Overview

Argentina is the world’s eight largest country located in the southern part of South America. With its immense plains, deserts, tundra, forests, and mountains, it is a beautiful place to visit and explore nature. Its capital, Buenos Aires is one of South America’s most cosmopolitan and crowded cities and central tourist spot in the country.

Daily Life

Schooling in Argentina lasts from March till November and kids attend school from 8:00 to 4:30. Most kids have to ride public buses for transportation to and from school. People in Argentina have four meals a day and they love going to cafes after work, but before dinner. The breakfast is usually very light. Dinner is eaten very late in households at 9:00 or 10:00 pm, but they have a good amount of snacks (meriendas) in the evening. In the afternoon it is common to take a nap, siesta as Argentines would call it, A unique fact is that when someone is invited into an Argentine home, they should arrive thirty minutes late because this is a normal custom in the country.

Art

The art of Argentina is influenced by Spain and France, but Argentine national life is also often portrayed in the art. Post-impressionism, an artistic movement, really took flight in Argentina. Martín Malharro is a famous Argentine painter and he is credited with introducing impressionism in Argentina. The Haystacks is one of his most notable paintings. Painters Antonio Berni, Lino Enea Spilimbergo, Juan Carlos Castagnino collaborated on the ceiling at the Galerias Pacifico arcade in Buenos Aires. The gallery below showcases some of Argentina’s most iconic art pieces.

Cuisine

Argentinian food was inspired by European cuisine, and has a distinctive Mediterranean flavor. Beef is an important part of the diet in Argentina. Argentine beef is considered a delicacy, and people all around the world find it delicious! A classic dish from Argentina is its steak! Grilled on a parrilla, a giant grill, it is rich, flavorful, and a must-have when traveling to Argentina. A traditional argentine food is mixed asado, which is a style of barbecue. Locro is another traditional argentine stew filled with grains, meat, vegetables, and corn. Milanesa is an Argentinian schnitzel. It’s a pounded piece of chicken or beef breaded and fried. The food in Argentina will not disappoint you when traveling there!

Fashion

Most women in Argentina dress nicely on a daily basis. No one would ever leave their house in pajamas or sweatpants. A current fashion trend is wearing platform shoes and several pieces of jewelry. Office workers in Argentina wear half suits. In general, the dressing style in Argentina is more fancy than casual. The gauchos are an Argentinian national symbol and they are known for their traditional clothing which consists of a poncho, loose trousers, and a wide-brimmed hat. Traditional typical footwear in Argentina include alpargatas, a shoe made from canvas with a rope sole. Males will wear trousers called tje bombachas de campo for horse riding because they are resilient.

Music

Tango music is an integral part of Argentina life because the dance style originated in Argentina. The arrival of tango put Argentina on the map for the music. Traditional folklore music originated well before tango in Argentina. Traditional folklore music instruments are guitar, violin, and drums. Other common instruments used bandoneón, quena (wooden flute), and charango (small banjo).

Transportation

Long-distance buses are how most people travel across the country in Argentina. These buses are fast, efficient, provide basic food service, and are cheaper and more enjoyable than plane rides. Colectivos are local buses used around cities and towns. Trains are also used for both long-distance and locally. Taxis can be used in Argentina, as well. However, most students and workers use local buses to travel around the city.