The
city of Buenos Aires has continued to grow in spite of economic
disparity in some parts of the country. It attracts a good deal of
foreign business and has grown to an economic rival of other South
American powerhouses, such as Brazil. Buenos Aires' physical structure
is a mosaic as varied and diverse as its culture. The city has no
dominating monument, no natural monolith that serves as its focal
point. Instead, Buenos Aires is composed of many small places, intimate
details, and tiny events and interactions, each with a slightly
different shade, shape, and character. Glass-sheathed skyscrapers cast
their slender shadows on 19th century Victorian houses; tango bars
hazed with the piquant tang of cigar smoke face dusty, treasure-filled
antique shops across the way.
The city's neighborhoods are small and highly
individualized each with its own characteristic colors and forms. In
the San Telmo district, the city's multinational heritage is embodied
in a varied and cosmopolitan architecture - Spanish Colonial design
couples with Italian detailing and graceful French Classicism. La
Boca's pressed tin houses are painted a rainbow of colors, and
muralists have turned the district's side-streets into avenues of color.
For all its diversity, the elusive spirit of Argentina as a country is
present everywhere in Buenos Aires. The national dance, the tango, is
perhaps the best expression of that spirit--practiced in dance halls,
parks, open plazas, and ballrooms; it is a dance of intimate separation
and common rhythm, combining both an elegant reserve and an exuberant
passion.
The city is divided into 48 barrios (neighborhoods) for administrative
purposes. The division was originally based on Catholic parroquias
(parishes), but has undergone a series of changes since the 1940s. A
newer scheme has divided the city into 15 comunas (communes). Some of
the most iconic and best-known barrios include La Boca, San Telmo,
Recoleta, Palermo and Puerto Madero.
Area Map
Barrio Map
Prominent
Neighborhoods
La Boca: La Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio of the
Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It retains a strong European flavour,
with many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa.
In fact the name has a strong assonance with the genoese neighborhood
of Boccadasse (or Bocadaze in genoese dialect), and some people believe
that the Buenos Aires' barrio was indeed named after it. After a
lengthy general strike, La Boca seceded from Argentina in 1882, and the
rebels raised the Genoese flag, which was immediately torn down
personally by then President Julio Argentino Roca. La Boca is a haven
of radical politics and spawns many of the local youth gangs and
members of the leftist parties in city government.
San Telmo: ("St. Pedro González Telmo") is one of
the oldest barrios of Buenos Aires and also one of the best preserved
areas of that constantly changing Argentine metropolis, with a number
of colonial houses and streets still paved with the original
cobblestones (adoquines). San Telmo's many attractions include many old
churches (e.g. San Pedro Telmo), museums, antique stores and a
semi-permanent antique fair (Feria de Antiguedades) in the main public
square, Plaza Dorrego. Tango-related activities for both locals and
tourists also abound in the area. The area has been modernized some and
many shops that cater to the high tech crowd have sprouted up in
certain parts of the neighborhood.
Recoleta: Is a historic area, much frequented by tourists
and the city's residents for its cafés, galleries and the famous
Recoleta cemetery. It is the only barrio in the administrative division
Comuna 2. Recoleta is part of the area known as Barrio Norte, together
with the neighboring barrios of Retiro, Palermo and the northern part
of Balvanera. Like its neighbors, Recoleta is an affluent residential
district, initially populated by citizens escaping the 1871 yellow
fever epidemic. Recoleta is one of the most expensive places to live in
Buenos Aires, both in terms of real estate and of the cost of living.
Even dying here is costly, as mausolea in the Recoleta cemetery cost
thousands of dollars each. It is one of the major areas inhabited by
European corporates who have either moved to Argentina for business or
are retiring here. Modern amenities have been placed everywhere but are
elaborately hidden behind aesthetics, these include DataTerms and
scrolling telescreens and net-jacking booths, often very cheap to use.
Palermo: is a neighborhood, or barrio of Buenos Aires.
It is located in the northeast of the city, bordering the barrios of
Belgrano to the north, Almagro and Recoleta to the south, Villa Crespo
and Colegiales to the west and the Río de la Plata river to the
east. With a total area of 17.4 km², Palermo is the largest
neighborhood in Buenos Aires. It is the only barrio within the
administrative division of Comuna 14. It is so large that it is further
divided into subsections within the neighborhood…
Alto Palermo and Villa Freud
Alto Palermo is downtown Palermo, the main shopping area and transport
hub around Avenida Santa Fe. At its core is the Alto Palermo Shopping
Centre, a large shopping mall. Villa Freud, based around Plaza
Güemes, is a residential area known for its high concentration of
psychoanalysts and psychiatrists, hence its name. These people provide
some of the best mental health care outside of European cyberclinics
for those who’ve suffered the effects of cyberpsychosis. Their prices
are cheaper than their European counterparts. It is rumored that the
cyberclinics in the area which are maintained by European corporations,
test experimental technology on those who receive cybernetic
enhancement here.
Palermo Viejo
Palermo Viejo (Old Palermo) is, as its name implies, the oldest part.
Bounded by Avenida Santa Fe, Avenida Coronel Díaz, Avenida
Córdoba and Carranza Street, the neighborhood is centered on
Plaza Palermo Viejo and reflects an older Spanish style in
architecture, often "recycled" with modern elements. Such well-known
figures as Jorge Luis Borges and Che Guevara once lived in this ward
and indeed Borges first wrote poetry in the then quiet barrio. The
Borges's poem "Fundacion mitica de Buenos Aires" names a typical square
(Guatemala, Serrano, Paraguay, Gurruchaga). It was historically a
residential area, popular with communities from Poland, Armenia,
Ukraine and Lebanon and old Spanish and Italian families, whose
traditions are reflected in local restaurants, churches, schools and
cultural centers. It is a haven for left wing revolutionaries and
unfortunately suffers a reputation as a crime ridden area, heavy with
prostitution rings and designer drug manufacturers.
