A pony's reflection in the water in Argentina © fainmen
Argentina is a country of immense beauty and proportions. Its
geographic diversity spans the most breathtaking terrain from
Antarctica, through the wild, glacier-filled mountains of Patagonia
and massive open plains of La Pampas to the deserts and tropical
jungles in the north.
The country can be enjoyed for its natural wonders alone, but no
visit here could be called complete without stepping into its soul,
its capital city. The elegant Buenos Aires is home to 40 percent of
the population, and is a buzzing metropolis with a rich, passionate
and tortured history that is integral to its character. It is
Europe and South America contained in one geographical location,
with elements of the unknown around each corner. It is familiar and
strange at the same time, but at its very core, wonderfully
welcoming.
Along the elegant avenues of the fashionable districts,
sophisticated diners observe passers-by while they sip strong
coffee or enjoy smooth cervezas. There is a constant smell of meat
grilling from every corner and sidewalk that reveals the Argentine
passion for 'asado'. Neither glamour nor passion is in short supply
in this cosmopolitan hub where Porteños are equally versed
in football, politics and fashion.
There are disparities between the rich and poor, with many
people living in near slum conditions in the outskirts of Buenos
Aires. Since 1992 the economy has teetered near collapse due to
corruption and government mismanagement, prompting regular and
sometimes violent demonstrations. However it is business-as-usual
as far as tourism is concerned; in fact, the resultant devaluation
of the peso has made the country much more affordable for
travellers.
