Argentina area. Argentina. Lots of useful and interesting information about the country. Private guides in Argentina

Traveler, tourist, businessman or potential immigrant, everyone will be touched by Spanish in Argentina if they are going there. Only it will not be completely Spanish, or more precisely, not Spanish at all, but we will talk about this in more detail.

It is well known that Argentines are unusually talkative and sociable, they themselves try to talk to a stranger everywhere: in the store, at the ice cream kiosk, and even at the currency exchange, the cashier can start asking you about a variety of things that have nothing to do with the exchange money. So what is the language in Argentina? What dictionaries and phrasebooks will we need to communicate with the local population in order to feel comfortable?

When the first streams of immigrants appeared on the territory of the country, they spoke to each other in cocolich, which is an Italian-Spanish pidgin. This was due to the fact that a large mass of illiterate poor Italians arrived in the country, who did not know Spanish, but actively communicated with the local Creole population. Such a stormy interaction of peoples gave rise to a mixture of Italian with Spanish and its dialects, which was called Cocoliche.

Now no one speaks cocolich, but it continues to be used from time to time in theatrical productions of the Argentine Opera House on the topic historical events and past times. True, they do not take this language seriously and always use it in a humorous form, as does, for example, the actor Dario Vittori.

And in modern speech, only a small number of words and expressions from the previously main dialect, which was used by everyone, remained. The bulk of the expressive words from Kokoliche passed into the Lunfardo dialect.

Official language

Most of the people in this country communicate in Spanish, although locals prefer to call it Castilian Spanish, which is due to the fact that this dialect was spoken by the first settlers in the country who arrived from Castile. The official language of Argentina is Spanish.

If we consider the country as a whole, then there are more than 40 languages ​​and dialects in it, not counting European languages, which also continue to exist and be used on a par with Spanish.

Italian is the second most important and popular language in Argentina. More than 1.5 million people use it daily, although it is only slightly inferior in popularity to German.

The former Germans created a unique dialect in their new homeland, combining elements of Spanish and German, which they called Belgranodeutsch. It got its name from the place of residence of the main colony of German immigrants - Belgrano, one of the districts of the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires. This linguistic variant can, figuratively speaking, be compared with a pie from German morphology stuffed with big amount roots of Spanish origin instead of raisins.

More than 60,000 Chinese migrants in Argentina continue to use Chinese, the bulk of them living in Buenos Aires.

We should also mention the speech variant, also called Syriac Arabic, which is spoken by about 1 million people from Syria, Palestine and Lebanon.

It would seem that English may be the official language in this country, but it is curious that it is not popular in Argentina, so people who are used to being understood in any country in the world, if they know English, will find themselves in an unusual situation here . But they will be able to communicate in their native languages, including Welsh, which is spoken by more than 200,000 people in the country.

Before, even before the seizure of Argentine lands by the Spaniards, the official languages ​​in the country could be the Guarani and Quechua languages, which are currently used by no more than 1 million former descendants of the Indians, although the Incas in their empire once used the Quechua language as the state language, calling themselves themselves kapak-kuna, or great ones.

But today, the indigenous Indian languages ​​have almost completely disappeared from the modern lexicon of the Argentines, for example, the dialects of Abilon and Chane no longer exist in colloquial speech. No more than 500 people use the Kaiva dialect, and there are only a few people who know and own the vilela vocabulary.

Language dialects

Argentine Spanish contains such a huge amount of Italian words that not everyone who speaks Spanish state language able to understand the locals. Neighborhood with the Brazilian population also left its mark on the phonetics of the local dialect, where instead of the sound [th], the inhabitants of Argentina pronounce [g]. The same neighborhood slightly distorted the grammar of the language.

Separately, it is necessary to mention the Lunfardo (or Lunfardo) dialect, in which only thieves and prostitutes previously expressed their thoughts. It is an analogue of the Russian thieves' jargon, called botat after the hair dryer. Nowadays, this slang or jargon is rapidly capturing all social circles of society, thanks to the music and words to which they dance tango. Lunfardo includes separate words from Italian and Portuguese, diluted French words and some expressions from aboriginal languages, such as Quechua, which the local indigenous people still use in remote parts of the country.

However, in Everyday life it is considered indecent to use this dialect and it is recommended to use a variety Spanish, called casteljano, which broadcasts and publishes periodicals along with the Castilian dialect.

Casteljano is an intricate pattern that intertwines Italian and Spanish, which somehow subtly resembles the Neapolitan dialect.

One of the amusing features of the Argentinean language is the use of the interjection "Che!" when addressing a person. Something like our "Hey!" or "Listen!". Everyone remembers Ernesto Che Guevara, who was from these places, but not everyone knows that Ernesto Guevara got the prefix “Che” to his name precisely because he constantly used this word in any conversation.

