Argentina was discovered by the Spanish. It and Uruguay are considered to be more European, whereas the other countries in South America are considered to be more Latin American influenced.
97% of the population is white, and 3% is indigenous. I hear the Spanish anhilated the indigenous population when they arrived. Nice, huh?
Argentina, like Australia and America is the only other country that has all types of terrain / environments...mountains, prairies (pampas), coastline, desert etc. The highest mountain in Argentina (and in SOuth America) is Aconcagua. The book and movie "Alive" is a true story that takes place in Argentina. A group of rugby players are on a plane to Chile when their plane crashes in the Andes. They are forced to eat the dead passengers to survive.
Also, Evita is one of Argentina's first ladies. My mother is British descent (her grandparents were from England and Scotland) but she and her parents were raised in ARgentina. My mother remembers Evita.
The capital, Buenos Aires has the widest avenue in the world: 10 lanes into the city and 10 lanes out. No speed limit either! There is no drinking age, no age to buy cigarettes either. Yet, they don't have an alcoholic population!
Though it is considered great if you are anorexic and tan. In fact, Argentina has the highest anorexic population than any other population in the world.
As like the US, Argentina is a melting pot too. They have Germans, Czechs, Brits, Italians and Jews living there.
Their version of Miami Beach is Mar Del Plata...and their version of Aspen is Bariloche.
Because the Italian population is so large, Argentina has incorporated Italian foods and some words in their way of life. For example, "good-bye" in Spanish is "adios", in Italian it's "ciao". Argentina's it's "chau"...pronounced like the Italian.
How did I get there? Well, after school in Bermuda (16), we decided that I was too young to go to a university, so I went to live with my aunt in Buenos Aires for a year, then started college.
It was great! I learned Spanish. I learned how to make these Argentine pastries (called alfajores) for Tea Time. I read some great books by some great Argentine authors: HOracio Quiroga, Jorge Borges...I saw some great movies...it was a great experience. And I truly believe that if anyone anywhere has the opportunity to live in another country for a year, they should do it. It changes your perspective on life.
The Argentines are very into family. And you can drop by without notice. Everyone is always so happy to see you. It's great.
It's unfortunate that their economy is so bad now. But to the tourist...it's great. My cousin and her husband took his parents, his 4 brothers and sisters with their spouses and children, plus their own two children out to dinner. $30
Bermuda 
