Brilliant Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires was recently voted the second best city in the world to live in by a popular travel magazine, and it’s no surprise as to why! The only shock to me was that it wasn’t voted number one. Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, has something to offer every type of traveller and is well worth a visit if you ever have the time to make it down there. Here we count down five of the craziest, most interesting things you can do in Buenos Aires to really get to grips with the city and have a fantastic time.
Football
Argentineans are wild, passionate and fiery, and this comes to the surface no more than when they’re watching football, which is huge in Buenos Aires. Some of the fiercest rivalry exists between local and national teams when it comes to football, so if you get the opportunity at all when you’re here, head to the Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, more commonly known as Argentina’s national stadium during a match and you’ll finally get a true understanding of the word passionate. See the city engulfed in a swarm of yellow and blue paraphernalia, face paints and strips and let yourself get swept up in the atmosphere. Learn some chants beforehand if you want to join in properly, though only if you don’t mind losing your voice, because you will be shouting at the top of your lungs. Tickets are available from the official stadium website but the games played will depend on the time of year and the football season.
Party Town
We know that Argentineans like a party and any excuse to let their hair down, but this isn’t just confined to the nightclub or tango hall. Don’t be surprised if you see random parades working their way around the city at any time of day, celebrating a whole host of bizarre events. Stumbling upon a parade is a great way to spend a day, go where the parade takes you and see what happens! Nine times out of ten, a parade will lead you to an organised concert, there may be dancing, and alcohol will be offered. Parades in Buenos Aires don’t take the form of traditional festivals; they’re very flexible, adaptable and don’t be surprised if the whole thing stops for twenty minutes while the participants dance freestyle on the street. When organising your trip to the capital, try to organise apartments in Buenos Aires centre, particularly the neighbourhoods (barrios) of Microcentro which is downtown or La Boca, the party neighbourhood. With a hotel room or apartment in Buenos Aires city centre, you’ll wake up in the heart of the city every morning and be right in the middle of the action, where you’re less likely to miss out on some crazy, spontaneous parade.
Out On The River
Looking to escape the beat of the city for a few hours? Now you can escape onto the waters of Buenos Aires and enjoy a sailing trip down the Rio de la Plata. Sailboats usually take up to four guests, where you will be taught exactly how to sail the vessel, you will learn about the history of the river, its monuments and bridges and can generally just spend a fantastic few hours on the waters. If you’re looking for excitement, it can be as fast paced and challenging as you like, if however, you’re looking for a more chilled out day of rest, simply crack open a beer and let the captain do all the work while you enjoy the views.
Sky Diving
If you want to do something truly adventurous, and maybe a little crazy, give yourself arguably the best view of the city by falling towards it from a great height. That is to say, go skydiving! Exhilarating skydiving opportunities exist all around the city where you can get an unrivalled perspective on the beautiful sights and scenery there is, and it won’t break the bank either. You can take part in a tandem skydive from around 10,000 feet and soak up the adrenaline and thrills you’d expect from such a pastime, freefalling for a couple of seconds and then gliding with the parachute open for about a further 10-15 minutes. Absolutely no experience is necessary! If you’re interested, search online for ‘skydiving Buenos Aires’ to get an idea about pricing or to make a reservation. If throwing yourself out of a plane isn’t your thing, try staying inside the aircraft instead and take a helicopter tour of the city. They’re not cheap, but the views are well worth the cost, in my opinion. Tours start from a variety of sites across the city, speak to your travel agent or hotel receptionist for exact details.
Tango
The Tango originated in Argentinean slums and is the official dance of this company. It’s a dance all about fire, passion and sex. Get into the spirit, don your best red dress (or suit if you’re a gent, perhaps…) and head to a milonga, one of the special tango nights in the clubs and ballrooms of the city which usually start late at night and go on until the early the morning. With the feel of a 1930s bazaar, you can dance the night away. Most clubs in Buenos Aires provide all the modern comforts you’re used to, but if you want to go totally authentic, head to one of the famous old clubs like La Calesita, a place where men and women still court each other on the dance floor and traditional dancehall etiquette is strictly upheld. But still, it’s a great opportunity to see some people who know how to tango strut their stuff right in front of you.
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