Russian in Argentina

Several hundred thousand Russians living in the country continue to use the Russian language along with the Spanish dialects that they have already mastered or in currently study. Some immigrants from Russia, sharing their impressions of how they began to learn Spanish, which they did not know before, from scratch on the spot, memorizing entire fairy tales or poems by heart after their first job as a loader or seller, note that today their children do not want to speak Russian , and parents have to force them to learn fairy tales in Russian by heart. But with Spanish, children do not experience any difficulties in communicating.

The main recommendation for all beginners: do not be afraid to speak Spanish in Argentina, let them correct you, let them laugh at you, so you will learn faster. It takes a lot of work and a lot of communication. The Spanish dialect will be different for every Argentine you meet: those from the Misiones province, for example, will have something similar to Paraguayan, those from the west to Chilean, those from the northeast to Brazilian, those who came from the provinces bordering Bolivia, the speech has its own accent. The main thing is to be ready for this and not be afraid of difficulties.

It should be noted that in addition to Russian-speaking immigrants, who retain the Russian language in everyday communication, there is another part of the population that continues to communicate in Ukrainian, as well as Polish, Armenian and Bulgarian.

Spanish in Argentina - official language. Communicate on it - everyone will understand you.

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Capital: Buenos Aires.

Argentina airports:

Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport is the largest airport in Argentina, known as Ezeiza International Airport

Hotels Argentina 1 - 5 stars (HOTEL):

Official language: Spanish, English, Italian, German and French are also common.

Population: about 40.3 million people.

Political system: democratic republic.

Geographical position: Argentina is in the south South America. It borders Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the east, and Chile to the south and west. In the east it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

Dominant Religion: Catholicism.

Time: behind Moscow by 7 hours in summer and 6 hours in winter.

Argentina attracts with its natural, cultural and architectural wealth, endless opportunities for peaceful and extreme recreation. The homeland of Evita, Maradona and Che Guevara impresses with its contrasting landscapes: from the famous pampas of the central regions of the country to the Andes with their plateaus, valleys, gorges and colored mountains, gradually giving way to lakes, forests and glaciers of Patagonia and the snowy expanses of Antarctica. On the territory of Argentina there are two extreme points of South America: the most high mountain hemisphere Aconcagua (6960 m) and the lowest located lake of the continent Laguna del Carbol (-105 m).

A trip to Argentina would not be complete without delicious red wine and excellent BBQ. The best grape varieties for the production of the famous Argentine wine are grown in the vicinity of Mendoza, Salta, San Juan and La Rioja. On the streets of Buenos Aires there are many grill bars (parrillas) where you can try the famous meat dishes. The trip will also be complemented by mate herbal tea, which is traditionally drunk from a gourd bowl through a silver pipe.

Popular types of tourism: ski holidays (mid-June - early October), "wine" tours, cruises to Antarctica from Ushuaia, tango shows, tango salons (milongas), tango and Spanish lessons, visits to Argentinean ranches, folklore shows, ecotourism, beach holidays.

Worth visiting:
Buenos Aires is the cultural and business capital, the city of tango.
Puerto Madryn, where you can watch whales from May to December.
The Valdes Peninsula is home to many marine species and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. national park
Tierra del Fuego is a reserve with untouched nature, where many species of animals live.
El Calafate with Los Glaciares National Park - a unique park of glaciers, the park is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Iguazu National Park with numerous waterfalls on an area of ​​3 km, is included in the UNESCO list of sites, nearby are the ruins of Jesuit buildings on the lands of the Guarani Indians, which are also included in the World Heritage List.
In Mar del Plata are the main and most prestigious beaches of the country.
Cueva de los Manos (per. "Cave of Hands") is included in the list of UNESCO sites, it is a historical monument of rock art.
Cordoba is a city for lovers of architecture and historical tourism, here are the buildings of the Jesuits, listed as World Heritage Sites. cultural heritage.
Mendoza is the main producer of wines in Argentina, here tourists are offered tours to wineries and wine tasting.

Climate: Argentina's climate varies from subtropical in the north to subantarctic in the south, but most of the country is dominated by a temperate climate. The northern regions are characterized by hot, humid summers and dry winters. Southern regions countries are different warm summer and cold snowy winters, especially in mountainous areas. Cold winds blow over the plains of Patagonia. Average annual air temperatures range from +24°С in the north to +5°С in the south.

Electricity: 220 volt.

Currency: argentine peso. Credit cards of international banks are accepted for payment in large shopping centers, hotels, restaurants.

Visa: Russian citizens do not need a visa.

