South American Explorer

Each month we corner some poor local and ask them to spill the beans on the best kept secrets in their hometown. This month we grill Yamila Rosales, who lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Name: Yamila Rosales

Age: 23

Home Town: Buenos Aires

Job: Functional Analyst

What is a place that only locals know of?

Well, there is a district called El Palomar (20km north-west of the city) in Greater Buenos Aires. This little city is home to the Colegio Militar de la Nación (the National Military College) which holds a special place in Argentine history. It’s where the battle of Caseros took place where the Army of Buenos Aires commanded by Juan Manuel de Rosas was defeated in 1852, leading to the creation of an Argentine nation.  

What is the most difficult thing about living in Buenos Aires?

The traffic is really difficult! It’s hard to get anywhere quickly! I have to leave my house early to be at work on time. Also, I think that some Argentines take advantage of tourists when they are selling things, especially in tourist areas. I recommend visiting areas such as Villa del Parque, Devoto and Flores, where there are less tourists and you can get a sense of what the real Buenos Aires is like.  

What is a common misconception about life in Buenos Aires? Some tourists think that living here is cheap and easy, but actually it can be really different. This is because food, clothes, taxes and services are very expensive compared to our salaries, and most working people cannot get by on what they earn. On top of that, the salaries are not rising at the same rate as the prices of all the essential items. Also, you have to be careful about where you go and when in Buenos Aires, because some areas can be dangerous after dark.  

When you come to Buenos Aires, what you must buy?

You should buy a copy of the book Martín Fierro – a 2,316 line poem written by the Argentine writer José Hernández in the late 1800s. This book tells the story of a fictional gaucho’s life in a time when Argentina was going through many internal battles. You could also buy a copy of Mafalda – a cartoon story about the troubles of a family living in Argentina. It’s really funny! 

What local drink/dish must you try?

You have to eat at an Argentine barbecue, drink mate and eat alfajores, especially Havannas!

For more information about Buenos Aires, see our info sheets online at www.saexplorers.org