Chapter 16: Location and Directions

Argentine Spanish Level A2

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🎯 CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

After completing this chapter you will be able to:

• ✅ Use prepositions of place (en, sobre, debajo de, etc.)
• ✅ Give directions and instructions
• ✅ Navigate in Buenos Aires
• ✅ Understand the Argentine address system
• ✅ Solve transportation problems
• ✅ Ask for and give directions on the street

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📍 16.1. Prepositions of Place

Words that indicate where something is located.

📚 Basic Prepositions

EN (In, on, at):

• Estoy en casa (I'm at home)
• El mate está en la mesa (The mate is on the table)
• Vivo en Buenos Aires (I live in Buenos Aires)
• Trabajo en el centro (I work downtown)

SOBRE (On, over, above):

• El libro está sobre la mesa (The book is on the table)
• El cuadro está sobre la cama (The picture is above the bed)
• Puso el mate sobre el escritorio (He put the mate on the desk)

DEBAJO DE (Under, below):

• El gato está debajo de la mesa (The cat is under the table)
• Guardé las llaves debajo de la almohada (I kept the keys under the pillow)
• El subte pasa debajo de la ciudad (The subway runs under the city)

🔄 Directional Prepositions

AL LADO DE (Next to, beside):

• El kiosco está al lado del banco (The kiosk is next to the bank)
• Vivo al lado de la panadería (I live next to the bakery)
• El subte está al lado del shopping (The subway is next to the mall)

ENFRENTE DE (In front of, across from):

• La farmacia está enfrente del hospital (The pharmacy is in front of the hospital)
• Mi casa está enfrente de la plaza (My house is across from the square)
• El restaurant está enfrente de la estación (The restaurant is in front of the station)

ENTRE (Between, among):

• El café está entre el banco y la librería (The café is between the bank and the bookstore)
• Buenos Aires está entre el río y la pampa (Buenos Aires is between the river and the pampa)
• Me siento entre mis amigos (I sit among my friends)

🏢 Urban Locations

CERCA DE (Near, close to):

• Vivo cerca de la estación (I live near the station)
• Hay un kiosco cerca del subte (There's a kiosk near the subway)
• ¿Hay algún cajero cerca de acá? (Is there an ATM near here?)

LEJOS DE (Far from):

• El aeropuerto está lejos del centro (The airport is far from downtown)
• No vivo lejos de acá (I don't live far from here)
• Ezeiza está lejos de todo (Ezeiza is far from everything)

🇦🇷 Buenos Aires Examples

Neighborhood locations:

• "Palermo está al norte de la ciudad" (Palermo is north of the city)
• "San Telmo está cerca de Puerto Madero" (San Telmo is near Puerto Madero)
• "La Boca está al sur del centro" (La Boca is south of downtown)

Famous places:

• "El Obelisco está en el centro de la ciudad" (The Obelisk is in the center of the city)
• "El río está al este de Buenos Aires" (The river is east of Buenos Aires)
• "El aeropuerto está lejos del centro" (The airport is far from downtown)

Daily usage:

• "¿Hay un kiosco cerca de acá?" (Is there a kiosk near here?)
• "El subte está a dos cuadras de acá" (The subway is two blocks from here)
• "La parada está enfrente del cine" (The stop is in front of the cinema)

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🧭 16.2. Giving Directions

Expressions to explain how to get to a place.

📍 Basic Directions

TODO RECTO (Straight ahead):

• Seguí todo recto hasta la esquina (Go straight until the corner)
• Caminá todo recto por tres cuadras (Walk straight for three blocks)
• Por acá es todo recto (It's straight this way)

A LA DERECHA / A LA IZQUIERDA (To the right/left):

• Dobla a la derecha en la esquina (Turn right at the corner)
• Seguí a la izquierda hasta el semáforo (Continue left until the traffic light)
• Está a la derecha del banco (It's to the right of the bank)

🚶 Movement Verbs

CAMINAR (To walk):

• Caminá dos cuadras hacia el norte (Walk two blocks north)
• Tenés que caminar hasta la avenida (You have to walk to the avenue)
• Es mejor caminar que tomar el bondi (It's better to walk than take the bus)

