Need advice: Wintering in BA or Asuncion?
I'm retiring from my regular job and planning to winter in South America each year until I get frail (hopefully another 15 years or more). My plan has been to spend the winters in Asuncion with occasional trips to Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata. The main attraction of Asuncion is cheap living, including low-cost chicas. But now I read on this forum that a guy with a dollar can get six pesos, and I also read that there has been little increase in privado fees. So now I am re-evaluating: Asuncion or BA?
When I am in Asuncion, I walk to a privado at about 11:30 AM every morning and spend a pleasant hour. I like beautiful young women (lots of variety) , some of whom truly enjoy completo, in clean rooms with showers. I get these services for $34 to $55 (of course you can pay less if you don't mind dirty sheets, dirty floors, and dirty showers down a dirty hall). In addition, there are opportunities for privado girls to visit my apartment on Sunday afternoon. Many are stunningly beautiful. I have no interest in night mongering or bars, except the kinds of bars where you get together with European expats and discuss the meaning of life (very few Americans in Asuncion, but there are some very interesting local guys and lots of Germans).
I can get a 4-month rental of a 1-bedroom apartment in a secure high-rise (with nice view from balcony) for about $400 per month (including utilities and internet access). Food and restaurants are cheap, and some food is very good if you know where to go (however, beef tends to be low in quality across the board). I love the 10-cent grapefruit even though it has a lot of seeds, and other local produce is also very cheap. I do most of my own cooking.
So, here is the question: How much more would I have to pay in Buenos Aires for the same privado experience and a decent 1-BR apartment (not necessarily a high-rise, which is essential in Asuncion because of the damned buses)? Has the blue market for dollars leveled the playing field? If my needs are so simple, is there a neighborhood that would be particularly beneficial (on my three trips to BA I stayed in tiny studio apartments in the Microcenter, but I could not live in 350 sq feet over time). I would not mind living in an out-of-the-way neighborhood as long as it was safe and full of clean privados.
Of course there are other considerations. BA has less crime, less violence, and less police corruption. I worry some about the recent soft coup that deposed Lugo (is armed insurrection possible?). BA has much more in terms of culture and education. The tap water in BA can be filtered but the Asuncion tap water is too muddy for filtration (I hate bottled water). The taxis in Asuncion are cheaper, but the subway in BA is cheaper still (and the buses are better). A big advantage of Asuncion, however, is that I have made some friends there, and I enjoy the idea of living far off the beaten path away from tourists (one of my goals would be to learn Guarani).
Can you provide advice?
Not sure if someone already pointed this out
January in Bs As is dead, compared to the rest of the year. If you just want to sweat and nail the second string chicas, it might be ideal (less congestion on the streets, etc).
I like the weather in Bs As, all year long. My first trip was in July on the day of the Great Blizzard of '07. I brought an overcoat with me. I think that was the last time I brought any form of an overcoat. On the coldest of days, I just throw a thin cashmere sweater under my suit coat or sport coat and I am good to go. Even on those days, they seem to start off chilly and warm up dramatically towards midday (more so than you would find say in NYC on the corresponding day). If it rains, I just move a little more quickly, getting in and out of cabs and privados. The weather reminds me of living in Italy. I'd rather have to thrown on a sweater than sweat my balls off.
As for the warmer months, I have greatly enjoyed my time in Bs As during the Spring as well as Feb-May (my idea of warm might be a few degrees cooler than most).
I like San Telmo, though I have never stayed there. I think it was Dickhead that mentioned getting an idea of what is available on one of the apartment sites. I second that motion. I also suggest mapping the locations and getting an idea how far away you would be from the things that you desire. I'd pay a little more to be closer to my favorite past times.