Customs restrictions:

Duty-free import is allowed: cigarettes - 200 pcs. (cigars - 25 pcs.), alcoholic drinks - 2 liters, canned food - up to 5 kg., souvenirs and gifts in the amount of not more than 300 US dollars, items and things within the limits of personal needs. When importing these items in excess of the specified amount, a duty of 50% of their value is levied. It is allowed to export wool and leather products, jewelry, souvenirs within the limits of personal needs, while you need to present a receipt from the store where these products were purchased. When exporting fur products, an export stamp receipt is required. Import and export of national and foreign currencies is not limited.

Vaccinations: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required when flying to/from Peru from the following provinces: Salta, Jujuy, Corrientes, Formosa, Misiones, Chaco.

Purchases: Argentina is famous for its leather products: jackets, coats, belts, bags, gloves, shoes, etc. Here you can also buy high-quality knitwear, llama and alpaca wool, hand-knitted carpets with colorful Indian motifs, antiques, jewelry using local stones : green onyx and rhodochrosite (Inca roses).

Holidays and festivals

January - concerts, film premieres and shows with the participation of national and world stars in Mar del Plata, Folklore Festival in Cosquin (Cordoba).
February-March - Carnival in the northwestern region. The carnival lasts several days of dancing and processions.
March - Festival of Cultures in Cordoba, Film Festival in Mar del Plata with the participation of world stars.
late spring - early summer - a three-day Grape Harvest Festival with a large gala concert in Mendoza.
July - Alpenmilch Chocolate Festival in Villa General Belgrano (province of Cordoba) with music and dancing.
October - Beer Festival in Villa General Belgrano.
November - Gaucho Festival in San Antonio de Areco, province of Buenos Aires.

Many of us are adventurers at heart, adventurous and adventurous. And it seems that almost every one of us would like to visit Argentina, however, this country is not included in the tourist “top” among our fellow citizens. Moreover, not everyone even knows what continent or mainland it is on.

Where is Argentina located?

The country of Argentina, even on the map, is incredibly beautiful, elongated and with immense proportions. She is located in several climatic zones, starting from the Antarctic, passing through the icy mountains of Patagonia and the vast plains, and ends in the north in the tropical jungle. Argentina is next to Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Bolivia. In the west are the Andean Cordillera, and in the east it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

If you decide to visit Argentina, you should not be limited only to acquaintance with the natural world. Your journey will not be complete at all if you don't visit Buenos Aires. It is rightfully considered the soul and heart of Argentina. It is a wealthy metropolis with an amazing history full of passion and suffering.

In the northern regions of the country, a rich colonial heritage and cities of incredible beauty are very harmoniously combined. Here you can visit the Iguazu National Park with a waterfall that has become famous throughout the globe.

How to get to Argentina?

You can write about Argentina endlessly, but it is better to visit there. Nowadays, it is not at all difficult, especially with such an abundance of airlines. Flight options may be different, for example, there are daily flights from Moscow to Buenos Aires with connections in Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, London.

Morning flights are ideal for a flight, because 15-20 hours of flight, of course, are tiring. And after so many hours in the air, a natural desire will come - to rest. And the most suitable day for the flight will be Friday. There are no traffic jams on Saturdays in Argentina, so on your first day of rest, you will have the opportunity to easily start exploring the sights.

Argentina is a distant South American country, and perhaps the most atypical of all the countries of this continent, famous for its unique atmosphere, a mixture of traditions of the New and Old Worlds, as well as an extraordinary variety of man-made and miraculous sights, which, of course, makes it extremely tempting for active tourism. Not fitting, sometimes into the usual ideas and frameworks, this country is able to amaze the imagination, breaking stereotypes and standards.

With an impressive area of ​​​​2,780,400 km², Argentina ranks second in terms of territory in South America (after Brazil) and rightfully bears the title of the second largest country on this continent.

Occupying the southeastern part of the South American continent and the eastern part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Argentina is surrounded by countries such as Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay, and in the east it is washed by waters Atlantic Ocean.

In terms of demographics, Argentina also occupies a leading position in the South American continent, being, according to this indicator, the third country in South America (after Brazil and Colombia). According to the 2016 census, the population of the country is 43,847,430 people. A significant difference between Argentina and other South American countries is the predominance of the population of the white race, which is historically due to mass emigration from European countries. The Indian population is only 1.5% of the total population of the country.

The capital of country - legendary city Buenos Aires has a population of over 3 million.

The national currency of the country is the peso, ARS. In the past few years, due to the crisis and default, the Argentine peso has gained a reputation as a rather unstable currency. There are several exchange rates in the country - official and floating black market rates.

Most of Argentina's population is Catholic, but about 9 percent of the inhabitants are Protestant. In connection with the colorful ethnic composition The population here can be found and such religious denominations as Judaism and Islam.

It is believed that the name of the country comes from the Latin word argentum, which means silver, although rumors about silver deposits here turned out to be false.

