Buenos Aires

Many of the towns and cities visited on my travels I go to because of a single attraction nearby. I always like to soak up the atmosphere of the places and see what makes people tick that live there, but the reason for going there in the first place would be to rub noses with the local wildlife, marvel at the wonders of natural beauty, or witness the brilliance and cruelty of human ingenuity.

But some towns and cities do not have, and do not need to have that single attraction. They are the attraction. Where Señor Hans is now, there is no ancient ruined city, no breathless mountain landscape, no pinguin colony, no, not even a colonial city center. Just a really huge electrifying city. 12 million people together, riding the uncountable buses, relaxing in the parks, shopping in the most luxurious malls and going through the street trash one block further (not the same persons, mind you). They love to eat their meat and ice cream - preferably after midnight - and have advertisements on their street name signs.

And what does Señor Hans do amongst these city people that call themselves porteños ? For one thing, he can move freely without being noticed. The people here are of all colours and sizes, so he is a traveler no more, he is a porteño tambien ! So, it is biking in Boca - Bay Area style, watching outdoor tango in San Telmo while sipping a orange juice, walking around Puerto Madero sixty-seven times in Swiss company, parading through posh Palermo, and cheering for River Plate on the platea.

Of course I also join the proper porteños in their shopping, going to the cinema and eating the succulent meat ... and some of them even join me. In a country full of friendly people, I met the friendliest of all way back in Salta when the rain was falling and a car was wrecked. Santiago from Buenos Aires helped me out then and we are meeting again here in his home town ... and a special place it is.