[PerryinCA]

Andrew,

Really good to see you are still in good spirits and have a sense of humor despite everything that is going on down there. At the same time I want to wish you and yours the best! Keep us updated. I know I am not the only one who worries about you guys down there. Kinda odd that the only way I've talked to either of you is by the 'net...but still feel a sense of worry. The beauty of it all I guess. Stay safe, and watch your back till the country gets things cleared up. You save all the moral support I can offer from up here.

Regards,

Perry

PS - wish Joaco the best for me, and really...bith you guys need to reconsider the relocation thing. You know, we have pleasant weather, jobs, and beaches right here in California too! We could throw a "thank god they got outta that crazy place" party.

[Andrew007]

Originally posted by Biomanjcs72
WOW! I thought BMW's were cheaper everywhere else except here..(Of course in a country W/ a failing economy, one of the things that has inevitably been done is raising import tariffs).

told you, expensive country

I digress,b But I think w/ the given situation I would have asked, no, make that begged for anytype of relocation out of that country. I can't believe he's been shot twice and hasn't left.

I DID leave after the first time I got shot. After moving to Germany, I returned to pick up Joaco, I kinda knew what was going to happen -see past posts- and it finally DID happen -20 December 2001, see above link-

I'm only staying to help out J, we are getting ready to move out. Wife and baby first, to Germany, where he has family. It's not easy to say "I will just leave everything behind and start over" but if the time comes, Joaco will be the first one to jump on the plane. He will even push me down the stairs to get there first

[Andrew007]

Please allow me to post some pics:

[Andrew007]

Let me try again...

[Andrew007]

..and again dammit...

-I will try again tomorrow, doesn't seem to be my day...-

[Biomanjcs72]

Andrew, I like the personal responses, clears up Lots of misconceptions, but now that I see you're availiable to ask questions, I have one or three, but I"ll start simple.


So, is argentina like one of those 1st world/3rd world countries, where in the major city (ies), it's like 1st world as far as expense goes, but out in the country, rural areas, it's like 3rd world, interms of expenses, etc./

I've been to Costa RIca, and it was kind of like that, San Jose (the biggest city, and also the capital) was definately first world, but the rest of the country was bush.

[Andrew007]

Thank you very much Perry.
You know, in situations like this, if you can't keep your spirit up with some humor, you are cooked. And well done, not just medium

Bio,
sure thing, just shoot! -pun intended -

You are absolutely righ, it's like you said it. Argie has a population of 37 million, and 16 million live in Buenos Aires and it's suburbs.
Argie has at least twice more cows than people, no joke.

BUT, there is also a difference with countries like for example Brazil. Argentina was always proud of -still- having a middle class. Now the middle class is going poor, and we are turning into a 3rd world country in that aspect.

In Buenos Aires you look up and you think you are in Spain, France, Germany, depending on the architecture. VERY european.
You look down onthe street, and 50% of the cars are at least 10 years old. You go to the rural areas and 10% of the cars are new models, they belong to the people who own land.

You have exclusive areas in the city, were only tourists and people with a certain income go. This areas have private security on the streets, both in uniform and in street clothes. Even so, this areas are getting dangerous now. You walk 2 blocks from there and you can be happy taht you don't get raped with your clothes on. And you don't even notice when you cross the invisible line, you just have to know.

All malls in downtown Buenos Aires have security in the parking lot and inside the building, some people get kicked out. I'm not saying you have to be blonde and tall to enter, but you know what I mean.
The pathetic thing is that security guards are forced to ban the entrance to people who are from the same social level.

And that's were things are getting hot here. Poor against poor. Poor against 'rich' -yes, a BMW would mark you as rich, at least compared to poor people. They think because you are rich, they have to suffer. Like if you would be responsible for exploiting them, and blame you for not giving them jobs, food, and all the things the State is responsible for.
I do a lot of charity, I believe in sharing the wealth. But I don't like people shooting me on the chest because I have money and they want it. No matter how desperate they are, I don't support that. I could understand it, yes, but not aprove it.
Another problem: some politicians ARE aproving that. Giving the poor people they 'represent' the tap on the shoulder so that they feel safe ploundering supermarkets for food, or entering into private home to take what 'they don't have but deserve'.

The main problem in this country is corruption and selfishness of politicians. If they would only steal 50% the country wouldn't be were it is, and where it is heading to.

There is an old joke that goes something like this:
The president of Argentina visits a country in Europe and goes to the presinden't private home. He asks him how he is able to have such a nice house with his income.
The president replies:
-Do you see that highway over there?
-Yes.
-Ok, I paid for this house with 5% of it. Do you know what I mean?
-Ohh, ok.

The next year that president visits Argentina, and goes to the president's private villa. He can't believe his eyes, it's incredible. He then asks the Argentine president how he could afford that house with his income. He gets as reply:
-Do you see the airport over there?
-No..where??
-That's because I paid for the house with 100% of it

[Andrew007]

Sorry about the typos, but I dont have time to correct them. Here go the pics if I can manage to post them right this time.

**************
Ok, this explains it:

posting pictures

I will host them and then post them.

[Andrew007]

That was easy, here I go :

[Andrew007]

This is Joaco, unhappy with the menu

[Andrew007]

[Andrew007]

[Andrew007]

This is Joaco again, after trying to start the fire of a BBQ

Everybody sing along to the tune of Billy Idol!

Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight...!



-------------------------


I was right here sitting in the vehicle. Know the new image for fear. I almost needed diapers for a week after this thing....

[Biomanjcs72]

DUde, I'm glad you're alive.

[FISHme]

WOW!!!!!! No wonder we haven't heard from J !!!!!
My God , what a freekin mess !!!!!
It's strange that we don't see that stuff on the news here in the states.
Thanks Andrew !!

[FishKid]

look at the last pic no wonder why that is all happening! McDonalds just wanted some publicity (sp?)

mark

[Iron Crab]

Very Frightening!! I can't imagine living in something like that much less trying to get your family thru it to get out. Both you and J are in our prayers. Keep safe and keep us posted.
Bill

[nucleuscracker]

kinda makes life on the streets in some parts of the US look like a cake walk..

stay safe andrew.....

[Andrew007]

Sorry to pop up again like this, but I thought you might have an update of the situation.
First of all, thanx to all for the kind words.

Well...to make it short, we see sh!t hitting the fan soon. The economy minister just resigned. take a look of what happened till this morning -before this last resignation-

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/ba_home.html

I think a guy in that article resumes very well what the general feeling is, and as i said above, this is BEFORE the new crisis -resignation yada yada- :

At one crowded cash machine in the City, where word had got around that cash was available, 33-year-old systems analyst Luis Córdoba said he had been to 20 machines: “This is a rip-off. It’s our money. I think there’s going to be violence. This is going to explode.”

and the President said this morning -also before the new crisis-

“Banks cannot be closed permanently. It would be absurd to think of a capitalist system without banks. With or without a bond bill, banks will have to reopen and then only God knows what will happen,” the President told reporters.

I'm not God but I can tell you for sure nothing good will happen!


J's family is over the border already, not far but out of here already.
We have our passports in our pockets, just in case. Don't know what will happen or when, but it's going to be as ugly as a kick in the groin.

Andrew
pd: BTW, both my arms are ok again

[Mikeman]

my sister who's in chile is studying abroad, and was arrested yesterday because she didn't fill some slip out, I'm guessing that's better then her being shot.