Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is both the capital and largest city of Argentina. According to the 2001 census, Gran Buenos Aires (the entire conurbation) is the third largest urban area in Latin America with a combined population of roughly 12 million people.http://www.atlasdebuenosaires.gov.ar/aaba/index.php?Itemid=24&id=28&option=com_content&task=view&lang=en City residents are called porteños. http://www.portenospanish.com/word/138/Porte%C3%B1o Located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata (the southeastern coast of the South American continent), it is the birthplace of the Tango.http://www.allabouttango.com/history.htm

Historically, Buenos Aires has been strongly influenced by European culture and is sometimes referred to as the "Paris of South America". Since 2002, it has experienced an influx of European and North American immigrants. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/21/AR2006042100585.html

Founded in 1536 and then abandoned by Don Pedro De Mendoza, Buenos Aires was originally called "Espirtio Santo" or City of the Holy Spirit.http://www.bue.gov.ar/?mo=portal&ac=componentes&ncMenu=58&tr=body&mn=1.2.9.11.58.%3E It was established a second time in 1580 by Juan De Garay, who relocated the settlement to higher ground and called it "Santisima Trinidad" (literally City of the Most Holy Trinity). http://www.bue.gov.ar/?mo=portal&ac=componentes&ncMenu=58&tr=body&mn=1.2.9.11.58.The city's port (then called Nuestra Senora Del Buen Aire) became the connecting trade port between Europe and South America in the early 19th century. http://www.nileguide.com/destination/buenos-aires/overview/history The ruling council, formed during the May Revolution of 1810, proclaimed independence for the Río de la Plata Provinces on July 9, 1816. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26516.htm

Investments in infrastructure and commerce led to economic bounty in the late 19th century.http://www.metrovias.com.ar/ The city became the official capital of Argentina and a separate federal district in 1880.http://www.welcomeargentina.com/ciudadbuenosaires/history.html The birthplace of Peronism and seat of numerous coups, Buenos Aires has enjoyed relative political stability and an economic boom since 1983. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925510,00.html Notable exceptions include bombings attributed to foreign terrorist activity in the 1990s, the currency crisis of 2001 and inflation concerns.http://en.mercopress.com/2010/10/15/argentine-consumers-inflation-expectation-for-next-12-months-soars-to-33.7

Located at 34 degrees 36′S latitude and 58 degrees 28′W longitude, Buenos Aires encompasses roughly 202 square kilometers (approximately 78 square miles). http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/com_social/home_nuevo/info_bsas.php?menu_id=18079 It is bound by 20 kilometers (seven miles) of coast line along the Río de la Plata (east), the Riachuelo to the northwest and the Avenida General Paz (a major highway) to the southwest. http://english.buenosaires.com/directory/index.php?c=35&s=6 The city includes 48 districts. http://estatico.buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/turismo/desa/files/pdf/mapa_barrios.pdf Largely situated in the province of La Pampa, the average temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. http://english.buenosaires.com/directory/index.php?c=35

• Caminito La Boca: This open air museum is said to be frequented by tourists and locals alike.http://www.bue.gov.ar/?mo=portal&ac=componentes&ncMenu=52&tr=body&mn=1.2.13.52.
• National Museum of Decorative Arts: Contains various artifacts ranging from antiquities to modern day silverware http://www.mnad.org/
• Tango Circuit: Day tour of the most important Tango sites in the port neighborhood of La Bocahttp://www.bue.gov.ar/?mo=portal&ac=componentes&ncMenu=328
• Avenida Corrientes: Avenue with play houses, movie theaters, and restaurants located in the San Nicolas neighborhood (listed under "Budget Tours")http://www.bue.gov.ar/?mo=portal&ac=componentes&ncMenu=329
• Design Tours: The tours include the Palermo, Recoleta, and San Telmo districts. They highlight the local clothing and textile design made famous by Unesco's (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) 2005 reference to Buenos Aires as "The City of Design". http://www.bue.gov.ar/?mo=portal&ac=componentes&ncMenu=54&tr=body&mn=1.2.13.54.

• Jorge Luis Borges (1932 - 1990): Writer http://www.themodernword.com/borges/borges_biography.html
• Luis Maria Drago (1859 - 1921): Statesman http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1859/may_6_1859_53984.html
• Juan Domingo Peron (1895 - 1974) and Eva Peron (1919 - 1952): Cultural and political icons
• Gabriela Sabatini (1970 - ): Professional tennis player http://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/gabriela-sabatini