Argentina: The Rough Guide (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

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Amazon.co.uk Review
When you first arrive in Argentina, it is difficult to believe that you are in a different continent, since Buenos Aires is reminiscent of Paris and most people are of European origin. But although it is the least foreign South American destination to many visitors, this vast country is one of the most intriguing. Geographically, it ranges from the Patagonian ice-fields to the tropics. Argentine culture is also rich: the writers Borgés, Cortazar and Juan Filloy--one of the world's greatest ever creators of palindromes--all graced Argentina in the 20th century, as did the tango, Evita and Maradona. This is the world's eighth largest country, one behind India--but whereas India's population is 1 billion, the Argentines number only 35 million.

Because of its immensity, it is probably impossible to write the perfect guide to Argentina, but this Rough Guide is an admirable attempt. The Lonely Planet book is good on the south but its coverage of the western and northern regions (among the most interesting parts of the country) is patchy. This new book has superb coverage of Buenos Aires, the Pampas, the west, the north and the Andean side of Patagonia--although along the bleak (but not uninteresting) Patagonian coast it is a little less strong. Perhaps the authors were tired out by the time they reached this part of the country and if so this minor flaw should certainly not detract from a book that is excellent on many practical details and on culture, with first-rate sections on history, the gaucho and mat´ written by people who know their stuff. --Toby Green

Book Description
INTRODUCTION Argentina is a vast country. It measures 5000km by 1500km and, even without the titanic wedge of Antarctica that the authorities are wont to include in the national territory, it ranks as the world’s eighth largest state, immediately behind India. Thanks to its longitudinal position, standing between the Tropic of Cancer and the most southerly reaches of the planet’s landmass, the country encompasses a staggering diversity of climates and landscapes. The mainland points down like a massive stalactite on the map, from the hot and humid jungles of its northeast and the bone-dry highland steppes of its northwest down through windswept Patagonia to the end-of-the-world archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, a territory that is shared with Chile. Across the broad midriff stretch Argentina’s most archetypal landscapes: the mostly flat pampas grazed by millions of cattle – subtly beautiful scenery formed by horizon-to-horizon plains interspersed with low sierras, and punctuated by small agricultural towns, the odd ranch and countless clumps of pampas grass. These wide open spaces are among the country’s best assets – despite its mammoth area its population of 33 million weighs in at far less than Spain’s. This is a land with huge swaths still waiting to be explored let alone settled. Like Chile to its west – with which it shares 5000km of grandiose Andean cordillera, several of whose colossal peaks exceed 6000m – Argentina is, for the most part, less obviously exotic than its neighbours to the north, and its inhabitants will readily (and rightly) tell you how great an influence Europe has been on their nation. It was once said that Argentina is actually the most American of all European countries, but even that clever maxim is wide of the mark. It’s a country with a very special character all of its own, distilled into the national ideal of Argentinidad – an elusive identity the country’s Utopian thinkers and practical doers have never agreed upon. Undoubtedly, the people of Argentina suffer from, but also encourage to an extent, some of the world’s most sweeping generalizations, based mainly on the typical Porteno, or native of Buenos Aires. They suffer from a bad press in the rest of the continent, but you’re bound to be wowed by their spontaneous curiosity and intense passion for so many things. On this score there’s a lot of truth in the clichés – their passions are dominated by the national religion of football, politics and living life in the fast lane (literally, when it comes to driving) – but not everyone dances the tango, or is obsessed with Evita, or gallops around on a horse, gaucho-style. Whether thanks to their beauty, sense of humour or other charms, the l