buenos aires: my favorite city in the world

Courtney Wisniewski
Jul 1, 2023
5 min read

Updated: Jul 10, 2024

When people ask me why I love Buenos Aires so much, an easy answer is “la gente” or the people. The people in Buenos Aires are extraordinary, I have never met such kind and welcoming people in my life. They value relationships over careers and literally dedicate merienda, or 5 o'clock coffee, for spending time with friends and family. Dinner isn’t just 30 minutes and on with life, its 3 hours of talking and enjoying company. They're known for asado in which you literally are served a giant plate of meats, prepared by an asador, and you eat together, from one plate, in community with each other. They drink mate like a religion but it’s not about the mate it's about passing the cup with their friends and family. The way they love is an art form.

I remember one of my first nights out in Buenos Aires, I was with a friend who invited all his friends, all of whom were Argentine, and they immediately welcomed me into their friend group and treated me like I too had known them since grade school. This same group of friends protected me in the club any time a man approached me, threatening or not, and invited me to asados or family gatherings with their entire kin.

So I will always answer the question with, "the people." They love unconditionally, they are fun, and they are my kind of people.

Another route I could take is that I love myself in this city. I have always been super independent but here I was able to fully embrace being alone and being happy with that. I did a lot of things on my own and I strutted down every street like I knew where I was going, even though I definitely did not. I took the subway, the bus, the train, and walked many many miles in complete awe of how far I've come. I can't begin to explain the feeling of existing in this city, it was magical. I became so confident here, I became so secure in who I was and realized no one had the power to bring that down. I became confident not only in English but in my broken Spanish as well. Buenos Aires changed me, in the best way possible.

Along with that, I found the most perfect study spots, the best parks, the best clubs, my favorite streets, and everything in between. Buenos Aires is full of opportunities. Every day brought a new adventure and usually a new friend. I made friends in coffee shops or wine bars or even walking down the street. I laid in parks and journaled for hours while people watching. I enjoyed gardens in the midst of such a large city. I explored different neighborhoods and discovered unique architecture. I found amazing restaurants that served the best food for so cheap. I fell in love with the power of this city. Everything about Buenos Aires is perfect (except maybe their economy or politics). I even came to love the mysterious liquids falling from the balconies, the constant stepping in dog shit, missing busses, almost always getting hit by a car, and the art of always being late. I never minded the inconveniences because they either worked out perfectly or made a great story for later. I loved the heat of the summer and watching it change into autumn as the trees that lined the streets went from bright green to orange and then fell over the heavy flow of traffic. The breeze made by passing busses would cause the orange leaves to dance in the streets.

Argentina was filled with opportunity. I was able to be whoever I wanted to be. I could take tango classes and not be embarrassed about how bad I was. I could go to the opera, clueless yet in awe. I walked to markets, I did yoga in Spanish, I played soccer at an orphanage, I walked home from clubs in my mini-skirt while the sun was rising. I was truly and authentically myself, I had no one to perform for.

Sharing photos is my love language:

I'll try to express my gratitude for this place in more than just words.

the colorful streets, covered in trees and surrounded by skyscrapers

food

specifically Pertuti, we showed up here every Sunday before the San Telmo market adventures and debriefed our nights. They has the best hangover cure and saw no limits to our conversations.

wine bars and book stores

this group of friends

this is the group of friends that I will always refer to when making the claim that Argentina has the best people in the world. they took me in as their own and they loved me.

hanging out with this crowd specifically on my birthday

going to the most amazing museums

the street markets and underground places you find along the way

the amazing parks on every corner

Wandering the parks was always grounding to me. It was amazing how a city so metropolitan had acres of green grass and trees that completely covered the skyline. I would read here, take naps, and go to biology class in a different park every day. One fond memory of mine was while doing yoga in the park. Our yoga instructor had her bag stolen and instead of freaking out, she simply gave a bow and said "I am grateful for all that I am and all that I have."

walking the streets at night

more importantly, passing around bottles of wine on the streets. I always had a wine opener in my purse.

the sunsets

the marina

The same boats I sailed on Tuesday afternoon were lit up all weekend outside of my favorite club.

hanging out with the children at Adulam

we would spend hours at Adulam on Saturdays playing soccer, cooking, painting, playing games. We just wanted to be present and spend time with these kids who needed love.

the way my dog would throw things off the balcony

my birthday

I had just flown back from my brutal month of backpacking and slept for days, waking up to my birthday weekend. I spent the morning running errands, I got my hair blown out, got three tattoos, and my nails done. I went to dinner with my Madre and got drinks with Lauren ... those drinks turned into shots once people realized it was my birthday. I came home at 3 AM to my madre singing Happy Birthday and carrying a baby flan with a candle in it. My madre had also bought The Four Agreements in Spanish for me because she knew how much I loved it in English. I felt so loved and a little wobbly. I woke up early to catch a ride to Clemente's house where we went out to the country to fly a plane. This has been a life long dream of mine.