Palermo Soho
Palermo Soho is a small area of Palermo Viejo around Plaza Serrano
(officially Plazoleta Cortázar), and it is a newly fashionable
area for fashion, design, restaurants, bars and street culture. The
atmosphere in many cafés and restaurants strives to be
alternative, which makes this area of the city especially popular with
young, upper-middle class Argentines as well as foreign tourists. The
traditional low houses have been adapted into boutiques and bars,
creating a bohemian feel. The square has a crafts fair.
Palermo Chico and Barrio Parque
Across Figueroa Alcorta Avenue, between San Martín de Tours and
Tagle streets, Palermo Chico ("Small" or "Exclusive" Palermo) is the
most upmarket part of Palermo. The Buenos Aires Museum of Decorative
Arts is located in Palermo Chico, in a dazzling old palatial home.
Neighbouring Barrio Parque is strictly a residential area, laid out in
winding streets by Charles Thays; many of the wealthy and famous own
homes there. Once a quarter full of splendid mansions set in broad
private parks, many luxury condominiums and apartment houses are now to
be seen. MALBA, the Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires, is
located between Barrio Parque and the Paseo Alcorta shopping centre.
Las Cañitas
Las Cañitas has historically been a slum area which has grown as
immigrants from neighboring countries come to Buenos Aires to try and
make a living, many live with family while waiting for their
work-papers to process (if ever). At night it is filled with gangs and
crime. The bordering area is fenced off and patrolled by Buenos Aires
police who monitor checkpoints in and out.
Tourism:
European tourists flock across the “big pond” to come to Buenos Aires
at the same rate and demand as Argentineans look to get work permits in
Europe. Many Europeans find themselves at home, but with a lot laxer
restrictions when it comes to drugs, sex, and gun ownership. One of the
world's finest opera houses, the Teatro Colon, flourishes here on the
plains alongside the river. It is a major attraction for business men
on vacation or those with money seeking a good time.
Major Players in Buenos Aires
Leftist Youth Gangs – Divided among the recruitment wing of the RCU and
the Liberazione Della Gente, leftist gangs perform a variety of pranks
and vandalism against the establishment and are heavily tied into the
European punk scene. Although the Liberazione Della Gente (People’s
Liberation), operate more violently and even take to bomb threats and
terrorist tactics. The LDG operate out of La Boca barrio and have been
accused of being no more than organized criminals. The LDG wishes to
legalize drugs in Argentina and have radical stances on many things
from sex to cyberware. The LDG’s current leader is Alberto De Luca, a
33 year old ex-soldier who trained Chilean guerillas as part of the
Argentinean intelligence services in guerilla tactics during the
SouthAm war. Many opponents of the LDG accuse Alberto of gaining allies
in the U.S. Army Intelligence service. They cite the failure of his
guerilla units and his mysterious release after being captured for 2
months by the Americans.
Triple A – A Right-Wing death squad integrated into the Buenos Aires
Police department that has financial ties to the Justicialist Party,
its goals initially were to be a force that could fight the Cartels on
even grounds, but it has turned more towards political assassination
and attacks against pro-immigrant groups in the city. The group takes
its name from a group during the 1970s Peron government of the same
name. The death squad is primarily made up of law enforcement
officials, military, or government, either still in the service or
retired. They have expanded into some mercenary activities for big
Corporations, usually involving intimidation, extraction, or
assassination. The leader is a retired Police Chief of Buenos
Aires, named Luis Gordon.
Chechen Mafia –The Chechen mafia presence in Argentina has been linked
primarily to the use of Argentina as a transit country for Andean
cocaine shipments to Europe in fishing treaters and cargo ships, arms
trafficking to Brazil and Colombia, and money laundering. In the
so-called "tri-border" area between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay -
which is home to a sizable Arab Muslim population - Argentine
intelligence sources have detected contacts between Chechen separatist
groups and "Islamic terrorists" and suspect Chechen use of these
networks for arms smuggling purposes. The Chechen mob in Buenos Aires
is part of the “Old World Exchange,” a trade by South American criminal
organizations of cocaine for European designer drugs. Additionally, the
Chechen mob participates in white slavery and meat puppet rings,
selling sex slaves to corporates with the money. The current boss of
the Chechen mafia is the notorious gangster and ex-KGB man, Nikolay
Dudayev.
Major Corporate Players in Buenos Aires
Euro Business Machines (EBM) – has invested a lot of money in the
Recoleta barrio, and has drawn up plans for a large regional office. It
loans out money to small business in Argentina in order to bring them
up to date and modernized, before selling their shares on the open
market.
Raven Microcybernetics – Operating mostly in the Alto Palermo area,
Raven maintains cyberclinics in many parts of Buenos Aires.
WorldSat Communications Network - WorldSat does not maintain an
official regional office, but its services are widespread among
corporations in Buenos Aires and it has a communications contract from
Argentina’s military.
(Written
by Joe "Citizen X"
Klemann : Some Information is taken from the CIA Worldfactbook,
Wikipedia, Geographia.com, and Cyberpunk 2020.)