Buenos Aires

The “Paris of South America,” Buenos Aires is often ablaze with blossomed romance, passionate tango, or rocky politics. Perhaps it is the fiery passion of Latin America – tempered a little by its people’s acquired European sensibilities – that makes everything in the city seem larger than life. The streets are as wide as one can imagine. Fancy cars rip through these roads every now and then. Some are lined in cobblestones, while others are just like any cosmopolitan street, fast-paced and frantic. Tango is in the air, cut only by occasional riffs of rock and roll. The uppity strut in their fur coats and jewelry as street children sift through garbage dumps. Cafés are rife with lively conversation.

The Argentine capital has been at the center of several political upheavals. Through these, the people have endured. Life goes on, and the city has grown with it. One still feels the frenzy of action and change though during nightly walks along the Avenida Corrientes. The street comes alive with employees on their way home or stopping by the theaters for a movie nightcap. Stalls hawking greasy pizza and faena assault the senses, while bookstores arouse curiosity. The traveler is wise to hang around and just take these all in.

Tango is best learned in Buenos Aires. The city is its birthplace after all. Joining a milonga is the traditional and least expensive way to do this. At the milonga, one can experience real tango. Everyday people come up and dance. Lessons are offered prior to the dance proper.

There is so much more that Buenos Aires offers. After all, this city of 202 square kilometers is an exciting mix of communities and cultures. Travelers to the city need a valid passport and visa to get to Argentina. Visiting Buenos Aires is generally safe, yet it is advised to be mindful of one’s belongings.