BUENOS AIRES
Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires, is a world-class cosmopolitan city of some 10 million people, located on the shores of the Río de la Plata, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Considered by many to be the most sophisticated city in the Americas after New York, Buenos Aires’ character is typified by its citizenry, a large part of which has traveled to Europe and the U.S. and possesses a worldliness usually found only in the world’s most cultured cities.
The sophistication of this city is evident in the abundance of elegant mansions and other buildings constructed in the appealing turn-of-the-20th-century French Beaux Arts style of architecture. Its many leafy parks, graced by dramatic and imposing statues, are reminiscent of European capitals, such as Paris, Rome and Madrid. Buenos Aires’ busy boulevards, some as many as twelve lanes wide, project the metropolis’ energy, drive, and fast pace. Its never-ending supply of cafes, restaurants, and other entertainment options, speak of the city’s appreciation of a certain joie-de-vivre.
ARGENTINA – LAND OF MANY CONTRASTS
For all of its allure and compelling attractions, Buenos Aires is just the gateway to Argentina’s many fascinating attractions. These include:
Iguazú Falls – The magnificent and extensive waterfalls located in the jungle region bordering Brazil and Paraguay.
Bariloche – The delightful alpine-style city nestled on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
Patagonia – The legendary lake and mountain wilderness famous for a variety of outdoor activities, including fly fishing, hiking, backpacking and other pursuits.
Salta, Jujuy & Tucumán – Home to a strong indigenous culture in the northwest mountain desert region.
Puerto Madryn – Where whale-watching and other wildlife prevail.
Perito Moreno Glacier – With its overwhelming beauty, this is one of Argentina’s most popular sights.
Ushuaia – Southernmost city in the world located in the Tierra del Fuego region filled with natural wonders
These are just some of the highlights available to visitors in the wide and diverse country known as Argentina.
ARGENTINA MUSIC PROFILE:
Perhaps the most popular type of music for listening in Argentina is the home-grown Tango.
Born in the late 19th century working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, Tango grew in the following decades to become a mainstream form of music. It is performed instrumentally and usually accompanied by song. However, it has had its biggest impact, especially internationally, in the form of dance. Tango ensembles are typically sextets consisting of piano, double bass, two violins, and a bandoneon, an accordion-like instrument that lends a very distinct sound to Tango music. However, other combinations of instruments in quartets, quintets, and even octets are also common.
The most formidable figures in the history of Tango are widely considered to be Carlos Gardel, Aníbal Troilo, and Astor Piazzolla.
Today Tango is performed in the many different styles and forms developed over the years. The music from seventy years ago is equally respected, admired, and most importantly, played and listened to as newer compositions and styles. This makes for a very rich musical heritage of great interest to the listener and dancer. The wide repertoire and variety of interpretations can be seen, experienced and appreciated at the many Tango Dinner Shows and Milonga dance halls available to visitors in Buenos Aires.