12 Little Tid-Bits about Buenos Aires
“The Paris of South America”, as it's often called -- Buenos Aires is an up-beat city with old-school Euro charm. In February, Suzanne and I had the pleasure of spending a few weeks in BA, exploring some of its many barrios (neighborhoods), and interacting with "porteños" (people of Buenos Aires, the port city). Here’s the scoop:
1. They’re sexy
Porteños are mostly 3rd generation Italians and Spanish, and that’s a nice pair of genes. Beyond their natural beauty, dark complexion, and other sexy built-in features — people of Buenos Aires also tend to be fashionable and well-groomed, which only magnifies their super sexyness.
Don’t believe me? I have proof! Below is a photo of an actual couple we met from Buenos Aires... Axel and Belu (even their names are sexy)... and if they read this post it will be super awkward. These photos haven't been air-brushed or enhanced in any way — this is just a sexy Buenos Aires couple on holiday:
1. They’re sexy
Porteños are mostly 3rd generation Italians and Spanish, and that’s a nice pair of genes. Beyond their natural beauty, dark complexion, and other sexy built-in features — people of Buenos Aires also tend to be fashionable and well-groomed, which only magnifies their super sexyness.
Don’t believe me? I have proof! Below is a photo of an actual couple we met from Buenos Aires... Axel and Belu (even their names are sexy)... and if they read this post it will be super awkward. These photos haven't been air-brushed or enhanced in any way — this is just a sexy Buenos Aires couple on holiday:
2. Romantic
Park benches in BA aren't just for sitting, they’re for smooching (xoxo). Couples are very passionate, and public affection is A OK. Young couples like to sneak away from their parents house to pay-by-hour hotel rooms (which are clean and tacky, not grimy). And it’s not just the youngsters… elderly couples can be spotted smooching about the parks, and whispering naughty secrets followed by devilish giggles. Which segways perfectly to #3…
3. Babies everywhere!
I guess it makes sense. A city full of beautiful, romantic people who are all attracted to each other - and want to make as many mini replicas of themselves as possible. Of course there are babies everywhere!
4. Ridiculous trees
Throughout the streets and parks of BA live giant, gnarly trees I thought only existed in cartoons, story books, and haunted houses. The branches are so big and long, crutches are sometimes needed to hold them up. I’ve even seen jam sessions happening up in the magnificent trees of BA!
Park benches in BA aren't just for sitting, they’re for smooching (xoxo). Couples are very passionate, and public affection is A OK. Young couples like to sneak away from their parents house to pay-by-hour hotel rooms (which are clean and tacky, not grimy). And it’s not just the youngsters… elderly couples can be spotted smooching about the parks, and whispering naughty secrets followed by devilish giggles. Which segways perfectly to #3…
3. Babies everywhere!
I guess it makes sense. A city full of beautiful, romantic people who are all attracted to each other - and want to make as many mini replicas of themselves as possible. Of course there are babies everywhere!
4. Ridiculous trees
Throughout the streets and parks of BA live giant, gnarly trees I thought only existed in cartoons, story books, and haunted houses. The branches are so big and long, crutches are sometimes needed to hold them up. I’ve even seen jam sessions happening up in the magnificent trees of BA!
5. Secret hand signals
Like Italians, Porteños like to talk with their hands. There are many hand gestures with different meanings. My favorite is the gesture for "watch out" - which is signaled by pointing to one's own eye, or pulling down the bottom eye-lid with ones index finger.
After a Saturday night fiesta, Suzanne and I were on a late-night bus back to our apartment when a local fellow invited us to a party for some dancing. An old lady discretely gave us the eye signal ("watch out")... and when a wise old lady gives a warning like that, it's not to be taken lightly. We heeded her warning and made our way back home instead of going to a strangers party at 3am.
Look! Suzanne is telling you to "watch out" right now, so be very careful reading the rest of this post.
Like Italians, Porteños like to talk with their hands. There are many hand gestures with different meanings. My favorite is the gesture for "watch out" - which is signaled by pointing to one's own eye, or pulling down the bottom eye-lid with ones index finger.
