1. It's rare to find spicy food in Argentina - but in Salta they have a Salsa Aji!
That's the one on the right - tomato with chillis. I was told its not unlike something they have in nearby Bolivia. In actual fact I ended up preferring the one on the left - Salsa criollo which is found throughout Argentina.
2. Don't go to the bank on Monday morning in Argentina...
This is not a queue for a bus, this is a queue for the bank (in Puerto Madryn, but I've seen this in other cities too). Cash is king here, electronic transactions are rare - must be under 10%. A lot of places don't accept plastic so it's better to have more than enough cash to get you through a day or two at all times.
Also, there is usually a moment when you are paying for something with not exact change (which for me has been most of the time) when the shopkeeper asks if you have smaller change. I expect they don't want to stand in a queue like this too often to get their till float! So if you do happen to pay in a shop with exact change the shopkeeper is always delighted.
On a slightly more serious note I believe the public's trust in banks was really rocked in 2001 when Argentina had a financial crisis. I read somewhere that some people don't put their savings in banks anymore for fear of not getting it back. At some points in the early 2000s withdrawals were limited or even banned for a while.
3. People here complain about the weather....
I had a good laugh with my Buenos Aires taxi driver (Alberto) yesterday. We were chatting away (in spanish I'll have you know!) and as usual he asked about Scotland. I've found almost everyone here is really interested in where I come from and willing to take a few minutes out to chat (except the odd busy waiter etc). Anyway, we chatted on about this and that until we got onto the weather. I told him that yes, it's cold in Scotland, we have lots of rain, sometimes snow and ice and that everyone says it's too cold. I then said that in Argentina everyone says it's too hot! We both laughed and he agreed. Although he did go on to explain that Argentina has 4 climates really due to the vast size of the country. I expect the people in Tierra del Fuego complain about the cold.
4. Football...
I think I've said one or two things about the football here before but I'm going to say a couple more. I like the football in South America. Of the games I've seen they tend to be more physical than in Europe now. The referees usually let the players off with more robust challenges. Also, there appears to be much more individual flair - many more of the players here are good dribblers and can beat their opposite man. This seems to have been lost in Britain. So a lot of the games I've seen have been exciting and high scoring.
I must also say again that I think the Comentaristas are quality. Having seen some vintage football footage here I come to realise that the art has evolved over time. Today there must be two long shouts of "GOOOL" after a goal. No more no less. In the eighties only one shout was required. The best comentaristas now save a little extra breath for a final flourish at the end of the second one. Also, the best ones (in my opinion) sound like they are really going to cry when someone misses a great scoring opportunity. Brilliant.
I had a laugh with James who I met in Bariloche about whether it was possible to learn Spanish only by watching South American football matches. That might be an interesting social experiment! However, I've actually learned a fair bit through watching footy games (honest!).
5. Strange one this...
I've noticed quite a lot on hot days some of the blokes here hitch up their t-shirts above their bellies. I presume this is to try and cool down as it's not really a good look! Particularly as it is usually blokes with a larger tummy.
Surely it's better T-shirt fully on or t-shirt fully off? However, I've noticed it quite a lot so must be generally accepted as ok.
6. Travelling alone is probably not too healthy over long periods...
I've noticed more often in the last week or so that I've taken to occasionally talking to myself (out loud) as I walk along the street. Actually, it may be more often than that as I might only notice and reproach myself if there has been someone nearby that could've heard!
Time to go home for a while I think!
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Este traducción no es fácil! Pero voy a tratar...
"Guia a Argentina de Jimbo - algunas otra cosas"
1. No es facil fundar comido picante in Argentina. Pero en Salta hay salsa aji!
<foto>
Es tomate y chili como una salsa en Bolivia. Realmente yo prefiero la otra - Salsa Criollo. Este es fundido toda la pais.
2. No vayan al banco en Lunes en Argentina!
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No es una fila para el colectivo, es una fila para el banco (este foto es de Puerto Madryn pero yo veia filas como este en otra ciudads). Efectivo es mejor acá. En su major parte no es posible pagar por tarjeta de crédito.
Casi siempre cuando pago (no efectivo exactamente) el tendero me piden dinero mas pequeño. Parezco que no quieren esperar in una fila al banco retirar cambio! Por supuesto, si puedo pagar efectivo exactamente están muy feliz!
Creo que la gente han perdido confianza en los bancos después la crisis financiero de 2001.
3. La Gente de Argentina se quejan del tiempo!
Hablamos con un conducir de taxi en Buenos Aires (en esponal!) y después de otras cosas nosotros hablamos del tiempo. Casi todo el mundo en sudamericana son interesar en donde yo vivo y quieren hablar con migo durante algunos minutos. Asi, yo explice como Escocia es mucho frio, tiene muchas lluvia, tal vez hielo y nieve, y todo el mundo en escocía se quejan del tiempo. Entonces, yo hable "la gente en Argentina hablan "mucho calor!"". Nos reímos! Entonces el ha explicado Argentina tiene 4 climas diferente porque es un país muy grande.
4. Futbol..
El Partidos en Sudamericana son mas fisico aca y los jugados tiene mas tecnica, especialmente regateando.
Me gusta los comentaristas! Los mejores dan un movimiento finalmente del grito "GOOOL" y los mejores sonara a ellos lloraran cuando un jugador ha errado un bueno oportunidad marcar un gol. Brillante!
Es posible aprender español solo escuchando al partidos de fútbol? Yo he aprendido mucho así.
5. Una Cosa Extrana...
Algunas hombres levanta se camisas arriba se estomago cuando hay mucho calor! Generalmente este es hombres gordos! Parezco es mejor sin camisa o llevar camisa totalmente!
6. Viajar solo durante demasiado tiempo no es saludable!
Recientemente yo he hable con yo mismo en voz alta cuando caminando en la calle.
Tal vez debo regresar a Escocia por un tiempo!
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