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Buenos Aires! Around the World stop.
ciane
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http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas/argentina.jpg (a zoom one-level map of major areas and towns)
First, lots of facts about Argentina: (seriously go here: http://www.countryreports.org/country/Argentina.htm)
Argentina is the second largest South American country and is about one-third the size of the U.S. with a climate much like the mid-western region of the U.S. only with milder winters (except for the extreme southern area). It dominates the southern portion of South America with Chile sitting on the western sliver.
The official language is Spanish, but all children learn English in school. Over a million people speak Italian and half that many speak German. This is because Argentina was under Spanish rule until 1812 and later had a large influx of European immigrants. So, most Argentineans trace their ancestry back to Spain and Italy.
Ninety percent of the population is Catholic, but only 20% are considered practicing Catholics.
Families tend to be much smaller than average, with most urban families only having two children.
The Pampas grasslands cover one-fourth of Argentina. It provides fertile soil for growing corn and wheat as well as pasturing cattle. But Argentina is very diversified and exports large amounts of soy, oil, and cars as well.
The Patagonia area grows lots of fruit. Supposedly, Argentineans eat more fruit than people of any other country. They love their beef, but they eat more fruits and vegetables to try and be healthier.
Children can attend public school or pay to attend private school from age 5 to 14. There are no school buses. Rural students might ride horses to school or attend school on a ranch.
The tooth fairy is a little mouse who might leave a few coins and get a letter left along with the tooth.
The colors in the national flag are bands of light blue, like the sky, top and bottom with a band of white in the middle like the snow on the Andes Mountains. The Inca sun face in the middle is called the Sun of May and supposedly reflects the sun bursting through on the cloudy day in 1810 when the Argentine people began their quest for independence from Spain.
Llamas are used as pack animals in the Andes. Their wool is woven into warm ponchos and blankets. (And, some people eat them.)
I read that Argentines speak Spanish, eat Italian, dress French, and think they are English.
Particularly in the cities, the clothing styles mirror Europe and North America. Looking good is very important. Image is everything, not only in clothing, but overall appearance.
Argentineans love to get together and socialize. They celebrate Friendship day by getting together at cafes, sending cards (which they rarely do), and texting all their friends.
The favorite activity of the younger population is dancing. It's followed in popularity by going to the movies and eating out.
The tango is their national dance. It was derived from an old Spanish dance called milonga. There is an annual tango festival every year.
Young ladies celebrate coming of age at 15 with a dance party that often includes waltzing with their fathers. It is a big celebration and individuals practice dancing for weeks in advance. It's much better than a sweet sixteen party!
First, lots of facts about Argentina: (seriously go here: http://www.countryreports.org/country/Argentina.htm)
Argentina is the second largest South American country and is about one-third the size of the U.S. with a climate much like the mid-western region of the U.S. only with milder winters (except for the extreme southern area). It dominates the southern portion of South America with Chile sitting on the western sliver.
The official language is Spanish, but all children learn English in school. Over a million people speak Italian and half that many speak German. This is because Argentina was under Spanish rule until 1812 and later had a large influx of European immigrants. So, most Argentineans trace their ancestry back to Spain and Italy.
Ninety percent of the population is Catholic, but only 20% are considered practicing Catholics.
Families tend to be much smaller than average, with most urban families only having two children.
The Pampas grasslands cover one-fourth of Argentina. It provides fertile soil for growing corn and wheat as well as pasturing cattle. But Argentina is very diversified and exports large amounts of soy, oil, and cars as well.
The Patagonia area grows lots of fruit. Supposedly, Argentineans eat more fruit than people of any other country. They love their beef, but they eat more fruits and vegetables to try and be healthier.
Children can attend public school or pay to attend private school from age 5 to 14. There are no school buses. Rural students might ride horses to school or attend school on a ranch.
The tooth fairy is a little mouse who might leave a few coins and get a letter left along with the tooth.
The colors in the national flag are bands of light blue, like the sky, top and bottom with a band of white in the middle like the snow on the Andes Mountains. The Inca sun face in the middle is called the Sun of May and supposedly reflects the sun bursting through on the cloudy day in 1810 when the Argentine people began their quest for independence from Spain.
Llamas are used as pack animals in the Andes. Their wool is woven into warm ponchos and blankets. (And, some people eat them.)
I read that Argentines speak Spanish, eat Italian, dress French, and think they are English.
Particularly in the cities, the clothing styles mirror Europe and North America. Looking good is very important. Image is everything, not only in clothing, but overall appearance.
Argentineans love to get together and socialize. They celebrate Friendship day by getting together at cafes, sending cards (which they rarely do), and texting all their friends.
The favorite activity of the younger population is dancing. It's followed in popularity by going to the movies and eating out.
The tango is their national dance. It was derived from an old Spanish dance called milonga. There is an annual tango festival every year.
Young ladies celebrate coming of age at 15 with a dance party that often includes waltzing with their fathers. It is a big celebration and individuals practice dancing for weeks in advance. It's much better than a sweet sixteen party!
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Flora: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ultimorollo/sets/72157635294511780/ (native plants)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ultimorollo/sets/72157594160398479/ (native plants and animals)
(I used these saturated pink wild flowers for my build along with banana leaf plants for vegetation.)
