever reason and far too often. In the end all I hear is a kind of grey noise with everyone talking at once and I have to get out of there.

Quote from UK Man

If the travelling time to Europe was a quarter of what it is I'd be very happy living here.

While looking at the Artemis II launch the other day, I wondered whether they can make a rocket fast enough to get to Europe in a decent time.

Quote from UK Man

The fare would be a wee bit expensive.

Now it is the time to splurge, UK Man ! We ain't gonna be here 4 ever!

On Wednesday night we were just turning in at about 1030pm, switched the light off and then heard clapping, singing and merriment literally a yard from our bedroom window which just went on and on. After a minute or so, I couldn't take any more, pulled up the blind and shouted "Will you please shut the fuck up!" It turned out to be a neighbour and his family so he replied, in English "I'm your neighbour..."

My wife said I was a bit rude. Yes I was, but so was he and this is typical of Argentines' social awareness or lack of it.

My brother in law is quite noisy, even by local standards. Whenever we have a family gathering, there is loud cumbia music until past 1 AM, and we are usually in the garden/quincho, so even the chatting/conversation is getting heard by neighbor. I pity those poor neighbors. He also likes to celebrate with fireworks, and he splurges on them.

More than once we have asked to take it down a notch - most of the family is over 70 years old and have zero interest in hearing cumbia until past midnight. For my other BIL's b-day, between the cumbia music, the fireworks, the noise from the party, his neighbor got worked up and came to tell him to keep it down or she'd call the police.

While this was happening, a police car passed by and asked if everything was okay... They nodded and each went back to their houses. It went calm again for a second. Then my BIL came back and turned up the volume just to piss off the neighbor. She came again, threatening - once more - to call the police.

He is older than me and he is not going to change. At that point, I started being uncomfortable and asked my husband to leave. This is not what a relaxing social event looks like to me.

“Glasgow Kiss?” Outstanding!

Quote from Rice

“Glasgow Kiss?” Outstanding!

Gotta know the nuances of languages...

Quote from UK Man

The missus has told me to stop being so tight-fisted. She said from now on I've only to choose Lay's ready salted crisps instead of the cheaper brands. So just been on several supermarket sites eyeing up their prices. Spending half an hour jumping from one site to another working out which supermarket site is offering the best price has been a nightmare. Not only do Lay's come in four or more different sized bags some bags have offers on them while others don't. You also have to consider the method of payment offers of the day.

I've given up so next time we're in the supermarket I won't bother looking at the price and just put them in the trolley. She pays anyway.

I am a big fan of Dia own brand crisps.

Someimes I find Lays a bit boring.

Quote from GlasgowJohn

I am a big fan of Dia own brand crisps.

I saw an influencer on Instagram comparing the tube crisps sold in Argentina, and he also said the Dia ones were the best. At 4500 ARS (last time I checked, after watching the video) it is a pass for me. But I bought a packet of the regular ones yesterday because of the 20% off on Tuesday... I'll report back.

Quote from UK Man

The missus has told me to stop being so tight-fisted. She said from now on I've only to choose Lay's ready salted crisps instead of the cheaper brands. So just been on several supermarket sites eyeing up their prices. Spending half an hour jumping from one site to another working out which supermarket site is offering the best price has been a nightmare. Not only do Lay's come in four or more different sized bags some bags have offers on them while others don't. You also have to consider the method of payment offers of the day.

I've given up so next time we're in the supermarket I won't bother looking at the price and just put them in the trolley. She pays anyway.

You can do it, UK Man ! All it takes is a little math.

Yip, Krachitos Jamon Serrano are bloody good