Friday 8th to Tuesday 19th September 2006: ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires
Argentina was never on our list of countries to visit. To be honest we were slightly prejudice against Argentina due to Englands history, i.e. The Falkands War and the 1986 World Cup `Hand of God´ incident all contributed to our reluctance in visiting this country. However, due to receiving so many good recommendations and reports from friends and fellow travellers we decided to include it in our itineray. After spending a few days in Buenos Aires we knew we had been totally wrong in our misconception of Argentina and were so glad that we had put aside our petty greivances and instead took the time to visit this amazing country and get to know its people.
According to our guidebook, to know Argentina we had to get to know its capital, Buenos Aires. A third of Argentina´s population live in the capital and with most of its inhabitants being of European descent, BA is the most European city in South America, reminding Celina a lot of Barcelona but it is actually known as the `Paris´of South America. Built on the Rio de la Plata inland from the Atlantic Ocean, Buenos Aires literally tranlates to mean `Good Airs´in reference to the winds that brought the first settlers to the city.
Buenos Aires is a city steeped in history and culture and is famous for being the birthplace of the national dance, Tango. We stayed in the wonderfully rustic and historic barrio of San Telmo, where the streets are narrow and cobbled, lined with beautiful colonial buildings and mansions. The barrio had once been the district for the very rich but after the yellow fever outbreak of 1871 the wealthy fled the area for the northern neighbourhoods leaving buildings to be taken over by squatters. Today the area is lived in by many artists and musicians giving the area a very bohemian feel. Each sunday tourists and locals alike flock to the to the Plaza Dorrego on the oldest street in the city, for the antique market and vibrant street performances, including tango.
We managed to fall in love with Buenos Aires in our twelve day stay there. We are not sure whether this is because it reminded us of home, being the most European place we´ve visited, or because of the excellent food and wine, the people (the locals, known as `porteños´ have been the most warm and welcoming we have encountered) or cheap shopping; whatever the reason, we know we will one day come back to Buenos Aires as it has been by far the best city we have visited in our travels so far.
According to our guidebook, to know Argentina we had to get to know its capital, Buenos Aires. A third of Argentina´s population live in the capital and with most of its inhabitants being of European descent, BA is the most European city in South America, reminding Celina a lot of Barcelona but it is actually known as the `Paris´of South America. Built on the Rio de la Plata inland from the Atlantic Ocean, Buenos Aires literally tranlates to mean `Good Airs´in reference to the winds that brought the first settlers to the city.
Buenos Aires is a city steeped in history and culture and is famous for being the birthplace of the national dance, Tango. We stayed in the wonderfully rustic and historic barrio of San Telmo, where the streets are narrow and cobbled, lined with beautiful colonial buildings and mansions. The barrio had once been the district for the very rich but after the yellow fever outbreak of 1871 the wealthy fled the area for the northern neighbourhoods leaving buildings to be taken over by squatters. Today the area is lived in by many artists and musicians giving the area a very bohemian feel. Each sunday tourists and locals alike flock to the to the Plaza Dorrego on the oldest street in the city, for the antique market and vibrant street performances, including tango.
We managed to fall in love with Buenos Aires in our twelve day stay there. We are not sure whether this is because it reminded us of home, being the most European place we´ve visited, or because of the excellent food and wine, the people (the locals, known as `porteños´ have been the most warm and welcoming we have encountered) or cheap shopping; whatever the reason, we know we will one day come back to Buenos Aires as it has been by far the best city we have visited in our travels so far.
Sundays bustling streets of San Telmo . . .
. . . Tango
. . . Singing
. . . Music
. . . and our attempt of the Tango!
posted by Oliver and Celina Goodfellow @ 1:17 PM
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