Argentina grows many fruits to export, but it also exports garlic, onions, potatoes, and pumpkins. (So, those are the plants in the vegetable garden.) Patagonia produces different varieties of apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries. The apples and pears come mainly from the province of Rio *****. Cherries and grapes mostly come from the mountainous provinces of Mendoza, San Juan and Neuquén. Oranges, mandarins, grapefruits and lemons are grown in the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Tucúman, Santiago del Estero, and Buenos Aires. Other exports include avocado, apricot, blueberry, brevas (early figs), raspberries, strawberries, figs, quince (similar to a pear), watermelon, mulberries, medlars (small round fruit that tastes like spiced apple or pear), and limes. (So, in addition to the vegetable patch, we have a berry patch and a few fruit trees.)
Also note that though this is a big city, there are big beautiful trees about:
I used a couple olive trees as I read that olives were also grown here and they are perfect upon which to hang the basket chairs. Besides, they look a lot like the tree on the right in this picture:
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Because many Argentines are descendents of the Italian immigrants who came to Argentina in the late 1800s, Italian dishes are found throughout the country. Some favorite Italian dishes include pizza, all kinds of pastas (such as spaghetti and ravioli), and ñoquis, (gnocchi—potato dumplings) served with meat and tomato sauce.
Argentines eat more fruit than almost any other group of people in the world. Some favorite fruits include peaches, apricots, plums, pears, cherries, grapes, and tuna, the fruit of a prickly pear cactus.
Empanadas, little pies usually stuffed with beef, vegetables, and cheese, are a favorite dish. These are eaten by hand and they are often enjoyed as a snack, or may be carried to school for lunch. Chimichurri, a dipping sauce, is usually served with empanadas.
Argentine families, like families everywhere, are busy. Because everyone is on a different schedule, they aren't able to eat every meal together. Desayuno (day-sigh-OO-noh, breakfast) is often a light meal of rolls or bread with jam and coffee. Most working people in the cities have a small comida (coh-MEE-dah, lunch) such as a pizza from a cafeteria.
A farmer eats a hot dish for lunch, carried out to him in the field, of beef, potatoes, and chunks of corn-on-the-cob. Upper-class city families usually eat a large midday meal of meat, potatoes, and green vegetables.
In the late afternoon, Argentines have a snack of tea, sandwiches, and cake to hold over their appetite until dinner ( cena, SAY-nah), typically eaten around 9 P.M. The tea-time tradition comes from the British immigrants that brought tea to Argentina in the late 1800s.
Vendors sell food on the streets (the equivalent to "fast food"). Ice cream vendors sell helado, Argentine ice cream, and warm peanuts, sweet popcorn, and candied apples. Some vendors sell choripan (a sausage sandwich) and soda. Empanadas, little pies stuffed with beef, chicken, seafood, or vegetables, are a popular snack.
Children can take vegetable-filled empanadas to school for lunch. A favorite drink is a submarino, or hot milk with chocolate bar melted in it.
I know many of you love to try new recipes, so I picked this one to share (because it's fruits and veggies and I'm vegan)!:
Carbonada Criolla (Stew with Vegetables and Fruit)
Ingredients
4 large tomatoes, chopped thick
1 green pepper, chopped thick
1 large onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cups canned vegetable stock
3 potatoes, diced into 1-inch cubes
3 sweet potatoes, diced into 1-inch cubes
2 ears of corn, cut into 1-inch widths (or use 2 cups of frozen corn)
2 zucchini, diced into ½-inch pieces
2 peaches in ½-inch pieces
2 pears in ½-inch pieces
Procedure
Cook tomatoes, pepper, onion, and garlic until soft.
Add bay leaves, oregano, and vegetable stock, and bring to a boil.
Add potatoes and sweet potatoes. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
Stir in zucchini and corn. Simmer 10 more minutes, or until vegetables are almost soft, then add the peaches and pears.
Cook 5 more minutes.
Serve hot.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Also, I read about a filetto sauce served at one of the restaurants, so I had to find some recipes for it. The first is from http://www.grouprecipes.com/10419/filetto-sauce.html:
Filetto Sauce Ingredients:
2 T olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
2 lg onions,chopped fine
3/4 t. salt
1 t. fresh oregano or 1/3 t. dried
2 T. fresh basil or 2 t. dried
1/4 t. red pepper flakes
1 & 1/2 lb ripe roam tomatoes, peeled, seeded & chopped (or a 2-lb can of plum tomatoes, put thru a food mill)
1/2 t. sugar
fresh ground black pepper
1 lb. shells or other substantial pasta
How to make it :
In a large saucepan, heat the oil, add the garlic & sauté just until it begins to color (only a minute or two). Add the onions and sauté till they become opaque. Add the salt, oregano, basil, & red pepper flakes. Stir well.
Add the tomatoes and sugar. Then bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes or so.
Taste for seasoning. Add pepper as you wish & pour over cooked pasta.
*Tomato paste or puree should NOT be substituted.
I found an another recipe for Filetto sauce that I like at http://www.food.com/recipe/filetto-sauce-384724:
Ingredients:
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
2 large onions, chopped fine
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh oregano
2 tablespoons fresh basil
2 lbs Italian plum tomatoes, put through blender
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Directions:
1 In a large saucepan heat oil.
2 Add garlic and sauté until it turns color.
3 Add onions and sauté until they become opaque.
4 Add salt, basil, and oregano
5 Add tomatoes and sugar
6 Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes.
