Argentine

Not only do the people of Argentina have very different roots, but the food is also influenced by many different European countries. You can find Italian food such as Pizza and Pasta on almost every Menu. The country is well known for its beef production. This is reflected in the many regional specialities that contain beef. The food does vary according to where you are in the country: in the north west dishes are based on corn and rice, and are usually spicy.
One of the most popular dishes is the Asado – Grill or BBQ. It is a great way to celebrate a get together with friends and family.
Buen provecho!

Jorge Luis Borges, one of the most well known writers from Argentina, said that an Argentinian is an Italian, that speaks Spanish and would like to be English. This statement emphasises the mixture of nationalities that is reflected in the culture of the land. According to the statistics, more than 90% of the approx. 40 million Argentinians originate from European immigrants. These were mainly Italians (approx. 35%) and Spanish (approx. 30%). Before the Spanish arrived, approx. 30 different ethnic groups lived in Argentina. Today only a small portion of the population stam from the original folk (approx. 1 - 1.5 million).
The golden age of the The Tango was in the 1930's to 1950's, and mirrored that of Jazz and Swing. Today it remains a dance that many Argentinians identify themselves with especially those from Porteños in Buenos Aires.
Argentina also has a lot to offer in the areas of literature, films and theater. They are also very enthusiastic football fans. Rugby and sports involving horses, such as polo, are also very popular in this country.

The vegetation and the animal kingdom varies within Argentina depending on the climatic zone.
In the north, in the tropical and subtropical rainforests, you can find a large variety of tropical plants. The Gran Chaco, found in the north, is dominated by vegetation from the Savannah. In the south, and east of Chacos, the climate is mild and the land is used for farming.
A typical picture of the Pampa shows a wide horizon with dry green plains and very few tree species.
In the area surrounding the Andes and Feuerland you will see many pine trees. In the high regions to the north of the Andes you will come across areas of partial dessert with many cactuses and thorn bushes.
There is an unbelieveable variety of wildlife in the north: monkeys, jaguar, pumas, waschbears, tapire and many different types of reptiles. Amongst the different bird species you will find Hummingbirds, Flamingos, Tukane and Parakeets, and in the rivers you may be fortunate enough to see a Piranha.
Animals typical of the Pampa include armadillos, wolves, foxes, deer as well as many different species of birds of prey.
Lamas and Guanacos are very popular in the dry regions of the Andes. You will also find different sorts of animals that prey on their food such as the mountain cat. Birds that migrate for the winter such as Flamingos stop at the Salt lakes in the region for a break.
The animal kingdom is less varied in the very south, in areas such as in Patagonien and Feuerland. Native animals such as pumas and deer (Pudú) can be found in abundance. Penguins, and seals can be seen on the coast of Patagonien.

Up to date information can be found on the website: www.eda.admin.ch.

In the 13th and 14th Century, the Inkas moved south and around 1450 they took over a big part of the north west of Argentina. Today, this area is known as the Provinz of Mendoza. Argentina was colonised in the 16th Century by the Spanish from Peru and from the direction of the Atlantic.
In 1776 the Kingdom of Rio de la Plata became divided. The main city was Buenos Aires, and Bolivia, Paraquay and Uruguay were also part of this Kingdom.
After the revolution against Spain, Argentina became independent on 9 July, 1816.
Between 1816 and 1880 periods of dictatorship and civil war threatened the country. From 1880 to 1912 many migrants entered the country: mainly Italians and Spanish.
From 1912 to 1946 the democratic political system was forced into a military dictatorship. In 1946 the Officer Juan Domingo Perón was voted in as President. He industrialised the country during his first period of rule (1946 - 1955), the economy experiencing highs and lows during this period. From 1955 to 1983 the country's political system went back and forth between civil and military reign.
Perón ruled the land from 1973 until his death in July 1974. After his death, his wife Isabel Perón became the new preseident. The following period was torn between strikes and uproar. In 1976 military dictatorship returned, and in 1983 the country went back to being a land of democracy. Between 1998 and 2002 there was a major economic crisis. In 2003 Néstor Kirchner became the new leader, and in 2007 his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Just as you hear in one of the most famous Tangos, Buenos Aires is a very worldly city. Classical architecture, art, music, nightlife and a culture scene not to be compared with any other city - that's Argentina. The «Porteños» – the people that live in Buenos Aires – say 'Buenos Aires nunca duerme' (Buenos Aires never sleeps).
The evenings and weekends are holy to the Porteños, as are the evening tours they make through the the 'Boliches' (bars, clubs and pubs in the inner city). There is something for everyone: nostalgic tangosalons and «Confiterias» for those who want something traditional, cinemas, theaters for culture freaks, techno clubs and rock concerts for all ages and in all price ranges.
The most popular sports include football, rugby, polo, tennis and sailing.

Argentina has something for everyone - sport, nature lovers and culture freaks.

The country

Argentina is a country in South America with almost 40 million inhabitants. It is situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east and south. It is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, and Chile to the west and south. It also claims the British overseas territories the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Under the name of Argentina Antarctica, it claims around 1,000,000 km² of Antarctica, overlapping other claims by Chile and the United Kingdom. It is the second largest country in South America after Brazil and the 8th largest country in the world.

All sorts of meat lands on the grill: beef, lamb, pork, and so on.
A typical first course or an inbetween snack is the Empanadas. These are small portions of ham and cheese, mince, or vegetables that have been wrapped in pastry. They can be fried or baked in the oven.
The simple caserole, which originates from the working class in Argentina, is also very popular. The Locro is made of corn, different sorts of sausage and pieces of meat, and pumpkin. A typical meal for the 1. May or the National Day would be very well seasoned. The Locro is eaten mainly in the north of the country. The Puchero, made with vegetables and meat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carots, mangold and eggs is served everywhere in Argentina. Caseroles made on the basis of noodles or rice are known as Guisos; they are prepared with tomatoe sauce, and accompanied by meat such as beef or chicken.
As mentioned above, Italian food is very popular in Argentina due to the large number of Italian immigrants. Not all dishes are prepared in the traditional way. The classical Argentinian Pizza has a very large circumference, and the base and the ingredients on the top are much thicker than the Italian version. The most popular pasta in Argentinien is often cooked longer and not eaten 'al dente'.
The national drink is tea: Mate. It is said to take away the feeling of hunger, and the caffeine is of course stimulating. There are also cold versions of the Mate-Tea.
The wine regions of the country belong to the most important wine regions in the world. Even here the influence of the immigrants can be felt. This means that the vines used for the wine, have different origins and are not always imported using the correct name for various reasons. Most of the wine regions can be found in the Provinz Mendoza. Approx. 70% of the wine in Argentina is grown here.

The language

The official language is Spanish, although some immigrants and indigenous communities have retained their original language. There are, for example many Welsh-speaking towns in Patagonia and German-speaking areas in Córdoba and Buenos Aires.