On the #10 bus the other day I saw this sign above the exit door …. good advice to remember as you’re stepping out into the world or returning to your home: “If you want to improve the world, give love to your children. It’s free!”

If you take the bus in Buenos Aires, which you should do sometime, you will have discovered that some of the bus stops are hard to find. Some bus stops, like for the #10, are indicated by no more than a little sticker slapped on a utility pole. Over the last year I’ve been observing this bus stop sign that is being slowed enveloped by a tree. Earlier this month I finally got around to taking a photo.

Actually, I don’t think that this stop is still in service. It’s on Av Chile near Puerto Madero and just around just around the corner from an interesting set of abandoned buildings that Robert talks about over at line of sight.

Look closely at the top of the sign and notice how the tree is pushing the letter “R” off the sign.

I came across a posting about riding the bus as one of the things that tourists don’t do in Buenos Aires. I suspect that’s true for the most part. I highly recommend that visitors give the buses a chance.

But as everyone knows figuring out which bus to take is very confusing, but this post does a pretty good, illustrated job of explaining how to ride the bus in Buenos Aires.

The other day on her blog Diva pointed out that you can do a cheap tour of Buenos Aires on the #24 bus. I take that bus often and it does have a lot of highlights.

But for the adventurous among you the #39 also offers an exciting journey. Catch the 39 where it starts in Chacarita or somewhere in Palermo, perhaps around Plaza Italia before the bus makes its way down Av Santa Fe. Eventually the bus will turn down Talcahuano and head down towards the barrio of Constitución.

Now, this is where the fun begins and I recommend that you take this tour at night, preferably after 11pm. Yeah, they run fewer buses at that time and it will be crowded but if you got on in Palermo then you should have found a seat without a problem. And you’ll definitely want a window seat as you travel through Constitución.

As the bus turns from Santiago del Estero onto Pavón keep an eye out the window for the prostitutes working that corner. There are usually quite a number in that area, many of whom strike quite a pose in only their knee-length boots, panties, and bras. But look closely before disembarking to sample the merchandise, any that look too feminine are probably guys.

If you stay onboard the 39 after this point, then you will soon be treated to seeing the magnificient and (at night) illuminated Constitución station. It really does look quite nice and, actually, is a serious reason for taking the 39 in the evenings. Most passengers will depart here in order to take a train somewhere to the south. But you’ll probably want to stay on the bus for a while longer.

The 39 continues past Constitución and into the lower edge of San Telmo, turning eventually onto Av Caseros. You’ll probably want to get off at the corner of Caseros and Bolivar. It’s perfectly safe there anytime of the night. From there you can walk one block over to Defensa and then up another block to have a drink at Hipopótamo or the new Bar Británico. Or, you can follow Diva’s advice and pick up the 24 bus for the night tour in the other direction.

Yanqui Mike has a cool image celebrating Felix Día del Transporte…all sorts of things happen on the buses in Buenos Aires.

Update: I notice that Constitución station is no longer illuminated at night. Perhaps it’s a cost/energy-saving issue. Oh, well, it’s still worthwhile to take the bus by the station anyway.

This post inaugurates a new category – On the bus – an occasional series of anecdotes from travels on the city buses.

Country Music

Growing up in a small town outside Nashville I often heard country music playing somewhere almost every day. No surprise that in Buenos Aires I’ve rarely heard country music. But today as I hopped aboard the #17 bus in Recoleta the driver was playing country music on the radio. I didn’t even know there was a country music radio station in Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the traditional country sounds of George Jones or the edgier, hardly country, Johnny Cash but the twang of Brooks & Dunn or some other modern, commercialized country music act.

Empty then full

The #17 starts somewhere around Plaza Francia, so there’s hardly any riders as it passes through Barrio Norte. But the bus fills up as it passes through downtown on the way to the southern parts of the city. Ultimately, the bus becomes jam packed as all those who must ride standing grasp the overhead rail.