DOBLAR (To turn):

• Doblá en la segunda esquina (Turn at the second corner)
• No dobles acá, seguí recto (Don't turn here, go straight)
• Tenés que doblar a la izquierda (You have to turn left)

SEGUIR (To continue, follow):

• Seguí por esta calle (Continue down this street)
• Seguí derecho hasta el final (Go straight to the end)
• Seguí las indicaciones (Follow the signs)

🏙️ Urban References

CUADRAS (Blocks):

• Está a tres cuadras de acá (It's three blocks from here)
• Caminá una cuadra y doblá (Walk one block and turn)
• Son cinco cuadras hasta la plaza (It's five blocks to the square)

ESQUINAS (Corners):

• Te espero en la esquina (I'll wait for you at the corner)
• Doblá en la próxima esquina (Turn at the next corner)
• Está en la esquina de Corrientes y Callao (It's at the corner of Corrientes and Callao)

AVENIDAS Y CALLES (Avenues and streets):

• Seguí por la avenida hasta el Obelisco (Follow the avenue to the Obelisk)
• Es una calle cortita (It's a short street)
• Cruzá la avenida con cuidado (Cross the avenue carefully)

🇦🇷 Porteño Style

Everyday expressions:

• "Seguí derecho nomás" (Just go straight)
• "Está acá a la vuelta" (It's around the corner)
• "No te podés perder" (You can't miss it)

Distance indicators:

• "Está re cerca" (It's really close)
• "Queda lejos un poco" (It's a bit far)
• "A unas cuadras nomás" (Just a few blocks)

Reference points:

• "Pasando el McDonald's" (Past the McDonald's)
• "Antes del semáforo" (Before the traffic light)
• "Al frente del cine" (In front of the cinema)

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🗺️ 16.3. Navigating Buenos Aires

How to get around the city and important reference points.

🚇 Subway System

Lines and colors:

• Línea A (light blue): Plaza de Mayo - San Pedrito
• Línea B (red): Juan Manuel de Rosas - Leandro N. Alem
• Línea C (blue): Constitución - Retiro
• Línea D (green): Catedral - Congreso de Tucumán
• Línea E (purple): Bolívar - Plaza de los Virreyes
• Línea H (yellow): Once - Hospitales

Subway directions:

• "Tomá la línea A hasta Plaza de Mayo" (Take line A to Plaza de Mayo)
• "Hacé combinación en 9 de Julio" (Transfer at 9 de Julio)
• "Bajate en la próxima estación" (Get off at the next station)
• "Está a dos estaciones de acá" (It's two stations from here)

🏛️ Important Reference Points

Downtown:

• Plaza de Mayo: Heart of the city, Casa Rosada
• Obelisco: Main symbol, on 9 de Julio Avenue
• Corrientes: Theater street, open 24 hours
• Florida: Pedestrian shopping street

Neighborhoods:

• San Telmo: Tango, antiques, Sunday market
• La Boca: Colorful houses, Caminito, Boca Juniors
• Palermo: Parks, nightlife, restaurants
• Recoleta: Cemetery, museums, upscale area

Transportation Centers:

• Retiro: Train, bus and subway hub
• Once: Important train station
• Constitución: Southern train center

🚌 Bus System (Bondi)

Line numbers:

• 29: Retiro - Pompeya
• 60: Constitución - Tigre
• 152: Olivos - Boca
• 168: Palermo - La Boca

Bus tips:

• "¿Este bondi va a...?" (Does this bus go to...?)
• "Avisame cuando llegemos" (Let me know when we arrive)
• "Quiero bajar en la próxima" (I want to get off at the next stop)

📱 Technology Help

Useful apps:

• Google Maps: Standard navigation
• Moovit: Buenos Aires public transport
• BA Cómo Llego: Official city app
• Uber/Cabify: Taxi alternatives

Payment and codes:

• SUBE: Public transport card
• Mercado Pago: Digital payments
• Código QR: QR code payments

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🏠 16.4. Argentine Address System

How addresses work and are read in Buenos Aires.

