Buenos Aires

Meanwhile, I have left Rio and Brazil and reached the southernmost point of my journey - Argentina with its capital Buenos Aires. From now on, it's only northward.

The flight went excellently. You can always rely on Emirates. The first problems arose at the airport in Buenos Aires. First, the ATM didn't work, and second, it wasn't easy to order an Uber. Since a taxi to the hostel would cost 800 pesos ($40), more than double the price, I didn't even consider the appropriate means of transportation. The problem, however, is that you need an internet connection to order an Uber. Ordering is not the big problem, but it was difficult to track when my driver would arrive because the internet connection would disconnect as soon as you left the airport building. But in the end, my driver and I found each other among hundreds of cars in front of the airport entrance, and I was safely and comfortably taken to the hostel.

Upon arrival at Rayuela Hostel, I was warmly welcomed by the hostel staff and got a first impression of how good the coexistence here should be. Here, mainly stranded backpackers work, who could give you the best tips for the city and its surroundings.

The next day, I set out to explore this megacity and felt a bit like being back home. The city seems very European at first glance, which is probably due to the influence of immigrants from Italy, Spain, Germany, and France, from whom a large part of the population is descended. Moreover, a city in South America was considered higher esteemed if it resembled a European city. In particular, the extravagant neobaroque architecture often reminded me of Paris. Although I have never been to Paris, that's how I imagine it. Especially Ricoleta looks like Champs-Élysées with its golden street lamps and tree-lined streets.

Buenos Aires is really pleasant for walking and the first South American city with some green elements like parks, trees, or simple green areas. I really like it. Furthermore, Argentina's capital also impresses with its extreme diversity, as Buenos Aires is home to one of the largest Muslim and Jewish communities in South America close together.

Known as the 'Water Head' of Argentina, Buenos Aires, named after the Holy Santa Maria del Buen Ayre (Spanish for 'Holy Mary of good air'), is in every way the center of Argentina. As a political, cultural, and economic center, more than a quarter of Argentina's total population lives in the metropolitan region with 13 million people. Nevertheless, the city's attractions are relatively close together and easy to reach on foot.

My personal sightseeing tour started at the Teatro Colon, the most famous opera house in Buenos Aires, and continued on the Avenida 9 de Julio. The name is meant to remind of the independence of Argentina on July 9, 1816, and the Argentinians proudly call it the widest street in the world, with 140 meters. Whether it is actually the widest street in the world can be debated, but that doesn't really matter. In any case, it's almost impossible to cross it in one go.

Next, we visited the Falkland War Memorial (although the Argentinians call the Falkland Islands Malvinas), which commemorates the nearly three-month-long war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands. The United Kingdom, led by Margaret Thatcher, won the war, and for Argentina, it meant the end of the military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983.

One thing that stands out is that personality cult is particularly big in Argentina. Statues of famous personalities can be found all over the city, often glorifying them. For example, there is the infamous Christopher Columbus, the statue of former politician Adolfo Alsina, and of course, the monument in honor of Jose de San Martin. Jose de San Martin is not only a national hero in Argentina, but he was also responsible for the independence of Argentina and liberated Chile and Peru from the Spanish.

However, if you're looking for the most famous Argentine, you cannot ignore the name Diego Armando Maradona. The little Argentine is still a national hero here, especially revered for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, which he practically won single-handedly with five goals and five assists. People especially remember the quarter-final against England. Because of the Falkland War that took place four years earlier, this was a particularly explosive match. Maradona first scored the 'Hand of God' goal to make it 1-0 and then, four minutes later, won the game in favor of Argentina with a solo run from halfway across the field.

Back at the hostel, after the Veggie Night on the first evening, it was time for the Meat Night. The hostel staff had been raving about this special evening the whole time, and they did not promise too much. I already really liked the hostel and its wonderful atmosphere, making you want to stay longer, but this topped everything. We, about 20 hostel guests, were treated to the best Argentine meat from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and approximately a bottle of wine per person. I have never eaten better meat in my life and can confirm the praise for Argentine meat.

The next day, I set off to Palermo with Guy from Australia and Nicolas from France. On the way there, we also passed through the Ricoleta Cemetery. A cemetery that you probably rarely see elsewhere. Completely without grass and gravestones, but packed with tombs that rather resemble mausoleums or chapels. Quite impressive and probably the most expensive place to live in Buenos Aires in terms of square meter price. Various famous personalities are resting here, and the most famous is probably the beloved former First Lady, Eva Peron.

We continued towards Palermo, the hip and modern district filled with bars, restaurants, and trendy fashion stores, and after a total of eight kilometers of walking, we finally reached the café where Tomas, an acquaintance I met in Ilha Grande, works, and had a hearty lunch. Later, we had a few alcoholic drinks and went to test the bar scene in San Telmo. It was a bit disappointing because we expected a bit more hustle and bustle on a Thursday evening. Nevertheless, we had a good evening and a nice conclusion to my time in the 'Paris of the South.' Next, I was going to take the ferry across the Rio de la Plata to the tranquil Colonia del Sacramento.