Hand-painted WiFi sign in a traditional Buenos Aires confiteria - Photo by Matias Dutto

BA hasn’t always been on the leading-edge in terms of new technology adoption, but it seems WiFi penetration in CapFed is off-the-charts…at least compared to other Latin American metros. Clarin’s iEco commissioned a study (Full Story) by BA-based Marco Marketing Consultants and found 1 hotspot for every 2,620 people in Buenos Aires, a 72% improvement over last year’s ratio of 1 to 4,476. The rapid expansion is attributed to the rapid drop in costs associated with adopting WiFi and the proliferation of notebooks and netbooks. Eduardo Tobis of Trends Consulting says the growth of WiFi in Buenos Aires is logical given the ease of installation:“You get broadboand access, you buy a router and you’re done.” According to the study, 72% of BA’s hotspots are found in restaurants, 12% in hotels and universities, and 8% in theaters and malls. And unlike many public hotspots in the U.S., almost all of the hotspots in BA are free. Consultant Enrique Carrier explains this local phenomenon: “If an establishment wants to charge, it’s simple…the client goes somewhere else.” The WiFi attracts locals and visitors alike, according to Nicole Brailovsky, the manager of Bar 6 in Palermo Viejo. But what happens if the WiFi is down? Brailovsky shoots straight,“Many people get up and leave.”

Source: flickr - Palermo Viejo streetscape taken by particleandparcel

Travel writer David Armstrong shares the sights; sounds; and red, meaty flavors of his first trip to Buenos Aires with San Francisco Chronicle readers, and the tales will surely inspire others to discover BA. Like many newcomers to Argentina, Armstrong says he arrived “with a jumble of images in my mind’s eye: lithe, beautiful dancers; huge, sizzling steaks; throbbing nightlife.” In reality, he savors all of that and more. A seasoned world traveler, Armstrong visits areas of BA and draws comparisons with Milan and Berlin. He and his wife settle down at La Otra Orilla, a Palermo Viejo B&B, and eventually fall in love with Palermo, a neighborhood he describes as “one big, delightful urban walkabout (teeming) with trendy cafes and shops, lively bars, toothsome restaurants.” The article also includes a Beginner’s Guide to Tango and Armstong’s Must See List for future travelers to BA including the MALBA, Plaza Dorrego and the Botanical Gardens in Palermo.