You’ve probably seen me around, talking a lot of shit about Argentines but, I’ve got to be honest, I’ve always wanted to visit the country. Call it being mentally colonized but as a person born and raised in the Hispanic world, I’ve always had a fascination with the two countries, despite the absolute shite reputation you all have with being chock full of racist, Nazi adjacent weirdos.
I’ve never been to South America and feel like I have to now that I have the free time. I’m completely fluent in Spanish, but I’m a brown, South Asian looking guy from Puerto Rico. Quite frankly, that’s been the source of deterrence for me and I apologize if I sound I hysterical. But I always like to keep an open mind, and if I can moderately survive a shithole such as Texas or Florida, it can’t be that bad…right?
Are there, any ‘left wing’ areas of, for example, Buenos Aires or Montevideo I should visit? Or any no go zones I should keep out of? Or any other under-appreciated cities I should go to?
ARGENTINA: In the big cities most people will probably not care or just be polite towards you, in South American/LatAm there are more chances of you getting “angry looks” because of being gay than for being brown/trans, also people might tease you for not having a Rioplatense accent, just like how other Latam countries tease Argentinians and Uruguayans for having an accent. I recommend avoiding places you know could get you in trouble (away from the downtown areas), unless you know people living there, the country is going thru a really bad economical collapse and that makes people anxious and suspecious near any turist. Also, I would recommend just agreeing or avoiding talk about the Malvinas or the War in general. I would also avoid going near protests, people are really angry and that turns into distrust of foreigners.
URUGUAY: It’s a pretty chill country, you might find some assholes who are racist but that will be much rare than in Argentina.
Just one thing to add; In South America in general, some assholes are xenophobic towards Central Americans, because they think if they act the way USians act with Latinos, but with Central Americans, that will make them White or “civilized”.
ARGENTINA: Avoid going out when there are football games, usually football fans are ok as long as you don’t say you support their rival team (be Boca, who is usually left-wing, or River, who is usually right-wing). I heard that places like Casa Brandon (LGBTQ+ place) are pretty cool. I recommend also checking out the museums and other historical places, or just go and visit places that are Left-Wing Peronist/Kirchnerist strongholds (The City of Buenos Aires is usually right-wing, but the Province tend to be more left-wing). If you like Japanese stuff, you can visit the Jardín Japonés. Patagonia is really awesome, Bariloche (near the Chilean Border) is a beautiful place to visit though you might find israelis doing “tourism” there and they are really racist. You can also visit the Welsh Colonies in that region too. If you like deserts I recommend visiting the Talampaya National Park. If you have the time and money, visit the Triple Frontera that unites Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
URUGUAY: There’s no metros in Montevideo (yes we joke about that a lot). If you’re interested on the civic-military dictatorship, you can visit the Museo de la Memoria. If you like to walk near the beach theres the Rambla. For trains fans, theres the Estación Central General Artigas, which I believe they reactivated in 2009. As for the rest of the country theres Punta del Este (most expensive place in South America), Colonia del Sacramento (Historical Portuguese/Brazilian colony in Uruguay), Piriápolis (cool beach town). If you have time I recommend visiting Chuy/Chui (a twin city that Uruguay and Brazil share, people there speak a funny mix of Portuguese and Spanish named Portuñol).
Thanks Cubes
I’d have no idea. Which would these places be, and do you mean stay away from downtown areas or stay away from non-downtown areas? Where is downtown, by the way?
If I just speak Spanish with an Italian affect, complete with the hand gestures and intonation, will they think I’m just like them?
Any places within Buenos Aires or cities within the Province that you know of?
Stay in downtown areas and mostly in the big cities. You can see when a place is a rough neighborhood, unless you have a friend or family member who knows the region I would personally avoid it, specially during the night. Also I would recommend to just avoid going near Football stadiums, usually the Ultras/Hooligans organize fights near those places and then later they go to the Obelisco de Buenos Aires to destroy the stores near there. That is also a place of protests though it’s a nice place to visit if theres nothing happening there. You’ll know when a game will happen because it’s when the stores start to close early and reinforce their windows lol. I would also avoid Plaza de Mayo if theres a protest happening there, though you might find leftists hanging out there.
Yes. Don’t forget to drink mate and say that one asado is better than the other depending on which country you’re in.
The Province of Buenos Aires (not the city or “city-state”) is ruled by the Left-Wing Peronists, same with La Rioja (near the border with Chile), Formosa (near the Border with Paraguay), La Pampa (Borders the province of Buenos Aires), Catamarca (Borders La Rioja and Chile), Santiago del Estero (Nothern Province). People are more conservative in these places (except for Buenos Aires) but at least you won’t find a lot of chuds. As for the City of Buenos Aires, I remember they have the Museo Evita and Centro Cultural de la Cooperación, there are some “peronist” and “leftist” themed bars and restaurant in Argentina but thats more of a gimmick rather than actual meeting place for leftist. Iirc, most of the South of the city tend to be more left-wing and most of the north tend to be right-wing.