7 For a stronger sauce add 4 tbs olive oil and Marsala wine.
While we are exploring food, maybe we should visit a famous bar. In addition to typical espressos and teas, the Bar du Marche advertises 50 wines with a selection from Argentina, Chili, Italy, France, USA, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Japan. For cheese lovers, they offer goat and sheep cheese as well as that from cows. You'll find appetizers, sandwiches, salads, sushi, desserts, and so much more. Visit http://www.bardumarchepalermo.com/ and click on the options to see lots of wonderful mouthwatering pictures. (So you see why I have to include a nectary in the build)
On a side note, I fell in love with a restaurant in Buenos Aires and tracked it down to this hotel:
I used a smaller building on the side behind the pool as an inspiration for this restaurant and bar build:
http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8191885
So, Terry you are responsible for that build too!
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Unlike most other Latin American nations, Argentina and its neighbor, Uruguay, are primarily of European descent (95-97%) mostly Italians and Spaniards, but also German, Polish, French, and Slavic. After Spanish colonization ended, European settlers came to Argentina from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. Most came from Italy (initially from Piedmont, Veneto and Lombardy, later from Campania and Calabria), Spain (foremost among them Galicians and Basques), and France (mostly to Buenos Aires and Mendoza). Smaller but significant numbers of immigrants came from Germany and Switzerland (to the Lakes Region of Patagonia; and to Córdoba), Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), Greece, the United Kingdom and Ireland (to Buenos Aires, Santa Fé, and Patagonia), and Portugal. Eastern Europeans were also numerous from Poland, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Lithuania, as well as Balkan countries (Croatia and 🐸🐸🐸🐸, particularly in Chaco). There is a large Armenian community, as well, and the Patagonian Chubut Valley has a significant Welsh-descended population. Smaller waves of settlers also came from Australia, South Africa, and the United States.
Argentina also has a large Arab community, made up mostly of immigrants from Syria and Lebanon. Many have gained prominent status in national business and politics, including former president Carlos Menem, the son of Syrian settlers from the province of La Rioja.
In recent decades, especially during the 1990s, there has been an influx of immigrants from neighboring countries, principally Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru. Small but growing numbers of people from East Asia have also settled in Argentina, mainly in Buenos Aires. The first Asian-Argentines were of Japanese descent; Koreans, Vietnamese, and Chinese followed, now at over 60,000.
Illegal immigration has been a relatively important factor in recent history. Most illegal immigrants come from Bolivia and Paraguay, countries which border Argentina to the north. Smaller numbers arrive from Peru, Ecuador, Romania, and the People's Republic of China. The Argentine government estimates that 750,000 inhabitants lack official documents and has launched a program called Patria Grande ("Greater Homeland"), to encourage illegal immigrants to regularize their status; so far some 200,000 applications have been processed under the program.
Most European immigrants to Argentina settled in the cities, which offered jobs, education, and other opportunities that enabled newcomers to enter the middle class. Many also settled in the growing small towns along the expanding railway system. Since the 1930s, many rural workers have moved to the big cities.
In the 1990s, many rural towns become ghost towns when train services ceased and local products manufactured on a small scale were replaced by massive amounts of cheap imported goods. Many slums (villas miseria) sprouted in the outskirts of the largest cities, inhabited by impoverished lower-class urban dwellers, migrants from smaller towns in the interior, and also a large number of immigrants from neighboring countries that came during this time.
Argentina's population is very highly urbanized. About 3.53 million people live in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, and 12.4 million in Greater Buenos Aires (according to 2007 figures), making it one of the largest urban conglomerates in the world. Together with their respective metropolitan areas, the second- and third-largest cities in Argentina, Córdoba and Rosario, comprise about 1.3 and 1.1 million inhabitants respectively.
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"For all its diversity, the elusive spirit of Argentina as a country is present everywhere in Buenos Aires," according to Geographia.com. They go on to say, "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."
Pasiontango.net says: When tango was born it was customary that women wore long skirts. That style was adopted in tango as well. As time went by, they started making openings on skirts and dresses in order to have a wider range of movement. Nowadays it is usual to wear all lengths of skirts, as long as movement is allowed: from long skirts with openings to really short skirts and dresses. Tango dresses often have asymmetrical hemlines and are adorned with fringes and crochet applications. The tops normally show cleavage and are very sensual. It is also usual to see clothes made with modern materials, like lycras and other stretch fabrics that allow clothes with a comfortable fit and stylish look.
A fundamental part of a woman’s outfit is her shoes, which should always be tango dance shoes. Some other accessories can be worn on special occasions or shows. There are typical flowers, made from fabric or feathers, that one can attach to the hair or legs, There is also the fishnet stockings, almost a tango trademark.
The typical outfit for a man that dances tango is the shirt, normally silk or some other similar material, and straight cut trousers. To be complete this outfit requires a good pair of dance shoes. To complement his outfit the man can also wear some other accessories, like suspenders, vests and hats, all these being part of tango imagery.
Traditional milongo tango:
"Perfect" freestyle Argentine Tango:
Same female dancer with the brother this time:
(Warning: Tangos could be addictive!... notice this comes after the links.
My Sims tango: http://s45.photobucket.com/user/ciane/slideshow/101/AtW/Tango
(Angela represents the strong European majority. Cesar is part of the 3% minority that includes the native Argentineans. Both share the culture and passion of true Argentineans and Portenos. Both love to dance, love art, and believe that friends are important.)
my Sims: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8250529
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Tripadvisor.com adds that "The birthplace of the tango is, like the dance itself, captivating, seductive and bustling with excited energy. Atmospheric old neighborhoods are rife with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife, and Buenos Aires' European heritage is evident in its architecture, boulevards, and parks. Cafe Tortoni, the city's oldest bar, will transport you back to 1858, and the spectacular Teatro Colon impresses just as it did in 1908. Latin America's shopping capital offers the promise of premium retail therapy along its grand, wide boulevards."
