Help! - Travelling to BA

[voodoodiver]

I'll be in Buenos Aires from 16Mar - 20 Mar on my way back from scuba diving in Antarctica and want to accomplish three things:
1. Have a great steak
2. Catch a great game
3. Visit a great tango club

Any advice in accomplishing these things and any other "can't miss" opportunities would be HUGELY appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[locoxriver]

I'll be in Buenos Aires from 16Mar - 20 Mar on my way back from scuba diving in Antarctica and want to accomplish three things:
1. Have a great steak
2. Catch a great game
3. Visit a great tango club

Any advice in accomplishing these things and any other "can't miss" opportunities would be HUGELY appreciated!

Thanks in advance

You will be there on a weekend that won't be too great footballistically..

On that weekend, the following will happen:
River will face Quilmes, but in Quilmes (not recommended).
Boca will face Gimnasia (LP) in their home stadium.
Independiente will be facing Lanus at home.

I would recommend one of those three, but not really the Quilmes-River game (the Quilmes fans are assholes, and it's in there stadium). So I would say to go to see the Boca-Gimnasia or Independiente-Lanus games.

[Paul_NL]

www.gofootball.com.ar. I would do it that way if you are foreigner. It cost you around 45 dollar but you get good seats, transport to the stadium and it´s safe.

Quilmes is not really that dangerous. Get a cab from the station to the stadium (close). To bad the train sucks dick and constitution sucks even more. I would not recommend it if you are foreigner. Line 22 would be safer in my opinion

[chicago millonario]

I'll be in Buenos Aires from 16Mar - 20 Mar on my way back from scuba diving in Antarctica and want to accomplish three things:
1. Have a great steak
2. Catch a great game
3. Visit a great tango club

Any advice in accomplishing these things and any other "can't miss" opportunities would be HUGELY appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Well I'm an American expat working at a hostel in BA, and a huge River fan, so here's my take.

1. Most steak is pretty much the same wherever you go, the price goes higher depending on the neigborhood and how nice the restaurant is. There's amazing parillas in San Telmo that are all priced low, especially by American standards. A bife de chorizo, a huge piece of meat, should cost no more then 20 pesos, or less then $7. Puerto Madero and Palermo also have quality restaurants that will cost more, but still, it's a steal compared to American prices.

2. As for the games, a few pointers. If you're going to see Boca, then you're better off paying a tour company. Tickets are almost all accounted for by club members, and what's put on sale for the general public usually goes fast. And don't bother with trying to buy from scalpers, those are almost all fakes. It'll cost at least 100 pesos, which should include transportation, a guide, and lunch. I'm no Boca fan, but if you must go, that's the way to do it.

As for the other games that weekend, here's the full schedule, although exact times haven't been announced (Games within Buenos Aires province in bold):

Quilmes - River Plate
Boca Jrs. - G.E.L.P.
Belgrano Cba. - Godoy Cruz
Colón - Nva. Chicago
G. y Esg. (Jujuy) - Vélez
Independiente - Lanús
Arsenal - Newell's
Argentinos Jrs. - Racing
Rosario Ctrl. - San Lorenzo
Banfield - Estudiantes

I'll disagree with locoxriver. Going to Quilmes should be fine so long as you follow a few rules. If you can, avoid taking the trains there. They get packed with wild fans and incidents can happen. You could take a cab, just try to negotiate a good price. If you do take the train, try to get there as early as possible to avoid the crowds, and wear neutral colors. And of course, if anything bad does happen, just walk away. River should have their way with Quilmes so I would make the effort to go.

Independiente could be a good game, but the same rules apply above, as Avellaneda, where los diablos play, is also a bit dodgy. Argentinos and Racing will be a snoozefest, IMO. I would also check out Arsenal. It's a little further south, but they have a good squad and the atmosphere should be good.

There are tours for any game if you want to avoid the hassle. Despite the bad reputation of Argentine fans and the occasional dustup, seeing a game here is an experience that can't be witnessed anywhere else and anything bad happening to you is rare.

3. Tango shows are like the steakhouses above, there's one for evey budget. In San Telmo on Sundays they give pretty decent shows that are free, just give a donation. Cafe Tortoni in the center has shows for 35 pesos plus a drink that are great, if a little cheesy. There are even shows that include dinner that will go for over 100 pesos, but you have to wear a suit.

As for other amazing things, well, it would depend on what you're into, but there's more than enough to do in B.A.

[locoxriver]

I'll disagree with locoxriver. Going to Quilmes should be fine so long as you follow a few rules.

I never said it would be the most dangerous thing in the world.. All I said is that the Quilmes fans are assholes, or is this not true?? They always pop the away fans tires in the parking lot during the game, they sometimes get really angry when losing (remember the last Quilmes-River in their stadium).. They just aren't a good crowd to be around when they get angry. If you like River, then sure, you might want to go there. But if you just want to see a match, no matter what team, I would recommend another one.

