Buenos Aires in 11 Memories

Buenos Aires, a Unique Capital

11 Memories of Buenos Aires and Favorites

• The tree-lined streets of Buenos Aires I love wandering through the streets of Buenos Aires! I keep in mind the image of these well-defined streets, with beautifully architected houses and tree-lined sidewalks. This little touch of green gives a village aura to this sprawling city and creates the impression, for a brief moment, of being in a European city...
• The dog walkers Two types of walkers caught my attention: during our first trip, I was charmed by the dog walkers, and during the second, amused by the joggers. Dog walkers One of the first images that comes to mind when I think of Buenos Aires: the dog walkers! Seeing a young man (sometimes a young woman) holding onto a dozen dogs on leashes, surrounded by this canine herd: it is truly unusual... and adorable! Argentines love dogs but often live in apartments and don't necessarily have the time for long walks. This makes the profession of dog walker a great solution. The most incredible part is that these dogs appear so well-behaved and happy to be out walking like that, a real pack on leashes! Joggers It's quite astonishing to see the number of people running in Buenos Aires. They run everywhere: in the streets, parks... Sometimes alone, but often in groups. The new trend, our Argentine host warns us. Now, to >, one must be seen in tight-fitting clothes, sweating with a smile while maintaining a light jog... > (as they say).
• The kindness and hospitality of Argentines I often speak about the kindness of people met during our travels in Latin America... and Argentina lives up to this beautiful reputation for warm hospitality. I even think it ranks near the top of our list! If you get lost on the street, you barely have time to unfold a map or check street signs before an Argentine offers to help you. Out of sheer kindness (unlike what we have experienced elsewhere). And when they noticed my French accent, they immediately expressed interest in my origins, Europe, my culture, and my perspective on their country. I recall our arrival in Buenos Aires and our desperate search for the right bus to reach our host's home. Arriving at the right stop, we noticed that we didn't have the necessary change to pay for our tickets. Spontaneously, a young Argentine offered us two spots on his card. Once on board, when we tried to repay him, he refused almost indignantly: it was all natural. Of course, he was inviting us! What a wonderful welcome in the capital!
• The Argentine accent While Argentines are very kind, they are also sometimes (often?) difficult to understand! The Argentine accent is quite something! For instance, the > (the sound >) is pronounced as >: > (beach) or > (street) thus becoming > and >. Not simple at all! Additionally, beyond the accent, many Argentines in the capital have a nice Italian melody in their way of speaking. A beautiful mix that further gives us the impression of being back in Europe for a few seconds...
• A multicultural city You don't need to wander around Buenos Aires for long to capture its multicultural vibes and influences: Spanish and Italian, of course, but also Jewish, Polish, English, and Arab.
• A city of parks Buenos Aires radiates a green city atmosphere not just through its trees lining the streets: there is an impressive number of parks in the center, some even referred to as >.
• The cemeteries In Buenos Aires, it seems there are as many parks as there are cemeteries! And these are nothing like the cemeteries back home, as cemeteries, just like death, are part of the daily life of South Americans. Strolling and visiting cemeteries is thus something normal: in fact, it's one of the first things our Argentine host suggested we do during our first stay in Buenos Aires!
• The boat tour of the Tigre Delta Certainly one of my best memories of Buenos Aires! I never expected to discover this kind of scenery in the Argentine capital (or very close by). We set off on an expedition with our host, to relax with a boat tour through the Tigre canals. I haven't been to the Mississippi yet, but it's the kind of scenery I imagine finding there: an unusual charm in Buenos Aires in my eyes! Everything seems so peaceful on these still canals. The houses also appear out of time: a journey to a not-so-distant era, where villagers would travel by boat from house to house to take children to school or meet weekly in their little wooden church. I would love that, for a weekend, to live along these shores...
• The tea rooms What a pleasure to see all these tea rooms, with their retro or belle époque charm, lining the streets of Buenos Aires! Welcomed sweet breaks during our daily explorations! The locals seem to be just as crazy about sweet breaks as I am, with breakfasts of croissants and exceptionally sweet desserts!
• Argentine cuisine I can't talk about my dietary indiscretions without saying more about the cuisine in Buenos Aires! What a delight it is to eat there! Yes, let me reassure you right away, Argentines are true to their reputation as great meat eaters! I think we will remember for a lifetime that family barbecue on the roof of a building where plates of meat came one after another without end! There must have been about 4.5 pounds of meat per person at least! Oh yes, another reputation of Buenos Aires: Italian cuisine is very well represented there. A treat for lovers of pizza and ice cream.
• The tango To beautifully conclude this dive into my memories of Argentine tango. Cliché? Yes, probably. But not just that! While tango is omnipresent in the touristy streets of La Boca, it is also found in the little bars unknown to tourists, much to the delight of Argentines. Tango has always given me chills. It has this intense, passionate, and carnal quality. A languorous seduction, a powerful attraction: impossible not to be moved! But let's be honest, it's not a dance that can be improvised or learned in two minutes. It's a real art! Nevertheless, curious to discover the fundamentals of tango, we went to take a little tango class in Buenos Aires. Fortunately for us, this embarrassing moment was not filmed! What was the result? Two crushed feet each! But a certainly fun moment! Our teacher, very patient, took the time to demonstrate moves, trying to slow the pace so our eyes could decipher the sequences of steps and movements... I realized how much he held back his steps during the performance that followed. Seeing him on stage, >, it felt like observing a bird that moments ago was trapped in a small cage finally take flight and spread its wings wide. Yes, that show truly dazzled us! Sitting in the balcony, we dined while admiring their technique, as well as the evolution of tango. A historical immersion through different rhythms and costumes from each era. Our verdict: a good meal, a beautiful show... and a lovely evening.

Buenos Aires, Tender Memories