Visit Buenos Aires - Why You Should Go

Visit Buenos Aires - Why You Should Go

Drenched in European blood, sweat, and tears, Buenos Aires radiates as the cultural heart of Argentina. Inside its massive walls lies an impressive display of passionate people. French and Roman architecture, markets devoid of global brands, and a love for the arts graces every corner of the welcoming metropolis. Invisible in the daylight, the local inhabitants yearn for 10pm dinners filled with the intoxicating aroma of well-prepared meats and 2am social gatherings in vibrant clubs and milongas. Tourists trek down the historic cobblestone streets of bohemian San Telmo where street performers dance tango in the streets and countless antique shops offer up a farrago of vintage souvenirs. Tango, which originated here, is the soul of the city and any traveler must take a few lessons to really say they visited Buenos Aires.

Another favorite tourist activity to do is watch a soccer (futbol) game at La Bombonera stadium in La Boca. Two teams that will provide an exciting rivalry are the Boca Juniors and the River Plate. Police on horseback with riot gear are known to patrol for soccer hooligans; this is a good indication of the chaos that will follow. There are 11 players on a team. Boca's fans are nicknamed La Doce, "the 12th man". They are more like an entire army. The fever pitch never dies. Frenzied fans sing, yell, wave banners, and shake the stands: the heart beat of the 12th man. Ninety minutes later you will lose your voice, lose your lunch, and overturn a car (just kidding).

Buenos Aires inhabitants are called Porteños, and they can be found hanging out in cafés at all hours, sipping on maté (herbal tea) and conversing with friends. It is impossible to avoid dulce de leche here; this caramel spread is smeared on everything from breakfast pastries to desserts. Aficionados will look no further for a world-class steak. Meat is a religion to Porteños and you must try the asado. When you pass a grill, or parrilla, the smell of this style of barbeque will make your mouth water and has been known to convert some vegetarians.

Getting around is best by foot so you can feel the pulse of each neighborhood. Palermo is the largest. Palermo Woods is a 62-acre city park. Here you will find the Buenos Aires Zoo, Planetarium, and Japanese Gardens, the World's largest outside of Japan.

A major tourist attraction is La Recoleta Cemetery. The dead have their own neighborhood where city blocks consist of elaborate and decorative mausoleums. Presidents and other influential Argentineans have crypts here including the famous Eva Perón.

Much like Perón and Argentina’s present president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentinean women are smart and beautiful. This could be due to the high influx of Europeans over the years. Settlers from Italy, Spain and many other European countries have mixed with the Amerindian ancestry to form an eclectic culture. Similar to the United States, this is a country of immigrants.

So it turns out Argentina is not just for Nazi war criminal absconders. Affable European and mestizo descendents make this cosmopolitan city bloom all year round. Porteños are very friendly so don’t be scared to make new friends while you are in Buenos Aires. Remember, it takes two to tango.

M.E. Cohen