The country that gave the world a passionate tango dance, the original culture of South American Gaucho cowboys, the absolute art of football will not leave any of its guests indifferent. The visiting cards of the country can be safely called the unusual mate drink, without which the Argentines cannot imagine their life, and the famous Argentine meat, the fame of whose taste is booming all over the world. Argentina can safely be called a paradise for meat-eaters; there is no such delicious meat anywhere else in the world. However, Argentina became famous all over the world not only thanks to tango, meat and football, but also for its unique natural beauties: the Perito Moreno glacier, the harsh virgin lands of Patagonia, the snow-white expanses of Antarctica, the splendor and power of the Iguazu Falls, the red canyons and colorful deserts of Salta, the lake district of Bariloche. And at the same time, it is one of the most highly urbanized countries with such major metropolitan areas as Buenos Aires, Rosario, Cordoba.

Current time in Buenos Aires:
(UTC -2)

The legendary distant country of the Southern Hemisphere, which has the most European look among its neighbors, which has known many ups and downs throughout its history, is gradually turning from an unattainable dream into reality, every year more and more Russian tourists turn their eyes in its direction.

How to get to Argentina

From Russia

The most logical, simple and cheapest option is to fly directly to the capital of the country. There are no direct flights to Buenos Aires from Moscow (as well as from other Russian cities). But both from the Russian capital and from the regions, various (mainly European, but not only) airlines fly to the capital of Argentina with a connection at their home airports. Below we list these airlines (cities of connections are indicated in brackets). We deliberately list only one-stop flight options, or flights operated by one airline with an intermediate stop, which is indicated additionally.

• Lufthansa (Frankfurt am Main): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Samara
• AlItalia (Rome): Moscow, St. Petersburg
• Air France (Paris): Moscow, St. Petersburg
• KLM (Amsterdam): Moscow, St. Petersburg
• Iberia (Madrid): Moscow, St. Petersburg
• British Airways (London): Moscow, St. Petersburg
• Air Europa (Madrid): Moscow
• Emirates (Dubai): Moscow, St. Petersburg; additional stop in Rio de Janeiro on the way from Dubai and back
• Qatar (Doha): Moscow; additional stop in Sao Paulo on the way from Doha and back
• Aeroflot: from Moscow by codeshare with Aerolineas Argentinas via Rome and with American Airlines via Miami (you need to check with the airline if you need an American transit visa)
• Transaero: from Moscow by codeshare with United via Houston (there) and New York (back); you need to check with the airline the need for an American transit visa

Cities and regions

As a federal republic, Argentina is divided into 23 provinces and one federal district— Buenos Aires. Each subject of the federation has its own constitution, in accordance with which self-government is exercised.

The provinces are in turn divided into departments. The only exception is Buenos Aires, which is subdivided into 134 districts.

In addition, there is another scale for dividing the country - into areas allocated according to natural and cultural-historical features. There are 6 major regions in total.

Such a division is rather relative, since there are provinces that belong to several regions at once. Belonging to a particular region is determined by the sign, which includes most of them. So, Tucuman, the smallest province of Argentina, is part of three regions at once: the Pampas in the south, the Gran Chaco in the northeast and the Argentine Northwest.

Each of these regions has its own interesting specifics and features, both natural-geographical and cultural-historical.

Argentine Northwest

One of the biggest geographical regions Argentina, which includes the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, La Rioja and Tucuman. Located in the north of the country, this region covers an area of ​​470.184 km², and about 2.784.821 million people live on its territory.

The landscapes of this region are truly diverse. On its territory you will find foothills, fertile valleys, canyons, highlands and altiplanos.

It is traditionally considered agricultural, with a focus on sugar cane, tobacco, and citrus fruits. Animal husbandry is represented here by breeding cattle and goats.

The industry of this region is mainly associated with the processing of sugar cane.

The climatic conditions of the northwest of Argentina are quite heterogeneous. In the foothills, the climate is tropical - hot, with abundant rains, and in the Andean steppes - a pronounced continental climate with a sharp temperature drop.

The north-west of Argentina is considered to be a fairly developed region of the country in terms of tourism. Tourists are attracted here both by its many natural beauties and ethnotourism, represented by the original cultures of the indigenous peoples of these lands, Quechua and Aymara.

Separately, it is worth listing National parks Argentina:

Where to go in Argentina

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Where to eat and drink

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Transport

Wellness vacation

Private guides in Argentina

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Argentina in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Things to do

The country of a myriad of cultural and historical attractions, Argentina also offers its guests a wide range of sports and educational activities in the format ecological tourism. This type of tourism, differently represented in different provinces of the country depending on their specifics and climate, does not by chance play an important role in the structure of the country's domestic tourism - the natural wonders of Patagonia, Misiones, Salta and La Rioja can amaze even the most demanding, who have seen a lot travelers in their lifetime. Animal lovers will find many exciting routes for themselves, primarily in the provinces of Patagonia and Misiones.