"Cosmopolitan, cultured and chic, ... European sensibilities with a fiery Latin heart..." "Sexy, alive and supremely confident, .... Like Europe with a melancholic twist...." and "an elegant, seductive place with a ragged edge, laced with old-world languor and yet full of contemporary attitude," are all ways that lonelyplanet.com describes Buenos Aires with its "old-world cafés, colonial architecture, fun outdoor markets and diverse communities" as well as its "funky neighbourhoods, exceptional cuisine and a thriving nightlife."
Geographia.com says: This complex, energetic, and seductive port city, which stretches south-to-north along the Rio de la Plata, has been the gateway to Argentina for centuries. Portenos, as the multinational people of Buenos Aires are known, possess an elaborate and rich cultural identity. They value their European heritage highly--Italian and German names outnumber Spanish, and the lifestyle and architecture are markedly more European than any other in South America....
Buenos Aires is composed of many small places, intimate details, and tiny events and interactions, each with a slightly different shade, shape, and character.... The city's neighbourhoods 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.
Worldfacts.us breaks down the city of Buenos Aires this way:
LA BOCA: This heavily toured, picturesque district attracts visitors to the bright yellows, reds and blues prevailing on the exterior paint of its unique houses. These colors are also encompassed in the classic Genoese "conventillos" or tenements, and in the paintings by artist Benito Quinquela Martin which immortalize the district. In La Boca, you can eat lunch in any of its local eateries while watching a couple dance the tango. For additional enjoyment, there are the many exhibitions organized by the Proa Foundation, and the Cera (wax) Museum. Traveling down the street, up to Vuelta de Rocha area, one will encounter the famous street "Caminito" that inspired the namesake tango song. Every weekend Caminito is the chosen site for a craft fair where you can purchase anything from a painting to a typical Argentine mate drinking gourd.
PUERTO MADERO: Continuing down the coast of the river we find the newest district in the city: Puerto Madero. Its official inauguration was in September of 1998. Before this time, it remained as a section of the port that has fallen in disrepair. Today, luxurious restaurants, offices, and movie theaters have replaced the ancient silos, and all of the streets carry female names. This district has clearly been converted into the most exclusive of the city. The Boulevard Azucena Villaflor directly connects the city to the river. The other street of interest is Vera Peñaloza. Every Saturday and Sunday it is closed to motorists so that visitors can skate, ride bicycles, and take a stroll.
SAN TELMO: This district reveals much of the past century as it preserves its small colonial homes with forged iron gates, and its skinny paved streets lined with lanterns. In San Telmo, one breathes the history of Buenos Aires. The beautiful Santo Domingo church is open to visitors, along with the city's museum. The Bohemian character of the district stands out every weekend at the antique fair held in Plaza Dorrego. There, one can buy anything from a wedding dress to a 1900 table setting, or drink coffee in one of the cafés that outline the Plaza. Another point of interest is the charming Pasaje de la Defensa and Balcarce street.
great link: http://www.buenosaires54.com/english/santelmo.htm
MONSERRAT: This is another historical district where memories of the past surprise visitors at every corner. In colonial times, Monserrat was the political, economic, social, and cultural seat of the city. There the locals defended themselves against the oppressions of the church. Today, the buildings, streets, and underground tunnels continue to reflect the past. The districts attractions include the Manzana de las Luces, the San Ignacio Church, the old Cabildo, and the Plaza de Mayo. Also, explore the area old cafés where you can unwind and time travel to the enchanting B.A. of yesteryear.
RECOLETA: Without a doubt, this is the city's most elegant district. The architecture of the buildings and palaces symbolize the splendor of the Argentine aristocracy. Here, tourists meet locals. Each weekend musicians, mimes, and other street artists, invade Recoleta´s Plaza Francia. At the adjacent Buenos Aires Design, the traveler can find souvenirs and a plethora of restaurants. Other areas of interest located around Plaza Francia include the Centro Cultural Recoleta, the Palais de Glace, and the "City of the Dead".
BELGRANO: During the middle of the last century, this was the summer hangout for many of the local families. Today, it encompasses a great part of the citys many social and cultural activities. Attractions include the Sarmiento Museum, the Casa de Yrurtia, and the Enrique Larreta museum. And for those that desire the open-air activities, there is the Barrancas de Belgrano. Here, one can sunbathe or people watch in its four hectares of uneven grounds. Belgrano is one of the most trafficked areas, with people that come and go from trains, bars, and kiosks. If shopping is in mind, there is a wide variety of stores on Cabildo Ave, a true open street market. Another main attraction of the area is the expanding "Chinatown". In addition to the district restaurants, there is a Buddhist monastery, and a February celebration of the Chinese New Year.
PALERMO: In Palermo, there is something for everyone. In the area surrounding picturesque Plaza Serrano, Buenos Aires most charming restaurants intermix with bars. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Palermo Park and Rose Garden are ideal spots for walking, playing soccer, and for boat rides. Another option is to visit the zoo, the Galileo Galilei planetarium, or to sip tea in the Japanese gardens.
Here's a link to an interactive map. Click on a spot on the map and scroll down to see pictures. The text is in Spanish.
http://buenosaires-reinadelplata.blogspot.com/2012/07/palermo-zoologico-de-buenos-aires-i.html
(I started you in Palermo at the zoo.)
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Casa Rosada The government’s executive branch is housed in this building, a strange mix of various architectural styles, perhaps best known for the balcony from which Evita rallied the working class crowds.
Calle Museo Caminito Colorful and traditional, this walkway in the La Boca area is dominated by tango dancers and artisans.
