ABSTRACT
Every year international travelers flock to Buenos Aires, Argentina. They are lured by its cosmopolitan charm, famed artistic expressions, and entertaining nightlife. Many come from neighboring Uruguay or Brazil, and many others come from northern horizons on the other side of the world. Their journey is a long one, and most arrive nagged by jet lag and just a bit dazed by the fact that it is no longer summer, but winter-or vice versa. But in many respects Buenos Aires can be approached like other cities, and this provides some comfort to the otherwise flustered traveler. There are taxis, buses, and rental cars for transportation from the airport. Hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops dot its urban core. Crowds flood its streets in synchronicity with the workday. Street peddlers and musicians struggle to make a living. There are signs of fabulous wealth, such as the luxurious flats of Palermo or Recoleta that sit near Audi dealerships and overlook spacious parks. And there are scenes of desperation, found with uncomfortable ease in the working-class streets of La Boca. The inequality is disturbing, but it is also found in most any large city.