In addition to traditional tango shows and football matches, in this country you can go in for horseback riding, rock climbing, join the traditions of gaucho on numerous ranches (estancias) in Patagonia. Beach holidays and surfing are widely represented on the Atlantic coast in the main resorts of the country - Mar de Plata and Pinamar in the province of Buenos Aires. Enotourism will delight lovers of good wine with pleasant tastings at the wineries of Mendoza and San Juan.

There are many different holidays in Argentina, both official and informal, both religious and secular. So, in the city of Cordoba, which is called the cultural capital of the country, a variety of festivals are held. In February, the wheat festival is widely celebrated here, in October - the beer festival. And in the wine capital of Argentina, the city of Mendoza, in March they celebrate the festival of harvesting the grapes of Vendimia, a colorful theatrical performance with the election of the Queen of Vendimia and the traditional pressure of grapes in barrels. In San Juan, in February, the National Festival of the Sun (Fiesta Nacional del Sol) is widely celebrated, which invariably attracts many tourists to the city.

Argentines like no one else know how to enjoy life, and therefore their holidays are extremely colorful, lively and emotional.

Traveling in Argentina

It is clear that the issues of movement within such a long country as Argentina play an important role in travel planning and route planning.

Airplanes in Argentina

Air communication is undoubtedly a priority in a country like Argentina, where the distances between cities are truly gigantic.

International and domestic flights around the country are operated by airlines,. The latter airline operates flights between Buenos Aires, Salta and Puerto Madryn and is considered quite budgetary, although it offers higher rates for foreign tourists than for Argentine citizens.

The country's main air hub, through which most connecting flights operate, is Buenos Aires.

LAN is the undisputed leader in the aviation services market in Latin America and provides the widest network of routes in Argentina. Below are the airline's estimated fares for some of Argentina's most popular domestic routes in Economy Class, if booked in advance.

• Buenos Aires - Iguazu - Buenos Aires = 225 USD, flight duration 2 hours
• Buenos Aires - Salta - Buenos Aires = 250 USD, flight duration 2 hours 20 minutes
• Buenos Aires - Mendoza - Buenos Aires = 200 USD, flight duration two hours
• Buenos Aires - Cordoba - Buenos Aires = 160 USD, flight duration is an hour and a half
• Buenos Aires - Bariloche - Buenos Aires = 400 USD, flight duration two and a half hours
• Buenos Aires - El Calafate - Buenos Aires = 440 USD, flight duration three and a half hours
• Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires = 450 USD, flight duration three hours and forty-five minutes

Given the high cost of the main ticket to Argentina, it would be quite logical to cover several regions of the country at once in one trip. So, one can easily combine Bariloche with El Calafate, since Argentinean Airlines has direct flights between these Patagonian cities at an average ticket price of 200 USD. From El Calafate it's tempting to drop by Ushuaia, it's quite possible with Argentinean Airlines for only one hundred US dollars.

Buses in Argentina

Bus transport is well developed in the country high level and covers almost all major cities of Argentina. Despite the gigantic distances between cities, traveling by bus is by no means considered a utopia here. The most popular and reliable bus companies are recognized,. As a rule, these companies have a bus fleet that meets all the requirements of modern safety and comfort, and the rates differ depending on the structure of the seat - there are both normal seats, and semi-folding (semi cama), and folding like a bed (cama).

Bus routes on the segment Buenos Aires - Iguazu are especially popular and in demand. It is worth remembering, however, that not everyone will be able to withstand the tiring hours of travel by bus, and besides, bus tickets in Argentina are by no means cheap. Here are just some of the prices and duration of transfers between cities:

• Buenos Aires - Iguazu = 110 USD, travel time 17 hours;
• Buenos Aires - Mendoza = 70 USD, travel time 16 hours;
• Buenos Aires - Salta = 130 USD, travel time 20 hours;
• Buenos Aires - Bariloche = 140 USD, travel time 22 hours.

culture

It is not surprising that the most Europeanized country in South America was formed under the influence of emigrants from Europe, absorbing the cultural traditions of different European countries.

The most important element of the Argentinean culture, the tango dance made a triumphal procession around the world, gaining worldwide fame. Read more about tango here. The name of the great Argentinean singer and actor is inextricably linked with tango. Carlos Gardel, a cult and highly revered figure in the country. Suffice it to say that the singer's birthday on December 11, 1890 is celebrated as International Tango Day. The rise of his singing career came in the 20-30s of the last century. The singer tragically died in a plane crash in 1935, but is still an idol for millions of Hispanics. The Gardel monument can be seen in the center of Buenos Aires in the Abasto district. The Gardel House Museum is also located here, the expositions of which recreate the life and creative way singer.

Another cult figure in the tango format was the composer Astor Piazzola, the founder of the tango genre in a modern way, called tango nuevo. The Great Astor is also known as a bandoneon virtuoso. His cycle "The Seasons in Buens Aires" earned him worldwide fame.

