Page 317 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  315

Admission Prices
Many of the major museums
in Argentina’s bigger cities
are subsidized by the federal
or state government and are
therefore cheap, and often free,
to enter. The admission charge
is likely to be in the order of
US$1. In the free museums,
visitors are encour aged to
give a volun tary contri bution,
essential to the survival of these
underfunded institutions. To
enter private museums, visitors
should expect to pay around
US$4 to US$5. Note, however,
Visitors on the foredeck of a tour boat, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares that most such museums
have days (often Wednesday)
What to Wear shirt than in a rumpled suit when admissions are either
For visits to Buenos Aires and and tie. Every thing moves at a half-price or free. Entrance to
central Argentina, visitors slower pace outside the major MALBA in Buenos Aires (see
should bring light summer cities in Argentina, and in hotter pp114–15), for example, is
clothes and a rain coat for trips regions the after noon siesta still cheaper on Wednesdays.
taken between November and remains a popular custom. Cinemas are less expensive
March. The rest of the year, cold Monday through Wednesday.
winds, morning frosts, and even Language The door charge at nightclubs
snow can bring the tempe- varies substan tially, but is not
rature down. The official language of less than US$5 and can go up
During the summer in Argentina is Spanish, spoken to US$15 in the most modern
Patagonia, travelers must take by everyone in the main cities, and fashionable venues.
sunblock and clothes that cut towns, and inte rior. Outside the
out UV rays. Visitors will also university-educated middle Opening Hours
need to carry warm winter classes and those who work
clothing and harsh weather full-time in the tourism sector, Banks are generally open
gear, especially if visiting the English is not spoken widely. For from 10am to 3pm on week days
mountain areas. The northeast any one who is traveling off the and closed over the weekends.
and northwest are in the beaten track, a smattering of Museums, art galleries, and other
subtro pical region and have Spanish is a great advan tage. cultural venues usually open at
hot, humid days and sudden Small poc kets of native peo ple 10am and close at 7 or 8pm.
rainstorms. Nights in the speak Aimará or Quechua in the Most supermarkets and
Andean high plains are Northwest, and Guaraní is still shops, including big shopping
intensely cold all through the strong in Misiones and along malls, don’t close until 9 or
year and sweaters or llama the Paraguayan border. 10pm. Bars, pubs, and res-
wool ponchos are required. In Buenos Aires, many people taurants stay open very late,
still use elements of lunfardo, an making nightlife vibrant and
argot that arose in prisons in the lively. In the provinces, many
Social Customs and late 19th cen tury that is a mix of shops and services close in
Etiquette
Spanish, Italian, and Genovese. the afternoon for siesta.
Argentinians are generally
courteous but friendly and
informal, and have a relaxed
attitude towards protocol
and eti quette. Depending
on age and degree of
acquaintance, they greet one
another with either a kiss on
one cheek or a handshake.
Men practice the former as
well as a pat on the back, but
it is by no means universal.
If in doubt, proffer a hand.
Dress is typically casual
though it is better to attend a
business meeting in a smart Art exhibition space in Museo de Arte Latinoamericano, Buenos Aires

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