tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post8964472982861825837..comments2024-02-11T01:14:21.904-08:00Comments on SURVIVING IN ARGENTINA: Relocating to ArgentinaFerFALhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07578136334334588454noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-7089640717164353542009-02-25T21:56:00.000-08:002009-02-25T21:56:00.000-08:00It’s so nice site. We love to see more on this sit...It’s so nice site. We love to see more on this site. Keep on updating… MonkAreYou Bali *jkhnjljkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-52034924157497634002009-02-25T17:27:00.000-08:002009-02-25T17:27:00.000-08:00HI. My name is Rick. I am a retired government off...HI. My name is Rick. I am a retired government officer and live with my wife in an apartment in the La Perla district of Mar del Plata. If a US family wants to relocate to Argentina, you will truly love it as I do... provided you have an income from outside the country and are fluent in Spanish. Running a business here is not for the faint of heart... hard work alone won't get it. The biggest problem in my opinion is that the court system doesn't work. Period. I love the country, but it will never be a reasonable place to run a business until the courts quit acting like the mafia and act more like courts. Laws only apply to those without influence here. Rich kids cause accidents, driving Daddy's Land Rover like idiots while coked out of their heads, kill innocent people and get by without even a hand slap... it happens.<BR/><BR/>I love this country, but I live off my retirement, the occasional consulting gig, and the revenue from a few websites. All the revenue goes to my US bank account. My daughter goes to the bank once a month to wire us money from the account. Same for my wife who has some rental property income in the US, plus her teacher's salary in MarDel.<BR/><BR/>I have spoken Spanish since childhood, growing up near the Texas/Mexican border. My wife speaks no English, nor does anyone I know here.<BR/><BR/>Everything FerFal says about the security situation here is true, from my personal experience. If you are not extremely ready to confront an attacker here with deadly force, you would probably do a lousy job of protecting your family. The thugs here HATE anyone who has more than they, and have nothing but contempt for anyone who has less. If you like to fight 4 - 5 armed guys at a time, come on down, and... as Ferfal says, bring your camera.<BR/><BR/>I do security training for the armed forces of various countries, and have developed a 30-page report on issues for Traveler's Security. If FerFal gives permission, I will be pleased to email anyone who requests a copy. My email is rick_davis7@hotmail.com and can be reached on Skype as CapnRick. In it you will find that FerFal makes a lot of the same recommendations as I do, from a slightly different perspective. His view is really spot on for Argentina, whereas as my reports were developed from over 30+ years traveling the globe, mainly Latin America. Please feel free to reproduce, quote or forward the report as you see fit with no restriction or obligation.<BR/><BR/>We all need to help one another. I have been helped in many ways down through the years.<BR/><BR/>FerFal, I am a big fan. Feel free to edit this in any way. Please feel free to call me in MarDel via Skype or email me and I will email my Traveler Security report so you can look it over. I actually added some stuff your reports reminded me of that I had forgotten... so, I guess it's your report, too. Suerte to you and yours.<BR/><BR/>ps: your picture of the brave Dogo looks exactly like my white pit-bull/boxer mix... a 40 kilo female named Mafi, except her ears were not cropped. She is an EXCELLENT security dog. As you said... impervious to pain and as deadly as a shotgun. Only Dogo fans recognize that she is NOT one.CapnRickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07956729224568813679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-14269026969324405442009-02-25T05:09:00.000-08:002009-02-25T05:09:00.000-08:00in refference to the rings. there is another optio...in refference to the rings. there is another option that I personally like due to the durability (I work with my hands a lot and softer metals all end up beaten up over time) http://www.tungstenworld.com/<BR/><BR/>tungsten carbide. its very very hard and after several years of wearing it every day even when setting up concrete blocks etc it doesn't have a single scratch.