Esquina Carlos Gardel Rated by the audience as the best tango show in Buenos Aires. Esquina Carlos Gardel is located exactly on the same lot where Carlos Gardel used to sing.
Cafe Tortoni This famous cafe, the oldest in Argentina, features reasonably priced tango shows.
Plaza de Mayo The political center of the country, this famous plaza is the location of the well-known balcony of the Casa Rosada from which Eva Peron addressed adoring crowds of workers.
Recoleta Cemetery The Recoleta Cemetery was opened for ordinary people in 1822 but as Recoleta’s reputation improved, so did that of the cemetery. Now many presidents and historic figures important to Buenos Aires history are buried there. So often, murderers are buried very close to the people they murdered. The architecture styles of the tombs range from neo classic to art deco and the some of the sculptures have declared national historic monuments.
• Eva Peron (Evita) is now buried in Recoleta Cemetery after her remains endured quite an adventure. Her dead body was stolen, copied, hidden, and then stolen again.
• Firpo, “The wild bull of the Pampas” was the first Hispanic boxer to challenge for the world’s heavyweight championship. He now rests next to a fantastic sculpture.
• Jaun Maunel de Rosas ruled Argentina for 20 years with a strong and often brutal fist. He hunted down many people who opposed him and killed them. Many of which are buried very near his vault.
Calle Florida Architecture buffs will love the opulent, early 20th-century buildings that line this mile-long pedestrian mall, popular for its gem, leather and fur stores.
Teatro Colon The Teatro Colon, in the City of Buenos Aires, is considered one of the best theaters in the world. Acknowledged for its acoustics and the artistic value of its construction, it turned 100 years in 2008. It underwent a major renovation that took three years and $100-million to complete, and it reopened in May of 2010.
Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA) This art museum and cultural center first opened in 2001 to promote contemporary Latin American artists.
Palermo Viejo Popular for daytime picnics, nature walks and evening strolls, this auspicious neighborhood is home to a number of lush gardens and a zoo.
Avenida Santa Fe No stroll through the sprawling Palermo 'hood is complete without a walk down Avenida Santa Fe, home to reasonably priced shops, boutiques and cafes. The bustling Alto Palermo Shopping Center is home to an array of international and Argentine chain stores.
La Confiteria Ideal A sense of nostalgia pervades this aging but elegant club where the tango brings locals and tourists together. Afternoon lessons are a prelude to evening dance parties.
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Hit all the top attractions, landmarks, and most popular neighborhoods, including Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Teatro Colón, Plaza de la República, San Telmo, La Boca, Palermo Woods and Recoleta.
Head to Plaza de Mayo, the political hub of Buenos Aires and home to Casa Rosada, the official office of the Argentine president. The palatial building is famous for its pink exterior. Admire more sights in the area, including the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo (town hall).
Make your way to Teatro Colón, a beautiful opera house built between 1889 and 1908. The theater stands near Plaza de la República, a square on Avenida 9 de Julio where you can see the Obelisco de Buenos Aires (Obelisk of Buenos Aires), a 1936 monument to honor the foundation of the city.
Drive through the waterfront district of Puerto Madero on your way to the neighborhood of San Telmo, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, known for its well-preserved colonial architecture. See its many attractions, including Dorrego Square, where you should keep your eyes open for spontaneous tango performances – San Telmo is the center of tango in Buenos Aires. If your tour occurs on a Sunday, you can visit San Telmo’s weekly antiques market.
Continue to La Boca, Buenos Aires’ most colorful neighborhood, where a European atmosphere has remained strong since the neighborhood was settled by Italian immigrants. The district is a major attraction for the brightly painted buildings on the Caminito, the neighborhood’s main (pedestrianized) drag where you can go for a stroll and see local artists selling their work.
Head to one of the city’s largest districts, Palermo, where you can drive through Palermo Woods. The city’s largest park, Palermo Woods is home to many attractions, including the Buenos Aires Zoo, Plaza Italia and Galileo Galilei Planetarium.
Go to Recoleta, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the city, with its renowned Recoleta Cemetery (where Eva Peron is interred), elegant shops and open-air cafes. End your tour at Galerias Pacifico shopping area.
Finally, if you'd enjoy biking, lonelyplanet.com suggests:
Explore Buenos Aires’ well-known neighborhoods in and around the city center and the Rio de la Plata on a fun-filled, leisurely 7-mile (12-km) bike ride. Enjoy easy pedaling through top areas like San Telmo, La Boca, the port and the Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve. See major attractions like Casa Rosada, Plaza de Mayo and Caminito, and admire the city’s renowned European-style architecture while enjoying the fresh air!
Ride past the Buenos Aires port, one of South America’s busiest ports, where nearly 2,000 vessels arrive every year. Make your way to the Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve, an 865-acre nature reserve on the Rio de la Plata. Ride through this tranquil piece of land amid the city’s bustling downtown districts, keeping your eyes open for wildlife like egrets and black-necked swans.
Ride by Plaza de Mayo and stop for photos in front of Casa Rosada, the President of Argentina’s palatial office, famous for its pink exterior. Admire the other buildings that surround historic Plaza de Mayo, the center of Argentine politics.
Head into the neighborhood of San Telmo, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, known for its well-preserved colonial architecture. See its many attractions, including the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church, San Telmo Market and Dorrego Square, the heart of San Telmo. Observe life in the square’s cafes, bars and shops, and watch for spontaneous tango performances – San Telmo is the center of tango in Buenos Aires.
