CCTV tells one billion viewers in mainland China about the upcoming Tango Party in Buenos Aires.

“The world speaks many languages.” That quote from Paulo Coelho’s spiritual classic The Alchemist is gaining additional validity with each successive post here on InvestBA. Yesterday we had a front page story from a Dubai newspaper praising Buenos Aires as an “Electric City,” and now China’s CCTV gets in on the porteño lovefest by giving 1 billion viewers in mainland China a sneak peak at next week’s “Huge Tango Party” here in BA. Watching the 90-second clip reinforces two key themes: 1.) Tango elicits international intermingling as convoluted as the dance itself, and 2.) Tango is an addiction. The first takeaway is evident just from watching the video: Native Chinese broadcasters promoting a dance with African and European influences and translating Argentine Castellano into English for a global audience online. The addiction theme is best understood by connecting with actual tango dancers in the blogosphere like Fishnets & Fedoras or Well-Heeled who summarizes “The Price of Addiction to Argentine Tango” here beautifully. “In an episode of House Hunters International,” W-H writes, “a Californian couple bought a $200,000 pied-a-terre in Buenos Aires just so they can focus on tango! The lady insisted on an apartment with enough open space that she can turn into a salon for her tango parties. Now that’s dedication.” That episode and others featuring foreign tango addicts relocating to Buenos Aires can be seen here on HGTV.

Aerial view of debt-laden Dubai stands in stark contrast to the natural beauty of developments like this one in charming Cariló on the Tango Coast.

World financial markets were rocked yesterday when news surfaced that Dubai World, the Dubai corporation responsible for some of the UAE’s most lavish developments, was unable to meet interest payments on the over $80 billion in debt it holds. According to The Times, “Dubai World began the panic on Wednesday by demanding a standstill on its interest payments (and) worsened the mood when it postponed a teleconference for its bond holders, saying the phone lines were overwhelmed.” So what would you expect to find today on the front page of the UAE’s leading English-language newspaper? A probing analysis of Dubai World’s leverage? A soul-searching essay questioning why anyone would want to live in overpriced, garish desert casino castles like this? No on both. How about a glowing review of Buenos Aires? “With its beautiful buildings, lively social life and colourful history, it’s no wonder that Buenos Aires is fast becoming South America’s favourite capital,” writes Julianna Barnaby in today’s Khaleej Times and, she concludes, “one visit to Buenos Aires is definitely not enough.” Of course Dubai will be fine, because Abu Dhabi won’t allow it to fail, but the case for investing in waterfront real estate is much more compelling in Argentina than Dubai in terms of pricing, natural surroundings, building design and cultural similarities. For more information on coastal opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, e-mail in@investba.com