Buenos Aires Mini Guide
Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and the name means Fair Winds or Good Air in Spanish. It is a huge city with more than thirteen million residents who refer to themselves as Portenos, which means people of the port. This cosmopolitan city has attractive and proud inhabitants, wonderful cultural activities like tango dancing and amazing restaurants, shopping and nightclubbing.
Buenos Aires is imposing in its size with huge eight lane roads and buildings which dwarf most of those you are used to seeing in Europe, even in
London and
Paris. Yet Buenos Aires has a very European feel with intensely refined cafes, parks and streets where you can see the locals out to all hours.
There are 48 districts in Buenos Aires which are known as barrios. Among them San Telmo has beautiful architecture and plenty of Argentinian charm. Look out for the beautiful colonial houses. Downtown is known as Microcentro and this has interesting old streets as well as great shopping. La Boca is where the colourful buildings mirror the passionate natures of the residents and controversy is never very far away.
Boedo is as good a place to eat out as it is to learn how to dance the tango. Recoleta is very upmarket and you will see the influence of
French architecture on the buildings there. Also don't miss the Reserva Ecologica Costanera Sur within the Puerto Madero as this is a lovely place to go walking.