Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata, translated as "sea of the Plate region", is the 7th largest city in Argentina. 

With 30 miles of coastline, Mar del Plata has sections of beach that have their own personality just as neighborhoods in a city have distinct local flavor. Some beaches are geared more toward the college crowd (such as Bristol)and surfers (headed to Playa Varresse) while others are dedicated to a family friendly feel (such as La Perla beach). 

Downtown beaches including Bristol, Popular, Punta Iglesia,Las Toscas are centrally located and often very full. However, they have benefited from recent renovations and have the infrastructure to handle many thousands of sun worshipers. Get there early, or, cruise a bit further down the coast to see if you can find a spot at a less hectic beach. 

Mar del Plata beaches have been described as the most crowded in the world, often dotted completely with the multi-colored tops of beach umbrellas. The busiest, most wild, and expensive months for visiting are December, January, and February. Things slow down in March, when families and retired couples are drawn to a slower paces and slightly more affordable accommodations. While these are the busiest months, the city never closes down. There will always be a hotel or bed and breakfast option, catering to those who are interested in the cultural and recreational activities offered during the cooler months.

Mar del Plata offers much more than just sand and water. When the sun goes down there is a lively night scene including the area of Alem street and Irigoyen (known for its many pubs and nightclubs) and the coast and Constitution Avenue. Also, there are museums, zoos, casinos, shopping, and other recreational activities that draw people to the city. Here are a few of the attractions:

• Casino Central de Mar del Plata
• Juan Carlos Castagnino Municipal Museum of Art
• Museo del Mar
• De Los Padres Lake and Hills
• Zoo El Paraíso
• The Museum of Natural Science

Cuisine of Argentina and Chile

Argentine cuisine is influenced by waves of European immigration, particularly from Italy. You'll find many Italian restaurants and pizzerias, plus heladerias, or ice-cream parlors, serving Italian cuisine and gelatos . Argentina is known for its beef, and many meals are based on substantial amounts of carne, but other foods are certainly available. Lingering after an evening meal with a sobremesa is a customary time for conversation.

Soft drinks and fruit juices are popular. As elsewhere, ask for jugo puro, or jugo exprimido, for fresh squeezed. Licuados, milky fruit shakes, are popular. Do try maté tea at least once. Other tea is served black with lemon. Ask for té con leche if you want milk in your tea. Hot chocolate is served at breakfast. Coffee is usually an espresso.

• café chico: small cup of strong, black coffee
• café cortado: small coffee with a little milk, often in a glass
• café con leche: coffee with lots of milk, usually served only at breakfast

Local beers and wine are excellent. Many Argentines mix a bit of mineral water in their wines to make a spritzer. Try these Recipes from Argentina. When you're in Argentina, be sure to try:

• Asado: various cuts of meat cooked over coals and usually served with chimichurri marinade, french fries and salad; also called a parillada
• Carbonada: beef stew with rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, apples and pears
• Puchero: beef, chicken, bacon, sausage, corn, peppers, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, sweet potatoes, squash casserole; may have beans
• Sopa a la criolla: roasted suckling pig
• Ñoquis: gnocchi or potato dumplings served with marinara or other tomato sauce
• Arroz con pollo: chicken and rice casserole with eggs and vegetables
• Puchero de gallina: chicken, sausage, corn, potato and squash
• Locro: corn, white beans, beef, sausage, squash in a stew
• Empanada de humita: pasty filled with corn, onion, cheese and flour

Chile

Chilean cuisine tends to the international, plus wonderful seafood that forms the base of many favored dishes. Ethnic restaurants abound in the cities. Vegetarian meals are available.

Soft drinks and juices are everywhere. The licuados, fruity milk shakes, are good. Try moté con huesillo , a peach and barley drink. Coffee is usually instant, but espresso is becoming popular. Tea is served black with lemon. Herbal teas, aguitas, are popular after dinner drinks. Try manzanilla, camomile, or a boldo .