📮 Address Format

Typical structure:

Av. Corrientes 1234, 5º A
(1043) CABA
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Explanation:

• Av. Corrientes: Street name
• 1234: House number
• 5º A: 5th floor, apartment A
• (1043): Postal code
• CABA: Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

🏢 Floor and Apartment System

Floor names:

• PB (Planta Baja): Ground floor
• 1º (Primer piso): First floor
• 2º (Segundo piso): Second floor
• Sótano: Basement
• Azotea: Rooftop

Apartment identification:

• A, B, C, D: Apartment letters
• 1, 2, 3, 4: Apartment numbers
• Dto. (Departamento): Apartment
• Of. (Oficina): Office

📬 Mail and Deliveries

Giving addresses:

• "¿En qué dirección vivís?" (What address do you live at?)
• "¿Cuál es tu dirección completa?" (What's your complete address?)
• "¿Hay portero?" (Is there a doorman?)
• "¿Cuál es el código postal?" (What's the postal code?)

Package delivery:

• "Tocan timbre y suben" (They ring the bell and come up)
• "Dejá en portería" (Leave it with the doorman)
• "Llamá al celular" (Call the cell phone)

🗺️ Street Numbering

Even-odd system:

• Números pares: Even numbers on one side
• Números impares: Odd numbers on the opposite side
• 100 metros: Approximately 100 number difference

Example:

• Corrientes 1200: Even side
• Corrientes 1201: Odd side, across the street

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🚗 16.5. Transportation Problems and Solutions

Common transportation problems in Buenos Aires and practical solutions.

🚌 Bus Problems

Frequent problems:

• Paro: Public transport strike
• Corte de calle: Street closure, demonstration
• Tráfico pesado: Heavy traffic
• Bondi lleno: Full bus

Solution expressions:

• "¿Hay paro hoy?" (Is there a strike today?)
• "Mejor camino" (I'd rather walk)
• "Voy a esperar el próximo" (I'll wait for the next one)
• "¿Cuánto falta?" (How much longer?)

🚇 Subway Problems

Technical issues:

• Servicio interrumpido: Service interrupted
• Demoras: Delays
• Cambio de formación: Train change
• Estación cerrada: Station closed

Alternative solutions:

• "Tomemos un taxi" (Let's take a taxi)
• "Vamos caminando" (Let's walk)
• "Esperemos un poco" (Let's wait a bit)
• "Probemos otra línea" (Let's try another line)

🚕 Taxis and Remises

Safe travel:

• Radio taxi: Reliable taxi company
• Remis: Pre-arranged service
• Uber/Cabify: App-based
• Tarifa: Price schedule

Practical expressions:

• "¿Cuánto me cobrás hasta...?" (How much do you charge to...?)
• "¿Tenés cambio?" (Do you have change?)
• "Parame acá nomás" (Stop right here)
• "¿Podés esperar?" (Can you wait?)

🚶 Walking Safety

Safe areas:

• Microcentro: Safe during the day
• Palermo: Generally safe
• Recoleta: Safe neighborhood
• Puerto Madero: Modern and safe

Precautions:

• Celular a la vista: Don't show your phone
• Cartera cerrada: Keep your bag closed
• No caminar solo: Don't walk alone
• Evitar calles oscuras: Avoid dark streets

💬 Emergency Situations

Getting lost:

• "Estoy perdido/a" (I'm lost)
• "¿Me podés ayudar?" (Can you help me?)
• "¿Dónde está la comisaría?" (Where's the police station?)
• "Necesito llamar un taxi" (I need to call a taxi)

Emergency numbers:

• 911: Emergency
• 100: Fire department
• 107: SAME (Ambulance)
• 101: Police

🎯 Practical Tips

Time management:

• Hora pico: Rush hours (8-10, 18-20)
• Fin de semana: Weekends are calmer
• Feriados: Different schedules on holidays

Money saving:

• SUBE: Public transport discounts
• Bicicleta: Free bicycle system
• Caminar: Walking is free and healthy

Technology use:

• Wi-Fi gratis: Free Wi-Fi spots
• Apps útiles: Useful apps
• GPS: Always keep it on