Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SHOPPING
The main shopping street in the Center is Florida. Most travelers to Buenos Aires
take the obligatory stroll down this heaving pedestrian street, lined with shops and
vendors selling clothes, shoes, jewelry, housewares and cheesy souvenirs. Touts zero in
on tourists, offering currency exchange and leather jackets. We'll tell you now: you
won't find the cheapest prices on leather jackets here (try Calle Murillo or Calle
Aguirre instead) and you should definitely avoid changing money on the streets - fake
bills and other scams are an occasional problem here.
EL ATENEO
( 4325-6801; Florida 340 & 629; 9am-8pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat)
Buenos Aires' landmark
bookseller stocks a few books in English (including some Lonely Planet guidebooks) and
also has a decent selection of CDs. There are several branches within the city, including the
gorgeous
Grand Splendid
(Av Santa Fe 1860; 9am-10pm Mon-Thu, to midnight Fri & Sat,
noon-10pm Sun)
, a renovated cinema where Carlos Gardel got his career started; soak up the
glamour at the cafe, located on the old stage.
BOOKS, MUSIC
ARTE Y ESPERANZA
( 4343-1455;
www.arteyesperanza.com.ar
; Balcarce 234; 9am-6pm Mon-Fri)
This store sells fair-
trade, handmade products that include many from Argentina's indigenous craftspeople.
Shop for silver jewelry, pottery, textiles,
mate
gourds, baskets, woven bags and animal
masks. Also in
Retiro
(Suipacha 892)
.
CRAFTS & TEXTILES
EL COLECCIONISTA
( 4322-0359;
www.elcoleccionistacd.com.ar
; Esmeralda 562; noon-7:30pm Mon-Fri)
This music
store has an eclectic selection of jazz, blues, salsa, Celtic and symphonic rock CDs. It will
buy used musical instruments, so trade in that guitar or drum you're tired of lugging around
for a cool
bandone
รณ
n
(the accordion-esque instrument you'll hear in every tango band).
Staff members are knowledgeable.
MUSIC
