"Buenos Aires" a Buenos Aires Travel Page by realde14

I visited Buenos Aires for the first time from June to August of 2002, which was in the middle of the southern winter. There wasn't any snow, of course (I had plenty of that later in Ushuaia, Bariloche and Las Lenas), but temperatures were pretty cold. It was also when the Argentina economic crisis was its peak and the devaluation of the peso was at its highest. There were almost daily demonstrations on the Plaza de Mayo as well as, more violently, in the impoverished outskirts of the city.This all added to the already somewhat gloomy atmosphere. Buenos Aires reminded me a bit of European capitals such as Madrid, and to a lesser extent, especially in Recoleta, of Paris and Milan. People were extremely friendly, a bit contrary to the reputation that the Portenos have. They all kept on reminding how much better life in Argentina was not so long ago with crimes at a low level and economic opportunities more plentiful.

When I returned in 2005 I found the city already more upbeat. The restaurants, which are top-notch by the way, were packed and people crowded the bars ready for a good time.