Undoubtedly, traditions and folklore are an integral element of the culture of Argentina. Gaucho. This variety of cowboy shepherds, formed mainly from mixed marriages of Europeans and Indians, enriched the culture of Argentina with its authentic rich folklore with unique songs and dances. They also brought to the life of the country the tradition of drinking mate, a tonic drink made from crushed leaves and shoots of holly, brewed in a gourd vessel. Today, mate has become an integral part of the culture of Argentina and its neighboring countries.

Sports play an important role in the life of modern Argentines, in particular football, elevated in the country to the absolute and become the most revered sport in Argentina. The local team has achieved serious international success, the team won the World Cup twice in 1978 and 1986.

In Argentine literature the influence of European trends is also noticeable. There are many world-class figures among Argentine writers - Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortazar, Ernesto Sabato, Manuel Puig. In Buenos Aires, European trends in art, music, and architecture are clearly visible.

The city has many great art museums and galleries, not to mention theaters. Opera gained considerable popularity in the country. Colon Opera House in Buenos Aires is considered one of the best in the world. very popular and theatrical performances small genres - zarzuela, musical and especially comedy and humor.

Modern Argentine cinema reached the world level and is very popular in South America, offering viewers a very special movie with capital letter. The films of Argentine directors are distinguished by independence of judgment, subtle humor and depth of psychologism. They have repeatedly won prestigious awards at various world-class film festivals. The revival of Argentine cinema begins in the late fifties, when a number of talented comedies and musicals appear. The star of that era was the incomparable Lolita Torres, whose films were in those years and in the Soviet box office.

After the fall of the dictatorship in the eighties, a new round in the development of Argentine cinema begins. Films with the participation of the first star of modern Argentine cinema, Ricardo Darin, are a huge success in countries Latin America. Of the latest Argentine film hits, two genuine masterpieces can be named - "El secreto de sus ojos", which won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and "Un cuento chino", a touching story about the vicissitudes of fate and human relationships. And most recently, the film Wild Tales was released, which was nominated for an Oscar in 2015 as the best foreign film. Argentine TV series are also consistently successful in South American countries, which compare favorably in terms of level with Brazilian and Mexican soap operas.

Argentine cuisine

Argentinean national cuisine is a rather colorful mixture of national traditions of indigenous Indian peoples and numerous foreign recipes brought here by settlers from Europe.

It's no secret that in a country like Argentina, where cattle breeding is traditionally the dominant economy, they consume not just a lot, but a lot of meat and its derivatives. Read more about meat dishes here.

Hearth or fried pies are extremely popular in Argentina. (empanadas) with all sorts of fillings from minced meat, ham and cheese, potatoes, etc. Inexpensive, nutritious and very tasty pies have become a true national dish of Argentina. Only Argentines eat them with wine, and not with tea, as is customary with us.

In Patagonia, the main meat dish is spit-roasted lamb. (cordero al palo). This business card Patagonian cuisine, which should be tasted without fail.

But the Argentines do not live by meat alone. The country is also famous for fish and seafood. Oysters, shrimp, squid, trout and smoked eel are very popular here. Traveling through the endless expanses of Patagonia, be sure to try delicious crabs (centolla), for which the waters of these places are so famous.

Italian cuisine is extremely popular in all parts of the country. Italian immigrants left their powerful mark here. Pizzas, lasagna, gnocchi and all kinds of pastas are prepared in Argentina almost better than in Italy itself.

Favorite Argentinean desserts include medialunas croissants, pancakes with condensed milk and tiramisu. In general, desserts with condensed milk ( dulce de leche) and derivatives of it enjoy constant love among the inhabitants of Argentina.

You should definitely treat yourself to Argentine ice cream, the recipes of which were brought by European immigrants.

And among the typical Argentine drinks, the undisputed favorite is mate. Brewing and drinking mate is akin to a real ceremony - a bitter, but very healthy tonic drink from dried crushed leaves and young shoots of holly is brewed in a special gourd vessel that bears the same name mate (or calabash) and is drunk at any time of the day or night. Drinking mate has long become a ritual and a way of communication in Argentina. And although Paraguay is considered the birthplace of mate, in Argentina it took root immediately and irrevocably, becoming an integral part of the life of not only gauchos, but also any real Argentinean.

Argentina can surprise you with quite exotic dishes. Thrill-seekers will find it interesting to experiment by tasting such unusual dishes as fried oxtails, viscacha meat and rhea ostrich meat, which are bred on special farms.

Purchases

In such a long and diverse country as Argentina, it is difficult to say what will be the most typical souvenir. Souvenirs will be different in different regions and provinces, respectively. So what, after all, does it make sense to bring from this distant South American country?