After a Saturday night fiesta, Suzanne and I were on a late-night bus back to our apartment when a local fellow invited us to a party for some dancing. An old lady discretely gave us the eye signal ("watch out")... and when a wise old lady gives a warning like that, it's not to be taken lightly. We heeded her warning and made our way back home instead of going to a strangers party at 3am.
Look! Suzanne is telling you to "watch out" right now, so be very careful reading the rest of this post.
6. Hooked on mate
There's a magical substance in South America called yerba mate (pronounced "MA-tay")... a tea-like beverage (hot water seeped in ground-up yerba leaves) infused with a jolt of caffeine. Porteños not only love it... they're addicts! They walk around town with their big thermos of mate like it's a life-support system they would die without. It's also a bonding experience -- sitting around the park with a few friends passing around the mate cup -- like a peace pipe!
There's a magical substance in South America called yerba mate (pronounced "MA-tay")... a tea-like beverage (hot water seeped in ground-up yerba leaves) infused with a jolt of caffeine. Porteños not only love it... they're addicts! They walk around town with their big thermos of mate like it's a life-support system they would die without. It's also a bonding experience -- sitting around the park with a few friends passing around the mate cup -- like a peace pipe!
7. Delicious Meat!
Argentinians are cuckoo for carne -- and for a good reason... it's delicious! I'm assuming they're trying to somehow compensate for all the cows that India refuses to eat. Have you read my blog post, Carnivores Heaven, about the meat market in Uruguay? Well, the meat situation in Argentina is about the same. Buenos Aires is basically a barbecue that never stops!
Argentinians are cuckoo for carne -- and for a good reason... it's delicious! I'm assuming they're trying to somehow compensate for all the cows that India refuses to eat. Have you read my blog post, Carnivores Heaven, about the meat market in Uruguay? Well, the meat situation in Argentina is about the same. Buenos Aires is basically a barbecue that never stops!
8. Horrible pizza
Maybe I'm spoiled by the pizza in New York -- but the pizza in Argentina just isn't for me. It's basically thick, greasy bread -- loaded with cheese and very little tomate sauce -- more like a gourmet bread than pizza. Please teleport me back to Robertas Pizza in Brooklyn. Mmmmm.
9. Fantastic cheap wine
$2-3 per bottle. Enough said.
10. Active!
When the work-day ends in BA, out come the roller-blades, bicycles, running shoes, and work-out shorts. There are gyms and cross-fits facilities galore, and the many beautiful parks of BA sprawl with activity and are really put to use. Exercise seems to be an integral part of life for Porteños.
11. Amazing graffiti and street art
The graffiti in Buenos Aires puts Brooklyn to shame! The streets are sprawling with art and creativity.
Maybe I'm spoiled by the pizza in New York -- but the pizza in Argentina just isn't for me. It's basically thick, greasy bread -- loaded with cheese and very little tomate sauce -- more like a gourmet bread than pizza. Please teleport me back to Robertas Pizza in Brooklyn. Mmmmm.
9. Fantastic cheap wine
$2-3 per bottle. Enough said.
10. Active!
When the work-day ends in BA, out come the roller-blades, bicycles, running shoes, and work-out shorts. There are gyms and cross-fits facilities galore, and the many beautiful parks of BA sprawl with activity and are really put to use. Exercise seems to be an integral part of life for Porteños.
11. Amazing graffiti and street art
The graffiti in Buenos Aires puts Brooklyn to shame! The streets are sprawling with art and creativity.
12. Nocturnal species!
It's true... if you go out at 11pm in Buenos Aires -- there's nothing happening. That's because the night hasn't begun yet, dummy! The line at the club starts forming around 1:30am. And Suzanne and I went to a gaucho street festival on the out-skirts of the city -- on the bus ride home at 2am, older couples were just on their way out to start a night of dancing! OWLS!
It's true... if you go out at 11pm in Buenos Aires -- there's nothing happening. That's because the night hasn't begun yet, dummy! The line at the club starts forming around 1:30am. And Suzanne and I went to a gaucho street festival on the out-skirts of the city -- on the bus ride home at 2am, older couples were just on their way out to start a night of dancing! OWLS!
Now tell me YOUR little tid-bit about Argentina:
