Want to go to Argentina? This traditional country has become a favored destination for people travelling and discovering the world. Today, we give you some advice for preparing your trip to Argentina.
- You must love meat! Argentineans are the largest meat consumers in the world, consuming 65.4 kg of meat per year. In Argentina, the tradition of parilla (meat barbecue) is an important part of the culture and you certainly will taste the best pieces of meat you’ve ever eaten. From the tender matambre to the bife de chorizo (rib steak) or the lomo (chunk of meat), welcome to the paradise for meat-lovers!
- You won’t speak traditional Spanish. You’ll speak the Lunfardo, the popular Argentinean slang coming from Buenos Aires. These two languages have some important differences. Indeed, Argentinean Lunfardo is influenced by Italian sonorities and by a vocabulary which has resulted from a mix between Spanish and Italian. Moreover, in Argentina, the “ll” and “y” are replaced by the “ch” which makes Argentinean pronunciation very unusual!
- You are going to hear a lot about football. More than any other countries, Argentina is a haven for football lovers. When it’s match day, you can feel Buenos Aires’s vibrations in the street and bars. And the Bombonera stadium is the sanctuary of football. Located in the popular district of La Boca, it is the club of the popular football team Boca Junior, where Maradona started his career and helped his team to win the season by beating its rival, the River Plate team. Today, Maradona is considered as an icon by many, and the football fever is still vibrating in the hearts of Argentines.
- Argentina is a cultural melting pot. To understand the Argentinean lifestyle, it’s really important to know that Buenos Aires was considered the Ellis Island of South America. In the 20th century, many migration waves deeply transformed the Argentinean nation. As the saying goes, Mexicans descended from Aztecs, Peruvians descended from Incas, and Argentines descended from ships. Italian, French, English and even Japanese came to live and work in this country of opportunities. That’s why today, Argentina is very similar to some European cities in architecture (France), food (Italy), literature and culture. Don’t be surprised if an Argentinean tells you that he has the dual citizenship, it’s very common here.
- You must be ready to drink mate. This bitter drink comes from the Guarani Indians traditions and is drunk with a calabash and a straw. The Argentineans love the yerba mate and they commonly walk in the street with their calabash and their water thermos under their arms, prepared to share it among friends The mate has the same therapeutic virtues as coffee: it helps you to have a good mood and avoid tiredness. If you want to prepare mate, you should know that the water must be heated to 65 degrees Celcius but it can’t be boiled: it would made the yerba lose its flavour.
- You’ll see the most beautiful landscapes of your life. From the tropical Iguazu Falls, to the coloured Andes Mountains in the Northwest, and the hugeness of the Pampa, from the white Patagonian Ice Field to the city of Ushuaia (the most southern city in the world) Argentina enables you to visit different and amazing regions that will change your vision of travel.
- And no, there is no need to know how to dance Tango to go to Argentina. Although Tango still has a real place in Argentinean society, the young Argentineans are now dancing to reggaeton rhythm and American songs. If you want to see a Tango show, we advise you to go to one of the many milongas, like the Catedral milonga, where both amateur and professional dancers meet. However, before going to Argentina, you should listen to one or two songs by the most famous Tango singer, Carlos Gardel.
Well, are you ready to go to Argentina?
More info about Argentina on the Argentina Exception website.
Tristan Libault is a French publisher for the Tourism Agency Argentina-Excepcion. Argentina-Excepcion is a Franco-Argentinean agency located in Buenos Aires with offices in Santiago and Lima. It sells customized and individual trips to Argentina, Chili, Bolivia and Peru.
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