<BR/><BR/>there has also been a trend shift towards stainless steal. would be another good option.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-87438405629371232902009-02-24T17:01:00.000-08:002009-02-24T17:01:00.000-08:001) Thanks, FerFAL. If I'm down there some time, I...1) Thanks, FerFAL. If I'm down there some time, I'll contact you. Argentina appears to be very gifted with a lot of natural resources -- fertile land, water, beautiful scenery, etc compared to many other places.<BR/><BR/>2) Is it best to have a good command of Spanish upon entry or is knowledge of common Spanish phrases enough for an English speaker to get by until one has been there for a month or so? <BR/><BR/>(I realize this depends upon the situation -- a businessman's needs are different from a retiree's, living in the countryside is different from downtown in a major city. I'm just interested in a general outline.)<BR/><BR/>3) Re automobile evasive manuevers, have you heard of the executive protection driving techniques to avoid ambushes? <BR/><BR/>Ex: Moonshine turn -- one slows to 30 mph, pulls the emergency brake, and then turns wheel strongly to throw the rear of the car around so that one is facing in the opposite direction and driving away from an ambush. <BR/><BR/>Or the J-turn -- in which you stop, accelerate strongly to the rear until you are at 20 MPH, then cut the wheel sharply to throw the front of the car around so one is facing back in the direction from which one came and can accelerate away from the ambush.<BR/><BR/>One thing not commonly mentioned is that you need to make sure your tires are fully inflated. Else, the tires may come off the wheels if you do one of the above manuvers. <BR/><BR/>In which case, the robbers will mock you cruelly with scorn and derisive laughter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-52038121979204009622009-02-24T14:06:00.000-08:002009-02-24T14:06:00.000-08:00If I plan to drive through Fuerte Apache - what yo...If I plan to drive through Fuerte Apache - what you would recommend?<BR/><BR/>Hey - I want to have some fun!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-55276062806230390292009-02-24T11:15:00.000-08:002009-02-24T11:15:00.000-08:00Is it possible to buy real estate in Fuerte Apache...Is it possible to buy real estate in Fuerte Apache or Villa 31 and live there?<BR/><BR/>:)<BR/><BR/>It got to be cheap...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-71598928780963549202009-02-24T11:12:00.000-08:002009-02-24T11:12:00.000-08:00I would never have imagined that it is that danger...I would never have imagined that it is that dangerous.<BR/>But still, there are some friendly people there.<BR/><BR/>What do these people do with "visitors"? Do they get assassinated?<BR/><BR/>"I put reverse, accelerated, turned 180 and got the hell out of there."<BR/><BR/>What happens if you continue driving in your car? Can they stop a car driving?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-62801722291240976002009-02-24T10:51:00.000-08:002009-02-24T10:51:00.000-08:00No, thanks, I'll give you directions on howe to ge...No, thanks, I'll give you directions on howe to get there but I wont go with you. Remember to take your camera :)<BR/><BR/>I once went into Fuerte Apache by mistake.(wrong Gral. Paz highway exit, 8 PM)<BR/><BR/>An older woman hurried in front of my car and started waving her arms “Run!Run! Get out of here!”<BR/><BR/>I swear they started closing in like rats, they came out of everywhere.<BR/>I put reverse, accelerated, turned 180 and got the hell out of there.<BR/>I know people that had similar experiences, stopped by neighbors or cops and told to get out of the place because it’s not safe.<BR/>What do you do? <BR/>RUN!:)<BR/><BR/>FerFALFerFALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07578136334334588454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8939666320943790100.post-69886681625557699382009-02-24T10:40:00.000-08:002009-02-24T10:40:00.000-08:00"Go into Villa 31 by mistake for example and they’..."Go into Villa 31 by mistake for example and they’ll swarm like rats from the building to rob you."<BR/><BR/>"I'll show you around a bit if you want, serious. :)"<BR/><BR/>Could you show me Villa 31?! :)<BR/><BR/>What do you do if you get swarmed and are on foot?<BR/>What do you do against multiple attackers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com