Coming back after so many years was interesting. In the '80s the inflation was so bad, that an espresso was 2,400,000 pesos. Tourists would keep receipts as souvenirs! When I left, the currency was called Austral and Alfonsin's government had a lot of problems.
The convertibility happened after we left; it was then, I think in the early '90s, that many Argentines got a chance to travel all over the world. It was the famous "deme dos" (I'll take two) era. A friend used to joke that, in Miami Argentines would buy two of everything and in Chile three of everything ("deme tres"). In the summer of 1993, she and her parents visited 23 countries in two months, her dad was a lawyer.
Taxis were cheaper than now, comparatively.
It is sad to see neighborhoods like Recoleta in such a bad shape, so much neglect. Caballito has exploded, it is so much busier now, so many more buildings, and many of the gorgeous old casonas are gone. But Belgrano has kept its charm.
Back in those years Carrefour had giant supermarkets just outside of the city and Disco was the best supermarket chain. There was one on Scalabrini Ortiz and Cabello that, back then, had a great produce department, very similar to Loblaws in Canada.
Would you believe that I haven't yet been to the Costanera? I know it's going to be very sad to see that none of what used to be a splendid gastronomic experience is no more. On weekends, families from all over the city would go to La Costanera. The restaurants there were beautiful and offered fantastic parrilladas and impeccable service. We used to go to Happening and A los amigos, two of the nicest restaurants back then. You'd also see people fishing and eating at the puestos de choripán.
