Speaking of clichés, media and travel industry have created an image of Argentina and Buenos Aires in particular that consists mainly of tango, great food, great wine, great architecture, and great people. They tend to blank out all the not-so-nice parts of the city and the country. This is as unrealistic as expecting a crocodile to turn vegetarian. For many Argentines this city is a place to struggle to survive just like any other city in the world. The problem is universal: too much to die on but too little to live on. So, when you want to look behind all those clichés you have to leave the typical tourist routes. Don't be afraid. You will be surprised!
I have been to Buenos Aires a couple of times and I couldn't agree with you more. Nevertheless it is always a beautiful city and you are right it has much more to discover out of the touristy spots.
ReplyDeleteYour comments are insightful and correct, but most tourists are content to experience the cliche versions of foreign destinations because they make the destinations different than their home.
ReplyDeleteMy son lives in Buenos Aires, so I have seen some of the normal life, but not a cross-section of daily life.
You are totally correct. I am glad I lived near Buenos Aires and can remember the city as 'home' - not as a tourist attraction. I love your photos.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct of course, and actually BA seemed to me a more "real" city than any other I've been too. It might be the fact that folks are friendly and I talked to so many people when I was there. I also think that most people are content with the prepackaged tourist images of a place because 1. they have limited time to explore that place 2. they don't know how to do it themselves 3. for security reasons.
ReplyDeleteI have something more to say. Even though what I found in BA was totally unexpected and the best experiences didn't come from the romantic image of BA but from talking to people and exploring the city, it was the tango & the Paris of the S.Am image that brought me there in the first place. The secret lies, as you said, in being willing to go the extra step beyond the cliches facade.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see all sides of Buenos Aires one day. I always imagined it was fascinating because it combined faded old European elegance, the constant attraction to the poor of Europe and Latin America to come here and struggle for a better life, and competition with São Paulo to be the economic and financial powerhouse of an entire continent.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo! Thanks for posting it! Would love to live in one of those buildings!!
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