Dear Robin:
Let me add some first hand observation from here.
I live in Patagonia, one thousand kilometres south from Buenos Aires.
Now we are spending with my family christmas and new year between Buenos Aires and Parana (a city 450 north from B.A.) I compare the feelings and mood of the common people on the street with those of December 2001.
This December it looks that you were walking on the streets of another (better) country.
More spendings of gifts, more opportunity to buy houses and cars, lots of marketing campaigns selling mobile telephones with cameras...Also the total number of PCs sold during 2004 is something that surprised every one.
Another interesting thing is that from all the argentinians with double citizenship that "emigrated" to Spain and Italy, 80 percent has already returned to Argentina.
My sister living in Germany was here in 2001, just in the middle of the crisis.
Now she is here for a short holidays and said " Che! (argentinian equivalent for Hey!) you argentinians are always crying but I see Buenos Aires much better than in 2001".
Also my brother in law, living in California, wasn´t here since 1994 (imagine the headache to balance familiar meetings these days). In different words and regarding to Parana city he said more or less what my sister expressed.
Happy new year for everyone!
Miguel