The headlines dominating travel media all summer seemed to be about the same three subjects: Overtourism. Climate change. Rude behavior toward tourists, not only by tourists. Reports came in from my own friends vacationing in Europe about crowded streets, crowded beaches, above 100-degree temperatures and local resentment against tourists in popular cities.
So this August I decided to do something different, and booked a last minute ticket to a part of the world where no one goes in the middle of summer, unless they want to ski. To a destination where it is winter: the Southern Hemisphere. Specifically to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Argentina is such a rich travel destination, with a variety of lifestyles to be found all within its borders. From cosmopolitan city life, to cowboy ranch life, to mountain life, to wine life, wildlife, waterfalls, glaciers— the scope of experiences visitors have to choose from is incredible. Argentina is also the country that over a decade ago welcomed me as a brand new mom, suffering acutely from a broken heart. I am forever bound to this country for how it helped me to heal, but what a joy it was to refresh my memory on all it has to offer a culture-curious traveler.
As a metropolis, Buenos Aires is marvelously sophisticated, reminiscent of Madrid or Paris or of another European city from 20 years ago, when you could move through cobblestoned streets with ease without the visual assault of motley crowds or bystanders lost in their smartphones. Its landscape boasts wide avenues and Beaux-Arts buildings, expansive green parks, and detailed, colorful street art created by talented artists. Shopping is a feast for the eyes, with carefully curated shops, and chic fashion by local designers…