Ride into La Boca, Buenos Aires’ most colorful neighborhood, where a European atmosphere has remained strong since the neighborhood was settled by Italian immigrants. The district is popular with visitors for its brightly painted buildings, especially along the Caminito – the neighborhood’s main (pedestrianized) drag where you can see local artists selling their work.
End your tour at Plaza San Martin.
A somewhat zoom in-able map (but only one level): http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-28ESGMetp2I/Tc7Q2ZhxcwI/AAAAAAAAE7c/mBtriBxVfss/s1600/mapa_turistico_buenos_aires.jpg
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It isn't a beautiful build. It isn't one with challenging architecture (other than the challenge of creating a pedestrian street and the look of buildings huddled together while avoiding routing issues on a smallish lot.) But is it the one that I feel most depicts the story and passion of Buenos Aires with its growing pains and love of social get-togethers, art, music, dance, and ancestral roots.
This community lot is set as a hang out and remains open 24/7. The consignment shop however maintains normal hours. You may chose to hire Sims to tend the registers or let your Sims do that. I've found that Sims can purchase food from the display cases without a clerk in attendance. (When food is purchased from the cash register, it goes into the family inventory. When purchased from the display case directly, it goes into the Sims backpack.)
This is a three-star establishment in my game and will net an easy 25,000 when you go to collect your earnings.
The idea behind my build is that the back building is like a foundry. It's the shop where artists work and gain a paycheck despite how well their own shops may be doing. It houses the heavy potter's wheels, tattoo chair, and toy-making machine on the bottom floor, the inventors' stations on the middle floor with small water closets for quick or emergency use, and the top floor is for painting and sketching. The foundry is attached to the other buildings, one of which houses a dance studio and the other a music studio. Both are located on the top floors along with communal bathrooms and showers. (If you are a dancer or musician, you should be agile enough to climb a couple flights of stairs. And, we really want to discourage the average tourist from just stopping by to use the bathrooms.)
The ground floor is where all the shops are. It is very tourist-oriented, but there are a couple bedrooms with all-in-one water closets tucked into the corners. For more spacious apartments, check out the living spaces on the middle floor where apartment spaces that would have housed two families in the past now provide more open space for single Sims, couples, or even small families.
This current day artist community lot mirrors an artist community here in Texas were each artist has their own shop with its own entrance in line with other shops in long buildings. The complex has apartments as well as shops and even a restaurant. The owners and artists live and work together and independently, sharing their artistic visions with each other as well as with the public. It preserves the original buildings and their heritage and acts as a tourist spot and learning center as well as a place to buy great original art.
Artists are usually struggling to earn a living from their work and have very eclectic looks of second-hand things pieced together. Yet, they do have a certain flair. They appreciate style as well as function. Therefore, pieces might not match so much. Rather, they all have a story or something special that drew the artists' eyes (even it is was only the price tag!)
I hope you find this art community appealing, though I know it won't be to everyone's taste, as a celebration of what those with nothing but vision and effort can accomplish. To see the possibilities and to see beyond the current status is an art. To look on the "bright" side while others may see the bleak side is an ability worth cultivating.
This community lot seemed to attract many visitors who stayed all day and returned again and again. Lola Belle, a five-star celebrity in Bridge Port, loved to cook, sculpt, and play music. Many other celebrities and regular townies came to check out what the art center had to offer and stayed to socialize, read, cook, or eat.
My Sims lived at the complex, went to work from there, and returned there after work. I could buy them stuff for their home, their other businesses, and this lot. I did have to remember to occasionally clean up the old newspapers and pay the bills at the home lot; but with a certain reward, even that could be avoided.
The only drawback I had was that the sculpting wheels would get a blinking red rectangle over a piece left sitting there when I shut down and restarted a game. Selling the piece on the wheel made that go away. I think it was because the Sims kept making that display pedestal that wanted to display something. I thought of removing the sculpting wheels, so that wouldn't bother anyone else. But, it's so easy to fix AFTER you know what causes it.
I played this lot for an entire Sim week and upgraded everything to unbreakable.
The build itself:
I used this building as my inspiration and created a mirror image in size and shape on the other side. I wanted to create a street for the tango dancers to perform just as they do in current day Caminito.
Notice how the lamp post changed from one light to three and silver to blue:
Colors on the building changed through time as well, so I went with what I liked, based on many images.
This is the close-up I used for the stairs:
I tried to get the right look - style, color, and feel.
The idea to angle the front sides came from the fact that the back of the building is angled already and from many buildings in the area that are shaped like this:
The streets are narrow and clothes lines can stretch from the railing on one side to the railing on the other.
(See how narrow this pedestrian street is?) But, they offer enough room for jamming and dancing comfortably.
The streets are cobblestone, though some places have been patched with other pavers in places in La Boca over time.
Some things don't really work the best when you go for looks to convey an idea:
So, I put in a washing machine rather than the laundry sink, so Sims can do laundry here. It charges just as a laundromat would.
The buildings used whatever was readily at hand from the shipyard scraps, to include left-over paint. As it was just the left over paint in a container or two, it was never enough to paint the whole building. People took to painting different sections different colors. Thus the colorful La Boca neighbor became a cheerful-looking place to live despite being pieced together from scraps. Though the paint is bright and colorful, it is chipping; and I tried to recreate that look with two toned paint.
As you can see from this picture from the current day museum there, the rooms were small. There was no insulation. The bare wood was simply painted, but painted in an artistically pleasing way with the windows in an accent color.
A close look at the flooring shows many different grains of slightly different color, so I used various wood patterns and slightly altered the colors as well.
