April to July 2005. Argentina, Ecuador, Cuba, Spain, London, New York.

Friday, April 22, 2005

On bargain hunting

On my current reckoning prices here are about half in terms of Australian dollars - last time it was more like 1/3. Still, it makes it nice for the traveller. Rent here is damn expensive - people spend about 2/3 of their salary on it, which is kind of frightening. Clothes are looking pretty attractive - lots of shoes at good prices, but luggage limits are going to restrict me from an Imelda turn. At the moment I'm pacing myself, seeing what's around, before I commit to some serious wardrobe replacement. I have actually found an outlet store district - but let's face it, you mostly get what you pay for (ie, cheap clothes that you wouldn't otherwise buy). I don't want people to think I'm an outlet store person - no, the true bargain hunter finds what the general populace can't. Of course, the dilemma for the foreigner is working out whether what seems like a groovy store is perhaps locally maligned. Kind of like finding clothes you want in Just Jeans. The best bargain so far is the discovery of free wi-fi access at Havanna (which is kind of like Starbucks I guess, but not Starbucks, so that's ok) from which I am typing this post. Just a ten-minute stroll across Parque Las Heras, where hundreds of dogs are engrossed in continual debate. So far in Me vs Sidewalk Accident, it is 0-0, although I can't really see how I can get ahead.

Pictures of the apartment I'm staying in can be found here.