First of all, most likely, you should pay attention to leather products, which are very popular in Argentina. High Quality. Jackets, coats, bags and shoes will be a good purchase. Original products made of buffalo leather - belts, wallets, bags, shoes - are invariably in great demand. When choosing these products, you will get two in one - national flavor and high quality.

Elegant and varied in design, silver jewelry will also be an excellent gift from Argentina. On Libertad Street in Buenos Aires you will find a huge selection of silver items at reasonable prices. If you are interested in shopping in Buenos Aires, then you should look at this page - there are more detailed information and links to shopping centers in the Argentine capital.

Traditionally, kits for making mate made of pumpkin, aluminum, silver and gold are brought from here. The choice of such souvenirs in Argentina is very large, among which you can find real works of art. Products made of alpaca and vicuña wool (ponchos, sweaters, socks, bedspreads) can be purchased in Patagonia. Figurines of little animals and penguins made of unusual rhocorozite stones can also be a great gift for your loved ones.

Fur coats are also available in Argentina, which are of decent quality and attractive prices. And in the province of Misiones (Iguazu) you can find very good figurines of birds and animals made of valuable varieties of mahogany.

Connection

In such a distant and extended country as Argentina, communication issues, of course, will excite any tourist. Difficulties with mobile communications and Internet access in tourist places country is not usually observed. Problems can arise in mountainous areas where there are often interruptions in communication.

The most common mobile operator in Argentina is Claro. They have the best rates and favorable conditions. This company works almost without failures, which is why it enjoys well-deserved popularity in the country. Other major cellular operators that have proven themselves worthy are Movistar and Personal.

For local calls within Argentina, we recommend purchasing a card from one of these operators; their services will be used much cheaper than roaming, which is provided by Russian operators - MTS, Beeline and MegaFon.

The international dialing code of Argentina is 54. In order to call from Moscow to Argentina, you need to dial 7 - 10 (or just "+" instead of this combination, if we are talking about a mobile phone) - 54 - the area code and phone number, and to, while in Argentina, to call from a mobile phone to Russia, you need to dial 00 7, the area code and the phone number.

Below are the codes for some major Argentine cities.

Safety

Unfortunately, the recent crisis has exacerbated the crime situation in the country, especially in its major cities. So that your trip is not overshadowed by unpleasant incidents, you should follow certain precautions and not lose vigilance.

You should not provoke the local population with your appearance, wear expensive jewelry, demonstrate expensive equipment, large amounts of cash. You need to look so that you can blend in with the crowd and not be conspicuous.

Demonstrate self-confidence to others, do not show confusion, doubt, etc.

You should not publicly check on the street with a tourist map, giving yourself away as a tourist. It is better to study the route in the hotel in advance and follow it confidently.

Leave valuables, documents and cash in the hotel safe. It is best to carry a photocopy of your passport with you.

If you need to withdraw money from an ATM, it is better to do it during the daytime and not alone.

Taxis must be booked at the hotel or restaurant. If you catch a taxi on the street, make sure that it is an official taxi with a radio taxi sign. When paying taxi drivers, it is advisable to give the exact amount, there have been cases when taxi drivers pretended that they did not have change. It is best to keep the windows closed while riding in a taxi.

In Buenos Aires, a very common trick is when scammers quietly douse you with a liquid that imitates bird droppings and kindly help clean your clothes. During this procedure, they deftly pull money out of your pockets, which you can discover much later. Such tricks must be avoided and all contacts with strangers should be immediately cut off.

It is advisable to refrain from riding city buses, especially during rush hours, pickpocketing is still very developed, especially in Buenos Aires. It is much better, and by the way, not much more expensive, to take a taxi.

Try to avoid crowded places, in the crowd it is much easier for thieves to steal money unnoticed. Accordingly, always keep an eye on your bags and wallets.

Do not carry large amounts of cash with you, it is better to limit yourself to a small amount in accordance with your daily expenses.

In restaurants, ladies should not hang their purse on the back of a chair; it is much more reliable to keep it on your lap.

• Police phone number for tourists in Buenos Aires: 4382-0074 /0075 / 0076

Argentina occupies the southeastern part of the mainland of South America. In the east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In the north and northeast it borders on Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil, in the east on Uruguay, in the south and west on Chile. Due to its great extent from north to south, Argentina has a great variety of landscapes; in the north, vast areas are occupied by the Gran Chaco plain, covered with tropical savannah; it is adjacent to the dry subtropical steppes of the Pampas, in the south is the plateau of Patagonia, characterized by a harsh climate.

