“che”: this expression is used to attract a person’s attention and allows addressing someone without using his or her name: “Che, ¿me podés decir la hora” (Che, could you tell me the time?). It expresses familiarity.

The porteños easily understand persons who speak Italian and Portuguese. Most people involved in tourist activities speak English.

Customs
Buenos Aires has always been an open-door city. Its inhabitants are called porteños, which makes reference to the fact that the city is a port. The inhabitant of the province of Buenos Aires is called bonaerense.

Porteños are warm and hospitable: they usually invite tourists for lunch or dinner at their homes and prepare typical food.

The characteristic infusion is the mate. It is prepared by pouring warm water into a gourd, also called mate that contains yerba mate.
Some people add sugar, but most prefer "un amargo" (a mate without sugar)

Safety
Buenos Aires is a safe city, but as in any other big city in the world, the tourist should take some precautions. For example, avoid leaving your purse or bag hanging from chairs in public places, as well as walking at night along poorly lit areas.
TOURIST OMBUDSMAN If, during your visit, suffer some kind of abuse or discrimination, communicate whit the Tourist Ombudsman, phone number: 4302 7816. To contact personally, can go to Ave. Pedro de Mendoza 1835 ("Benito Quinquela Martin" Museum) in the neighborhood of La Boca. From Monday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Tourist Police Station
This police station headquarters receives any formal complaints from tourists in cases of offenses, thefts, petty steal, losses, whereabouts and failed meetings.
It also works on crime prevention. You can here also receive help in the case of extraordinary procedures before embassies or consulates.

You will get information from people speaking in English, Italian, French, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Japanese.
Address: Avenida Corrientes 436
telephone: 0800 999 5000 / 4346 5748
mail: turista@policiafederal.gov.ar
TOLL-FREE TOURIST ASSISTANCE LINE
0800 999 2838 An easy telephone for a difficult situation. Call from any public telephone tooth. You can call to make a complaint about:

- Commercial abuse cases.
- Thefts, offences, petty steals, losses, whereabouts and failed meetings.
- Breach of services transactions.

In theses cases, Tourism Police Station, Tourism Ombudsman and the Bureau of Consumer Protection are involved to work.

Toll – Free Tourism Assistance Line, every day from 9 AM. to 8 PM. You will get assistance from people speaking Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian and French.