Results tagged “Argentina” from Intelligent Travel Blog

Every trip should have a soundtrack, so we've asked CJ Fahey with Nat Geo Music to select artists from their catalog whose songs will inspire you to get going.


It's no surprise that one of the sexiest videos we've got at Nat Geo Music is a tango-electronic song from the French-Argentine group Gotan Project; after all, tango got its start as a dance performed in brothels in Buenos Aires in the late 19th century and today is synonymous with romance.

"Diferente" by Gotan Project shows how you might find tango danced today in a Buenos Aires milonga. This video highlights two dances: the obvious one on the dance floor, and the implicit dance of stolen glances and budding romance between the featured (gorgeous) couple.

Tango has inspired poets and artists for generations. Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges has noted the passionate, almost combative interaction between dancers: "The tango is a direct expression of something that poets have often tried to state in words: the belief that a fight may be a celebration." And tango legend Enrique Santos Discépolo touches on tango's inherent melancholy: "The Argentine tango is a sad thought that you can dance."

A trip to Buenos Aires is a trip to the heart of tango. If you go to Argentina, or for that matter Uruguay, pick up some records by contemporary tango groups like Gotan Project and Bajofondo, or legends like Astor Piazzolla and Carlos Gardel. And don't forget your dancing shoes.

[Video, Free Buenos Aires]

Hola, city-lovers! Buenos Aires is known for its tango but Laura Milsom insists the city has much more than that. "Everyone falls in love with something here," she says. "Be it a person, the architecture, nighlife, neighborhoods, dancers, shops, wine. It is devilishly charming despite its chaos." Read on to find out why Laura loves her city.

Want to see your city on IT? Copy and paste our list of fill-in-the-blank questions into an e-mail, fill in your answers, and send your responses to IntelligentTravel@ngs.org. And if you're still waiting for us to feature yours, fear not! We're going to keep posting as long as we keep getting them (please include photos and links!).

Buenos Aires is My City

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is down Calle Florida to Plaza de Mayo, followed by window viewing of a parrilla restaurant with a full stack of meat cooking.

When I crave mint ice cream I always go Freddo.

To escape the sound of screaming buses I head to the ecological park.

If I want to have a great cocktail I go the bar Milion.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken with tango dancers and the obelisco.

If you have to order one thing off the menu from La Cabrera it has to be the butterfly steak (which feeds a family of four).

KEL is my one-stop shop for great selections of English books.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped I go Plaza San Martín (bitter tea drink they have here).

For a huge splurge I go Galerias Pacifico and buy a dress to go to the Oscars in.

When Andrew Evans left Chile's Patagonia region, he had multiple filled notebooks and a camera that kept blinking "insufficient memory." Here, he shares some of his sufficient memories from his trip.

Some countries just don't get along--just the way people do. France grumbles at England, America shakes its head at France. The Swedes mock the Norwegians, Korea does not love Japan and the whole of Central America thinks Costa Rica needs to take it down a notch. All these little national rivalries are fascinating and hilarious, as long as countries stick to name-calling and don't start trading bullets.  

Patagonia spans two countries that love to argue: Argentina and Chile.  Argentina accuses Chile of fudging its maps to look bigger than she really is, like padding a bra, while Chile thinks Argentina is a snob who's too good for the rest of South America. Both still squabble about who gets the bigger pie slice of Antarctica, who has the southernmost city and who makes the better glass of red wine. Neither country can stand the other's accent.

Like any two siblings, there's a degree of jealousy in the mix. Argentina secretly craves Chile's starched collar, its more stable economy and sound business record. Chile thinks Argentina is more sophisticated and wears way better shoes. The differences often seem petty, especially considering how much the two countries have in common: both Argentina and Chile harbor painful political histories, both are nations of immigrants and both own a piece of Patagonia.

Reader Andrea Torres recently wrote us asking about how to best plan for a trip to Argentina. She wondered what items she should bring for an excursion to the Perito Moreno glacier. Senior editor Norie Quintos, who was there a couple of years ago, answers:

"The vast majority of travelers visit Argentina's spectacular Perito Moreno glacier on a several-hour guided excursion. Your tour operator will provide ice crampons and other specialized equipment you may need. Your job will be to dress in non-cotton layers such as wool or fleece or polypropylene, which keep you warm even when wet. Pack a nylon jacket as a windbreaker. You'll also want to wear some water resistant trekking shoes or boots. Gloves and a ski hat are unnecessary for summer treks but a must for the winter (North Americans should remember that the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere). A small backpack can keep your camera and extra layers from falling into a crevasse. Other essentials are sunglasses (with strap) and lip balm.

A knowledgeable local booking agency, such as Patagonia Calling, can give you more specific advice and help you pick the best excursion for you."

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Photo: The Perito Moreno Glacier, by Heather Bays via the Intelligent Travel Flickr pool.