Look very closely at the ceiling and you'll notice it is merely wood that has been painted white. Remember that immigrants would have come with very little, possibly just a trunk or two, and they would want housing right away. Lots of people looking for housing at once means the housing goes up quickly with just the bare essentials.
The museum picture is a conglomerate, if it's like our museums here, of antique pieces that might have been used, not necessarily what the room really looked liked.
I chose wood for the most part for furnishings and used some old photos. While I could have put in a single wrought-iron bed, I chose the wrought-iron day beds as sofas and selected more comfortable double beds for the bedrooms. For the most part, furnishings are plain and the all-in-one bathrooms fit the idea of a small water closet or chamber pot.
The toy shop and consignment shop are suppose to reflect the tiny shops you find there now with doors that go up like a garage door. Since I couldn't use garage doors, I used some double doors that look like the Bauhaus garage door. The shops are tiny and crammed with anything that owners think tourists might buy.
I didn't try to limit access to the kitchens as I want my Sims to be able to make stuff to eat when they visit. I just eat what other Sims autonomously bake and then stick the left-overs in the display cases. It keeps the display cases stocked without needing any mods or having to slave away in the kitchens.
No visitors slept in the beds, though many stayed the night. I found this fortunate as my Sims could always go to bed when they needed to. This means that the center could easily have a floor or some rooms deleted from the third floor if anyone experiences lag in their game. (I have a good system, but I have experienced lag on some lots before. Fortunately, I had none with this one. It is one reason I chose a smaller sized lot to build on.)
I placed this normal-sized lot using the world editor so that it was located next to the shipping yard in Bridge Port. Buenos Aires is a huge city with millions of people, tall skyscrapers, and a vast coast line with major shipping by water. The immigrants tended to stay close to where they arrived.
The pottery shop with its cement floor has shelves for pottery in all stages, from green ware and glazes drying, to bisque fired, to finished products ready to sell. This pottery shop is pet-friendly, with a bowl for fresh water, a never-ending supply of food, a pet bed, and even a leash on one of the shelves for walks. (I recommend downloading gr1zzly's pup.)
Football, or soccer, is their favorite sport. Thus, you'll find some pendants, posters, pictures, and other mementoes proudly displayed. La Boca sponsors the Boca Juniors.
(See how important football or soccer is? Notice the sign as well. And meet Cesar's inspiration.)
I tried to include all the arts, including martial arts and culinary arts. I see inventing and nectar-making as art forms as well. So whatever creative art your Sims enjoy, they should be at home here.
(A nod to the German heritage... we don't have beer, but we have nectar!)
Special thanks to all the wonderfully generous simmers who made this possible: roundheaded, blacksheba1973, gr1zzly, tanubanue, dolphineQ, TNTterry ...
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Here's my lot: http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8250527
And a slideshow: http://s45.photobucket.com/user/ciane/slideshow/101/AtW
Or, better yet, go to the album and click on the first picture to bring it up and read the text below in both the title and description. Then arrow to the right to get the next image or arrow to the left to go back.
I set them up to go 360 around the outside and to offer at least two views of each room going from a room on one end of a building all the way around in order to the last room of the last building.
You'll know when you reach a new floor as you'll get a layout (in both directions) of the build.
Here's the album link: http://s45.photobucket.com/user/ciane/library/101/AtW (album, not slideshow, so you can read the title and description below each image)
I like it better because you can go at your own pace and get a description of what you are looking at.
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It was very interesting and great reading about all the ideas that were behind your build, and how you approached it, and why and how you used certain items. It was great reading about your vision for the artistic centre as a whole, as well as for the individual areas of the build. You put your thoughts and ideas and feelings into the words that you wrote and showed us the build through your eyes , how you envisioned it would be and how the sims would enjoy living there. You added personal touches and took us on a tour of it. You made it spring with life as we could imagine the artists doing their work there, or dancing or playing music. Your explanations of the parts and areas of the build are great. We saw your ideas for the build eventuate and turn into simform. It was great to read about your own experiences that you have when your sims are at the build.You brought a vibrant artistic section of Buenos Airies to us and have allowed our sims and simmers to enjoy living in this city through your build.
