"Night and day ..." Top 5 Page for this destination Argentina Local Custom Tip by TheWanderingCamel

... the strains of the tango filter into the air of Argentina, part of the heartbeat of the country, and Buenos Aires is the source of the pulse. Born in the bars and brothels of 19th century BA, it was a fusion of Arican and Cuban rhythms with a little touch of Central Europe, and definitely not something for polite society. When it first appeared on the dancefloors of America and Europe in 1913 it caused a sensation, its sensuous rhythms and steps considered scandalous. Intensely intimate but precise and fast moving, tango is unique.

You can take your tango in a slickly choreographed show - expensive and very touristy, but undeniably showy and spectacular, or you can find your way to a milonga (a dance hall, where local afficionados dance the night away, starting very late and going on 'til dawn). There are plenty of classes on offer, more and more as the tango craze shows no sign of abating world-wide and people come to Buenos Aires just to learn. Or you can take your tango as you find it, well-rehearsed street dancers set up outside Galeria Pacifico on and off all through the day and evening (photos 1-3) whilst elderly couples take to the little dance floor in the food hall downstairs as the evening wears on. Outdoor performances take place on a stage at Sunday's Feria San Telmo (try to get a balcony table at the cafe at the corner of Humberto and Defenso for a bird's eye view) and if you have a drink on a weekday at a little cafe around the corner of La Boca's Caminito, you may well be the sole seated audience for a simple little show. One thing you can be sure of, whenever the music and the dancing starts, a crowd will gather. It may just be a passing party of school children but they'll all take a keen interest and stay until the music stops (photo 4).