Argentina is also one of the largest and most economically developed countries in Latin America. In Argentina, the opposite is true - it is hot in the north and cold in the south. They say that Indian tribes lived here, but not as vigorous as in North America. The Spaniards, who sailed in the 16th century, ignored them and declared the territory the property of Spain. But the Indians did not seem to know about this. The Spaniards found silver here and called the country Argentina, that is (Silver) - from the word "argentum", which in Latin means "silver". Then it turned out that they got excited, there was not enough silver here. But the name is still left - beautiful. But it turned out that it is good to breed cattle here. This is what they are doing to this day - Argentina is mainly an agrarian country, where, in addition to cows and sheep, they grow wheat, fruits and grapes.

The territory of Argentina is extended in the Meridian direction. Its greatest length from north to south is 3.7 thousand kilometers. The area is 2.8 million km².

The nature of Argentina is diverse due to the great length of the country from north to south and differences in relief. The Andes stretch along the entire western border of Argentina.

In the northwest, between the northern border of the country at an altitude of 3000-4000m, there is a vast closed volcanic plateau - Puna.

The combination of various forms of relief with different colors of the slopes and the snowy attire of the mountains creates the majestic and unique beauty of the Andean mountain landscapes.

In the north, from the northern border to the Parana River in the east, the Gran Chaco plain is spread, filled with clastic material and alluvial deposits.

The interfluve of the Parana and Uruguay is basically a flat area, composed of red sandstones and marls, overlain by a thick layer of clayey alluvium and loess.

The northern part of the area is a lava plateau, which is part of the lava plateau of the Brazilian Plateau. The central part of Mesopotamia is a flat swampy lowland. And the south is a hilly plain, crossed by sandstone ridges.

The northeast is warm, humid plains. The northern regions of the country lie in the subtropical zone, the central part
it is occupied by plateaus and wide steppes, and its southern regions include the cold outskirts of the South American continent. The waterfalls are partly located in Argentina.
The vegetation of Argentina is diverse: from evergreen tropical and subtropical forests to semi-deserts and cold deserts. In the extreme northeast and on the slopes of the Andes, dense forests are located, mainly on red earth soils. In the province of Misiones, for example, they contain up to 150 various kinds trees per 1 ha and consist of Brazilian araucaria, mate (Paraguayan tea), zest (cedar) and other valuable species. This is an important logging area in Argentina. The dry woodlands of the Chaco province on brown-red soils are one of the natural wealth of the country due to the predominance of quebracho trees in them (translated as not taking an ax)
Patagonia- the main livestock region of the country. Sheep are grown here, the wool and skins of which are one of the main export products of Argentina.

Patagonia stretches from the Atlantic coast in the east to the western foothills of the southern Andes. The seashore here is steep and precipitous.

Patagonia covers an area of ​​approximately 777 thousand square kilometers. The climate is mostly dry, but the north is warm enough to support large farms that grow alfalfa, vegetables and fruits, and raise huge flocks of sheep. Of the 13.7 million sheep counted in Argentina, a significant proportion are in Patagonia.

More than 20 national parks have been created in Argentina, many of which, along with nature reserves and other protected areas, are located in Patagonia. However highest value for the economy of the country have large reserves of oil, natural gas and coal discovered in Patagonia, as well as metal ores - iron, tungsten, lead and gold.

pampas. The word "pampa" in the language indian tsev quechua means "flat place". The vast fertile plain of Pampa occupies about a quarter of the territory. This is the birthplace of the legendary gauchos - local cowboys, descended from Hispano-Indian marriages. Pampa is the name given to the vast, mostly treeless, plains, as well as the physiographic region that occupies most of Central Argentina. According to climatic conditions, the region is divided into two parts. Wetter areas are closer to the ocean, rainfall here varies from normal to excessive, soils are heavy and fertile.
The dry regions of the Pampas lie inland. Their area is larger, but they are less populated, and there is little fertile land. In the past, the Pampa was covered with grassy vegetation, but now most of the region has been turned into agricultural land with aboutvast pastures and ranches for gigantic herdscattle, the number of heads of which exceeds 49 million. Two extensive geographic areas- Pampa and Patagonia - occupied by natural pastures. In summer, this rocky plateau overgrown with shrubs is heated by the heat, and in winter it freezes deeply.
The hilly pastures of the Pampas are in the eastern part of the country, where dairy cattle are bred on huge livestock farms, and rich crops of wheat are harvested from endless fields. Back in the 19th century, the meat and leather industry brought Argentina significant income. On the hot northern outskirts of the country, the plains of the Pampas give way to the vast swamps and rare shrubs of the Gran Chaco plain, in the dry steppes of which cattle and cotton are grown. In the warm foothills of the Andes, olives, citrus fruits and grapes are grown.
Andesoccupy 23% of the country's territory and form western border. The Argentinean part of the Andes is more gentle and heavily indented by wide river valleys. The northeast is warm, humid plains. The northern regions of the country lie in the subtropical zone, its central part is occupied by plateaus and wide steppes, and its southern regions include the cold outskirts of the South American continent.