This past Tuesday there was a 'Bank' holiday in Brazil, which meant no classes on Monday and 6 days off for me. Like several of my classmates, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and make a 'big' trip to other cities outside of Brazil, including Montevideo, Uruguay, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. I'm so glad I took this trip because it really have me a different perspective of Latin America from what I'd seen in Brazil.
A gorgeous day in Buenos Aires
The main Beach of Montevideo, Brazil
The first thing I discovered when visiting both Montevideo and Buenos Aires, was how much more 'developed' each of these cities felt. Granted, they didn't feel quite as polished as some parts of the US and Europe, there was a general feel that things were more organized and structured. In comparison to Brazil, which has its own feel when it comes to shopping, restaurants, architecture and more, both Buenos Aires and Montevideo felt considerably more 'European' both in style and in population.
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Montevideo by Day and Night
For a little bit I wondered why this was. Perhaps its because they were both once Spanish colonies, maybe it had to do with how they developed either socially, culturally, or economically. But, as opposed to the almost industrial feel of many parts of Brazil, there seemed to be much more history in the architecture and the city layout. For example, in Sao Paulo, it really does feel like a concrete jungle with only small pockets of parks and trees. However, in both Montevideo and Buenos Aires there was an abundance of trees, parks, and open spaces. One thing that was interesting, was that as nice as Buenos Aires is, several people were quick to remind me that it has come quite far from the economic challenges it faced a decade ago. It is still a place where there is a large income gap, and around sunset you'll find lots of people sifting through trash for recyclables and other discarded items of value.
One of most striking differences between Brazil and both Montevideo and Buenos Aires that I also discovered was the lack of diversity in the population Montevideo and Buenos Aires compared to Brazil. While Brazil is comprised of predominately 3 ehtnic groups, both Montevideo and Buenos Aires seemed to be made up of direct descendants of the Spanish colonizers. This was neither a positive or negative observation, but it made me appreciate the diversity of Brazil a little bit more.
One of the common traits among all of Latin America that I have experienced so far is how outgoing and welcoming everyone is. It's something that I've already commented on but I constantly find it striking how willing people are to strike up a conversation with someone on the street. On more than one occasion as I strolled through Montevideo or Buenos Aires I had people approach me asking me if I needed directions, wondering where I was from, and what I thought of their city. There was a general sense that they were very proud of their respective countries and excited to let me know of highlights.
I leave you with one of the highlights of my trip to Argentina, which is know for its grass-fed cattle. Easily the best steak I've ever had. AMAZING.
