The Culture and Life of Argentina....

We had a day off mid-week and went to a very unique part of town where all the buildings are painted vibrant colors and you can find the gifts you need for those at home: Can we say Tourist Trap? WE LOVED IT! I took these pictures on the streets of the area, called La Boca, and in the quaint restaurant where I fell in love with a real Cappuccino.

While most of the students went shopping, I discovered the power of the Argentine Cappuccino and let me tell you, it is treat. They do not have Lo-Cal and Fat-Free foods or milk with different percentages of fat. Everything is full fat and no one is fat. In addition, they have this wonderful caramel which they put on absolutely everything: Crepes, cookies, toast, muffins etc. Dulce de Leche is next closest thing to heaven in this culture and is basically pure caramelized sugar. What is more amazing is no one is diabetic. Instead, they drink massive amount of Mate, a type of tea, from these funky little cups which they all drink out of and share. While capable of passing numerous diseases this way, the tea captures much of the sugar and helps their pancreas keep up.

Perhaps one of the other most amazing aspects about their culture involves driving. I believe a Top 10 list I created explains it better than an essay could.

10. Your driver looks at the red light, looks both ways, doesn't stop and proceeds through the intersection.

9. The lights turn yellow before they turn green so you know to get ready to move.

8. Your car is banged on all four corners from bumping your way into a parking space, much the like the open of Seinfeld.

7. Following number 8, you cannot find a dent shop, let alone an auto body repair shop, in a city of nearly 13 million people.

6. Seatbelts are strictly optional and often get in the way of entering and exiting the vehicle.

5. You see more dead dogs on the side of the road than those that are alive on the streets.

4. Every vehicle you have ridden in does not have a speedometer that works, making speed limits optional, at best.

3. Turn signals are optional and usually get in the way when you are trying to round a corner.

2. You charge an intersection to show other drivers you have authority and are going first, regardless of the sign, who was there first or any possible (highly unlikely) turn signal that may be on.

1. You see a pedestrian and gun it because you are bigger and pedestrians have no rights - That's why an average of 26 people die, not even counting the injured, in Buenos Aires each day from traffic accidents.