Friday I went to the Museo Nacional De Arte Decorativo or National Museum of Decorative Art. First an update of what’s happening here. The peso was propped up Thursday by the Central Bank and state run banks as they heavily intervened in the market to stop the peso from further weakening. The US gained two cents on the peso Friday, its highest value since 2002. When the banks offered $100 million dollars of its reserves, the peso settled at 3.622 pesos to one dollar. It’s the pesos lowest level since November of last year.   

If you think that your credit card interest rate is high, how about the interest rate for commercial construction in Argentina?  Argentine President Christina Ferandez complained about “the usurious interest rates” banks are charging private companies for infrastructure works. “Local banks have offered rates of up to 40 or 41 percent” she blasted.  Of course Argentina is  presently having a 20 percent inflation  rate and  real estate in Argentina is bought for cash, no low down payment and 30 year mortgage.

Back to the museum, the original structure was built by Mr. Matias Erazyriz and his wife Mrs. Josefina De Alvear. They resided in this huge palace with their two children.  The palace was the hub of many major social events until Mrs. Alvear passed away in 1935.  The remaining family sold the palace along with the art collection to the Argentine Government shortly thereafter.

The museum is huge, with four floors and a basement that was used for servants, boilers and garage. The museum holds over 4,000 exhibits, some dating back to the 15^th century.  It is well worth going to this museum if you happen to be in Buenos Aires. Just the workmanship of the building itself is worth the trip. The museum is located at  Av. Del Libertador 1902 in Buenos Aires. Their website is  Nacional De Arte Decorativo

So I called the bank again, after paying to rent a computer to get all the information the previous agent wanted.  I gave a new agent my card number, social security number and said, now do you want my mother’s name, my address and she cut me off and said “Oh, no you’ve given me enough information.”  (Grrr!) She got off the phone for a few minutes, came back and said they were upgrading my card, which was the problem, they were taking care of the problem now and I should be able to use my card in a few hours.  So today, I was able to use my card, its fun dealing with a bank, NOT! 

 

 

 Prior to traveling abroad, I advised my bank that I was traveling to Buenos Aires. What a surprise when I went to draw out some money and my card was rejected!  Calling the international toll free number  listed on the back of my card, (which does not  work here in Buenos Aires),  I was asked for my card number,  my social security number, my address, my mother’s name,  and then what was the last deposit or what was the last expenditure or my account number.  After 10 minutes, having none of that information, I gave up, went on line and got all the information that the agent for the bank requested.