El Subte

Since our new apartment is a bit closer to a metro stop, we will probably be taking the metro more often. I figured this would be a good time to write a little post about our experiences with the metro system here in Buenos Aires. The Subte has five main lines labelled "A" through "E". However, all of the lines connect in the city's central business district, so it is not a very convenient ride unless you are commuting back and forth from downtown. Luckily, our university is located downtown, so we have the option of taking the Subte instead of the bus. Our's is the green "D" line. This is the most heavily used of all the Subte lines. Starting out in the Microcentro at the Catedral station, and continuing out through the Recoleta and Palermo neighborhoods, the green line ends in the leafy, residential neighborhhod of Belgrano at the Congreso de Tucumán station. This is a picture taken on the red "B" line:

(I am no longer wearing the moustache. It was groomed for a moustache-related social event.)

The cars on the red "B" line are much older than those on the green "D" line, which has modern well-lit cars (although still no air conditioning). Compared to other subways I have ridden, the Subte is about average. The stations are clean and urine-free, the stops are far enough apart to make it worthwhile, and the trains come every five or ten minutes. Oh, and the cost can't be beat. One ride costs less than US$0.30.