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
While they are not official “Sister Cities,” Atlanta and Buenos Aires are certainly showing signs of mutual interest and future flirtation. Just last week Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin met with BA Mayor Mauricio Macri and exchanged a variety of best practices regarding cultural, urban transit and environmental programs. The most exciting news from a BA tourism standpoint was the joint announcement that BA would play host to an International Jazz Festival while Atlanta would sponsor Tango Appreciation Week. Both announcements were undoubtedly well received by Atlanta-based Delta Airlines which offers daily non-stops between the Capital of the South and the Argentine capital. And more Atlanta/Buenos Aires good vibrations were felt this week when the Argentine National Team—recently on the verge of elimination—defeated Uruguay and qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In a twist of international fútbol irony, Pepsi sponsors the U.S. National Team, while The Coca-Cola Company is the official sponsor of Argentina. The Atlanta-based company and its beverage brands (including Dasani and Powerade) are not only synonymous with the National Team, their creative ad campaigns (YouTube Video) demonstrate a real understanding of the passion for fútbol in BA.
Source: flickr - Palermo Viejo streetscape taken by particleandparcel
Travel writer David Armstrong shares the sights; sounds; and red, meaty flavors of his first trip to Buenos Aires with San Francisco Chronicle readers, and the tales will surely inspire others to discover BA. Like many newcomers to Argentina, Armstrong says he arrived “with a jumble of images in my mind’s eye: lithe, beautiful dancers; huge, sizzling steaks; throbbing nightlife.” In reality, he savors all of that and more. A seasoned world traveler, Armstrong visits areas of BA and draws comparisons with Milan and Berlin. He and his wife settle down at La Otra Orilla, a Palermo Viejo B&B, and eventually fall in love with Palermo, a neighborhood he describes as “one big, delightful urban walkabout (teeming) with trendy cafes and shops, lively bars, toothsome restaurants.” The article also includes a Beginner’s Guide to Tango and Armstong’s Must See List for future travelers to BA including the MALBA, Plaza Dorrego and the Botanical Gardens in Palermo.
Tango Dancing in the Streets of BA
Rio isn’t the only corner of the Southern Cone receiving good news and global recognition today. The tango just received cultural icon status from UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. According to BBC, “UNESCO said heritages seeking approval, transmit from ‘generation to generation’ and give ‘communities and groups a feeling of identity.’ It added that the dance ‘embodies and encourages diversity and cultural dialogue.‘”The winning bid, which was submitted jointly by Argentina and Uruguay, is great news for both countries and more specifically the tango tourism industry in Buenos Aires. Dinner shows like Tango Porteño and Madero Tango draw thousands of visitors every year, and the Annual Tango Festival drew over 300,000 visitors to BA in August.
The 2009 International Tango Festival
The International Tango Festival and World Championship just completed its annual two-week run in Buenos Aires, and the number of participants this year topped 300,000 according to event organizers. The number of foreign tourists who traveled to Buenos Airesto participate in this year’s festivities was estimated at 20%, or roughly 60,000 tango aficionados, according to a poll conducted by Harrod’s. The official photo gallery is available here, while Facebook users can stay up to date with all upcoming festivals in the City of Buenos Aires by clicking here.