Chilean wines are superb. Beer, pisco, aguardiente and imported hard liquors are popular. Make sure you try a Pisco Sour, made with egg white, lemon juice and powdered sugar. Try these Recipes from Chile. And when you're in Chile, be sure to try:

• Cazuela: soup with meat or chicken, potato, corn and squash or other vegetables
• Pastel de choclo: corn pie with meat, vegetables, chicken, olives and hard-boiled eggs
• Lomo a lo pobre: fried beef, eggs, onions and french fries
• Arroz con pollo: chicken and rice casserole
• Curanto: seafood stew with chicken, pork, lamb, beef and potato
• Chupes: stews of fish or beef

Buenos Aires...European Charm...

The Argentine's capital, is undoubtedly the busiest city in South America, life here does not stop even for a minute. On the street Avenida Corrientes there are cafes, kiosks, cinemas and shops that are working literally around the clock, even the buses in Buenos Aires travel at any time of day or night.

The capital of Argentina has a clear European charm, is subtly felt the spirit of Paris, Rome and Madrid, and this is not surprising, because the ancestors of most portenos, as they call themselves residents of Buenos Aires are from "Old World". Buenos Aires is home to almost 3 million people, but given the population of the suburbs - even more than 12 million.

In Buenos Aires, a huge number of attractions designed for every age and taste. Art lovers will find in this city of many different museums, galleries, theaters and monuments, and lovers of night life and vibrant cosmopolitan city offers the noisy clubs and discos, which boils fun in a non-stop. In Buenos Aires also has many cozy parks, where you can escape the bustle of the big city. This fun you can get from visiting museums, restaurants, beautiful monuments and, of course, tango shows.

The building is La Casa Rosada ( «Pink House"), bearing the official name of the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), - the residence of the Government of Argentina. It is situated in the square Plaza de Mayo, have been the silent witness to the emotional and dramatic events in the history of Argentina.

In Buenos Aires there is a large number of parks, where peace and quiet reign. Park the 3rd of February, perhaps, the biggest of them, it starts in the neighborhood of Palermo and extends further to the northern border of the city. In the immediate vicinity of the Park On February 3, is a zoo and planetarium, as well as some of the most interesting places for recreation: Andalusian patio, Danish rose garden and a Japanese pavilion.

Plaza de la Republica (Republic Square)

The most famous monument of Buenos Aires is, without doubt, a huge obelisk at the intersection of 9 de Julio and Corrientes avenidas, a symbol of the city. Erected it was in May 1936 to the 400-year anniversary of the founding of the city. The obelisk is installed in the center of the square Plaza de la Republica (Republic Square), at the place where the first time in Buenos Aires, the Argentine flag was posted. Its total height is 67 meters, himself obelisk occupies an area of 49 square meters. Not far from the obelisk located house-museum of the prominent Argentine science fiction writer Jorge Luis Borges. A well-known dance "Tango", has its origin in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, where he received widespread among poorer segments of the population. In 1910, the tango became popular in Paris and gradually spread throughout the world. December 11 is celebrated annually as the "Day of Tango". Buenos Aires is a city of colorful festivals, national holidays and sporting events. Number one in sport and the pride of all citizens, no doubt, is football. Squad has been one of the strongest in the world, Buenos Aires is ranked first in the world among all the cities on the total tonnage of football stadiums.

Buenos Aires was strong enough touched by the economic crisis that shook the whole country. People (in particular, and very young children) can be seen on the streets begging throughout the day and at night they go out into the streets and look in the trash something that somehow would help them survive. This should not cause you in disgust, before you the victim of a corrupt government. Yet one should be careful not to walk alone on dark streets. You can give alms to the poor, only better, if it would be something edible, rather than a trifle, which is immediately to spend money on alcohol. If you are looking for, where to have fun, Buenos Aires - the best place for such purposes: here an infinite number of discos, casinos, bars. Night in Buenos Aires never ends...