Before I came to Buenos Aires, the friends had just returned from visiting in the city. We had a discussion about the rich-poor divide in the city, and wondered how and why Argentine friends said that there aren’t any bank loans available in the city. We have all been warned not to be flashy and stride along the streets of Buenos Aires thinking we're safe.
The Argentines I met also mentioned about the crime rate in the Buenos Aires. It’s common to be robbed at least twice in your residence there. Now, that’s not an assuring idea at all. The locals are quite blasé about it. Not just one, but many said that it’s cool to wear fakes so that at least when robbed, the monetary losses are minimal. !!! There's a sort of warped logic in that, yes. I’ve been hanging out at affluent Recoleta, which is a chic and fairly safe area in the city. Even the areas of Palermo seem okay. Our trips to anywhere are chauffeured, and I haven’t really felt unsafe in this city even when walking around the adjacent streets. I’ve been traipsing in the better parts of the city. I saw the slums though. After the associate told me about it, I went out of my way to drive past the slums. Sobering.
After some weeks here with a fair bit of interaction with Argentines, and a lot of background information gleaned from the necessity of research for work, I’m beginning to understand a little more of this vast country. The city functions, of course, somewhat. It’s in the middle of the run up to the October Presidential election which seems to sway towards no changes to anything. A lot of it has got to do with its current economic policies. The financial crisis of 2007 remains painfully fresh in people’s minds when the government slapped a tight withdrawal limit that’s almost ridiculous. It has since lifted, but people remember, and fear. The banking system in Argentina is generally non-existent, rather, its structure leaves much to be desired. The official stats of 12% inflation don’t reflect the reality. Your money is best kept in foreign banks.
Harrods came in 1914, expanded in 1920 and went bust in 1998. Then it got tied up in a mess of lawsuits. The building now stands empty and a portion of its floors serves as a venue for cultural events. There's talk of Harrods re-opening in Buenos Aires. It's been a long time coming. Last I heard, that was in 2003. I peered through the dark dusty windows and the interiors were desolately empty. If they don’t finish the discussions to refurbish and re-open soon, in another couple of years, the building will be derelict.
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