There were a few things that I wish I would have known about before I first got to Buenos Aires. Although each of these little nuggets of info are ordinary parts of the routine here in Buenos Aires, they certainly can puzzle a newcomer. Let’s have a run through these seemingly ordinary things:
Cartoneros are the folks that go around the city collecting the recyclables from the daily trash deposits on the street. Effectively, this is the city’s recycling system in progress. Though the system is rudimentary, it has created a form of income for people that are down on their luck, and trash is being sorted and recycled fairly efficiently. It’s not a bad start. Some cartoneros have formed workers organizations, and now identify themselves by wearing uniforms. Hopefully with the help of these organizations, additional steps will be taken to improve the working, pay and living conditions for our peeps in the streets of Buenos Aires moving forward.
Two things should be considered when tossing your trash into the building trash bins or onto the steps for the portero (doorman, or building caretaker) to bring down:
1. Separate your recyclables to make the cartoneros’ job easier. Setting all plastics, cartons, cardboard, glass into a separate bag is a cool gesture.
2. If you are throwing out anything sharp like broken glass take the extra step and wrap it in some newspaper or clearly mark the bag with the word, “vidrio.” If your job consisted of sifting through trash bags, I’m sure you would appreciate it if someone gave you a heads up about broken glass.
During check out at your local chino (small neighborhood grocery store), kiosk or supermarket you will be asked if you have envase if and when you are trying to purchase glass bottle beer or soda. If you have previously purchased a bottle at full price, be sure to bring your empty bottle envase and tell your friendly cashier, “si“. By returning the bottle, you will be rewarded a discount rate on your purchase of brand new, shiny full bottles. This is quite common and should be taken advantage of if you plan to drink a fair amount or be here for more than a few days. Returning your bottles will result in saving about 20%-30% of the total cost!
But not all bottles can be returned! The sleeker, tear-shaped beer bottles like the Quilmes, Brahma, and Andes bottles pictured above are the returnable beer bottles. The large glass 1.5 liter soda-pop bottles are the returnable soda-pop type.
The nonrefundable bottles are anything that contains wine, vodka or spirits. Some beer bottles are not returnable like Iguana that have a boxier shape, or the .75 liter Patagonia bottles.
As a United Statesman or Estadounidense (Tip: Saying you are “American” here is interpreted as too general because North and South America are taught geographically as one continent or simply, America. Argentines are Americans.) paying bills has always been a piece of cake.
Our capitalistic economy has made getting money to those you owe easy and efficient. As a foreigner in Argentina, it is very difficult to open a bank account here, so no online paying for you. You will need to pay the bills either directly at the company’s physical location, or take the easy way and go to either a Rapi Pago or Pago Facil. These are regular places like your local pharmacy, supermarket or kiosk that scan your bill’s bar code and allow you to pay them. Ojo (careful), the hours to pay your bills vary at these locations.
To find a location that allows you to pay your bills, just keep your eye out for a brightly colored Pago or Pago Facíl facade. It’s almost impossible to miss!
It is not uncommon for folks that are in need of clothing to buzz apartments Saturday and Sunday afternoons once in a blue moon. For those of you that are wary of charities and how they spend the donations they receive, this is a direct way to skip those steps. Gather up those old clothes, whatever you don’t wear anymore and bag them up. The people asking for them will be most appreciative.
You you’re from the US and have accepted that hospital bills can be financially devastating, I’ve got some good news for you. Buenos Aires is home to good, reliable and most importantly affordable healthcare.
Here, healthcare is considered a basic human right and is free at public hospitals to everyone, including tourists. However, the standard of care is lower at public hospitals, and many people have to wait in line all day in order to be seen. On top of this, it also is a little ethically dubious for foreigners from developed countries to add more burden to an already overtaxed healthcare system. So, if you can afford a private hospital, you should probably leave the limited space at the public hospitals for those who cant.
Two of the best private hospitals in Buenos Aires are Swiss Medical and Hospital Aleman. Hospital Alemán is located in Barrio Norte at Pueyrredón 1640, just a few blocks from the Pueyrredón subway station. Swiss Medical has centers in Barrio Norte (on the border of Palermo, at Av. Pueyrredón 1441, across the street from the Pueyrredón subway station) and downtown on Av. 25 de Mayo. Both of their facilities look like those in the US or Europe and the staff makes you feel safe. Most doctors speak English and many speak other languages including Portuguese, German, Italian and French.
For a one off appointment, the initial consultation at one of the better hospitals usually costs around $60-$70 USD, with any additional services, medications, or appointments adding additional costs. While the cost of one appointment is relatively inexpensive, if you end up seeing multiple doctors or needing something like an x-ray or MRI it can really add up. For anyone planning on staying in Buenos Aires long term, getting on an insurance plan is a good idea. Both of the hospitals mentioned above are favorites among foreigners and their basic plan will cost about $75-$100 USD a month. Under these plans, appointments with most specialists (therapists and psychiatrists are usually not covered) in the network are free, and prescriptions are heavily discounted.
Both care and insurance will be less expensive at a mid range hospital. Just expect lower quality facilities and a lower chance of getting a doctor that speaks English.
Telos Last, but certainly not least, on my list of tips and tricks for living in Buenos Aires are the city’s much-loved hourly hotels, know as transitorios (or telos). If you’re sharing a room in apartment, living with a local or just don’t have sexy fun time freedom- you may want to check these out!
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(AR) +54 9 11 —- —-
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