[chicago millonario]

I never said it would be the most dangerous thing in the world.. All I said is that the Quilmes fans are assholes, or is this not true?? They always pop the away fans tires in the parking lot during the game, they sometimes get really angry when losing (remember the last Quilmes-River in their stadium).. They just aren't a good crowd to be around when they get angry. If you like River, then sure, you might want to go there. But if you just want to see a match, no matter what team, I would recommend another one.

As far as I'm concerned, any team en el sur has asshole fans, but this one should be fine so long as your careful and take precautions ahead of time. I used to think the same way after some problems I had when I took the same train to La Plata a few years back, but I went about an hour before the game started and it was packed with rowdy fans, and wearing my jersey didn't help. I think it should be fine, but you're right about it not being the best match of the weekend.

[leoriver]

Well if River is playing Quilmes that day in Quilmes it will most probably be an early game with boca playing the late game vs Gimnasia.I think he shouln't have any problems.Remember Quilmes plays in a new stadium and vs River there will be more then enough police on hand.

I say go watch River,screw watching boca.

Dam I can't wait to go back.

[Paul_NL]

Why go to Quilmes if you are a neutral fan and can go to the Bombonera. There is really no contest if you are neutral

Arsenal is the one stadium that is not safe. No way I would feel safe there.

The line to Quilmes sucks but if you don´t bring any values with you. It might be an idea to go to the stadium right before kick-off and leave just before the game finish, you should be safe from possible crowd-trouble

[chicago millonario]

Why go to Quilmes if you are a neutral fan and can go to the Bombonera. There is really no contest if you are neutral

Arsenal is the one stadium that is not safe. No way I would feel safe there.

The line to Quilmes sucks but if you don´t bring any values with you. It might be an idea to go to the stadium right before kick-off and leave just before the game finish, you should be safe from possible crowd-trouble

I've never been to Arsenal's stadium or Sarandi for that mattter, so you know more than I do. Sucks though, since they have a pretty good squad. It's not like the Bombonera is that much safer though.

I would disagree with getting to the stadium before kickoff. That's when the barra brava arrive with their drums and flags and crap, and it gets really crowded. I don't know if you can actually leave the stadium before the game finishes, usually you have to be escorted out by the cops first.

[Paul_NL]

I've never been to Arsenal's stadium or Sarandi for that mattter, so you know more than I do. Sucks though, since they have a pretty good squad. It's not like the Bombonera is that much safer though.

I would disagree with getting to the stadium before kickoff. That's when the barra brava arrive with their drums and flags and crap, and it gets really crowded. I don't know if you can actually leave the stadium before the game finishes, usually you have to be escorted out by the cops first.

The Arsenal stadium is in the middle-Near of a villa. I don´t really feel safe there

I don´t think the guy will have a big problem with doce because he prolly will be on platea. If you go like 3-5 minutes before the end you can normally leave and don´t have to wait 30 minutes before the away fans have been escorted out.

[El viejo Matias]

If you want to see Tango you must be in San Telmo or La Boca, as for a good hunk of meat, Palermo has some great eats, so do most places in La Capital. Don't forget to order a Quilmes Imperial,,, God how I miss that beer.

[locoxriver]

I never said it would be the most dangerous thing in the world.. All I said is that the Quilmes fans are assholes, or is this not true?? They always pop the away fans tires in the parking lot during the game, they sometimes get really angry when losing (remember the last Quilmes-River in their stadium).. They just aren't a good crowd to be around when they get angry. If you like River, then sure, you might want to go there. But if you just want to see a match, no matter what team, I would recommend another one.

Haa.. What did I say? I warned that things can get rowdy in Quilmes' stands, and guess what happened today? :rolleyes:

By the way, voodoodiver, what match did you go see? Did you also manage to go to a "great tango club" and eat a "great steak"??

[voodoodiver]

Haa.. What did I say? I warned that things can get rowdy in Quilmes' stands, and guess what happened today? :rolleyes:

By the way, voodoodiver, what match did you go see? Did you also manage to go to a "great tango club" and eat a "great steak"??

What happened? Do you have a link?

i went to the Boca game and had a great time. Kind of a blowout but the fans were awesome. Of course who wouldn't be happy, up 4-0 in the 1st 15 minutes...

[Paul_NL]

What happened? Do you have a link?

i went to the Boca game and had a great time. Kind of a blowout but the fans were awesome. Of course who wouldn't be happy, up 4-0 in the 1st 15 minutes...

Riots.

How did you get tickets and where were your seats?

[voodoodiver]

We went through Go Argentina. Got 2nd level seats on the 18 yard line.

Saw the River handball on FSC last night, no wonder they rioted...