Your build is great! It is a great artistic community centre lot! Great exterior of it! The colours that you have used for the exterior look very nice! It looks great that you have the market stands at the front of the build for sims to buy produce from. It looks great how you have done the exterior stairs in the middle courtyard area! Great area where sims can enjoy playing or listening to the guitar being played. The steps on the sides of the building leading up to the next floors looks great. The street lamps look great. Very nice balconies for sims to go out onto and look out at the views, or sit on seats or do star gazing using the telescope. It looks great the variety of different types of windows that you have used. The Bridgeport city background in the pictures suits the type of build. Great glass blowing area. Sims will enjoy doing glass blowing there or just relaxing in the hanging chair under the tree. It looks great that you have used the Olive tree there, to resemble the tree in the real life picture. Great layout of the build! Great living area on the ground floor. The bedroom area looks great. The pattern that you have used for the bed looks nice. The pictures on the bedhead wall and front wall goes well with the bed pattern and capture the artistic theme of the build well. Great furnishing of the living room area. It is great that the soccer pictures of the La Boca team are on the walls! It is great that they support their local team! Great nectary! Sims will enjoy creating their own nectars using the nectar making machine there, or buy some bottle from the racks. The boat paintng that one of the artists would have painted looks very nice! It is great that you have placed the wheel themed chair there. Great foundry type building . The Potters area looks great. Sims will enjoy sculpting items there. It is great that you have places the toy machine nearby to create toys on, and sims can come there to have a tattoo. It is great that you have the consignment store register for sims to sell items that they have made, as well as purchase items themselves. The soccer pictures behind the counter to support the team looks great there too. Great bakery area. Sims will enjoy buying baked goods from the display shelves and eating them at the table. The texture and colours that you have used for both the exterior and interior walls looks great and suits the type of build very well. Great kitchen area. It is great that you have placed both the bakery oven, woodstove oven and the Japanese grill there for sims to use to stock the display cases in the bakery. Great living areas on the upper level. The pennants on the bedroom wall looks great. It looks great how you have colours the towels bear the all in one bath , green and blue. The surf waver picture looks great! It looks great how you have done the clothes closet section! Great kitchen area for sims to use the grill or bakery oven to cook meals. The birdhouse clock on the wall is a nice touch. Great study desk area there for sims to sit and use the computer at or read a book from the bookcase. The plant in the corner of the room is nice for sims to see when studying there'. Very nice living room area! Sims will enjoy relaxing on the sofa there, watching tv and listening to music from the stereo. It looks great that you have placed a picture of your build on the wall behind the sofa! Great area of the build where sims can create items on the inventing table. It looks great how you have placed the invention gadgets already made on the shelves and table there, and that there is a simbot there! Great chess playing nook beside the staircase. Sims will have fun and build up,logic at the same time. It looks great how you have done the living area where you have placed the cot. It is great that you have placed a painted picture of your build in the space between the bookcases! The coat and hat stand near the door is a great touch and the flower looks nice on the dining table. Great furnishing of the bathroom. It looks great the type of showers that you have used there. Sims will have fun dancing on the dance floor to the stereo music in the dance studio, enjoy using the dance barre.. The picture on the wall suits the type of room. Great artist nook areas for sims to enjoy painting nice pictures on the easel or do sketching on the drafting tables. Sims will enjoy playing music together on the various musical instruments in the music room. They will have fun jamming together whilst other sims enjoy listening on the sofa listening. The trumpet light on the wall looks great there.
It is a very well done and researched report and build!
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/817478/hello-come-and-introduce-yourself
http://tinyurl.com/OneRoomOneWeek
http://tinyurl.com/rosemow
My Showcase thread https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/948861/rosemow-s-rooms-showcase
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/910413/post-apocalyptic-murkland-the-starter-challenge/p1
I have just finished adding titles and descriptions to each picture in the slideshow. (I forgot to do that last night! Good thing I finished a day early.)
I think you only see the descriptions for the images when you click on the album and view each image, using the arrows to go forward and backwards.
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One thing though I should have mentioned earlier is that when you click on the link provided for more info and pictures, you will actually need to click on the picture you see for a larger image to load and then right area to see each new picture.
Sometimes you will need to scroll down to see everything.
And, if you are wading through my album, there are at least two pictures for every room and two lines of text under each picture. Sometimes, arrowing ahead it will skip some pics as if I kept my finger on the arrow too long and I wouldn't know I'd missed pictures except "I" put them there and know that I missed some. Arrowing back will then show the missed pictures.
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My Murkland Challenge Adventures: Click Here
The choice of Caminito to represent your assignment is such a brilliant idea and the build itself is awesome :shock: ... I also adore Angela and Cesar's Tango show! And the receipe for Carbonada Criolla sounds too yummy not to try.
There is not a lot I can add that hasn't been said already especially by our dearest Rose except that I would love to be able to rec more than once and think that this is an absolutely superb entry for the 'Around the World in 80 Days' challenge!
Thank you for making it such a pleasure to visit Buenos Aires!
I honestly didn't know that Argentina was so big, which then led to me now knowing that poor Chile just has a long scrap of land to the east. I thought it was cute having a mouse bring money but I prefer the tooth fairy. (I do like mice though, just not under my pillow when I'm sleeping!) I also liked seeing the flora and fauna of the country and those 'fierce blue dragons' were my favourite flower. They really lived up to their name.
Argentina is quite English with its meal times. Not so much now, but when I was growing up we had dinner - the biggest meal of the day at the 'now lunchtime' and for tea, we'd have a light meal of sandwiches etc and supper later on.
Those recipes looked yummy and I thought it very unusual to have fruit in a stew with vegetables. I'll have to try that.
The city has a very cosmopolitan population and I didn't know that the first and most of the immigrants came from Spain and Italy, which I wouldn't have expected. It has a vast amount of skyscrapers and is full of other buildings - a massive city.
I loved the part on the tango and the videos that went with it. A very sensual dance, which does have slightly different ways but I'd be doing it with a red rose in my mouth!! I really liked your 'tango' sims as well and the clothes you chose. I loved to see them dancing - how did you do that??
I've seen brightly coloured houses like that before, but I just can't remember where. But with so many people from different cultures, they would bring their own styles with them. Oh and Puerto Madero is gorgeous! The style of the buildings in Monserrat remind me of ones in London. I was going to say without the 'domes' but then St. Pauls Cathedral has a domed roof too. Reoleta looks like its architecture comes from every country; very different but beautiful styles. I liked the irony of the Recoleta Cemetery, sorry! I also thought that the Teatro Colon is beautiful but $100 million is rather expensive - I hope it lasts for a long time
I LOVED your El Plato lot - Rec'd!
Perfect job ciane, I'd expect nothing else!! BIG REC!!
Steph, you absolutely made my day!
Rose, thank you for always taking so much time and energy to comment on everyone's work.
I truly enjoyed my visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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