Argentina
Before heading to Argentina, I wanted to understand it's character. Specifically, how could Buenos Aires have been "the Paris of South America" in the early 1900s, while more recent news and events seem so tumultous.
Long story short, Argentina is a beautiful, verdant country with many resources. In the early days, settlement was hindered by it's distance from Europe, and trade was stymied by limits on transportation (ship only) and lack of refrigeration for imports and exports.
Various immigrant groups - mainly British and German -- tried to establish a cultured "Paris" in Buenos Aires, while the interior maintained its "wild west-cowboy" independence. The World Wars affected the country and more recent troubles can be attributed to bad governance and corruption.
Tandil, Argentina
