Buenos Aires, the most competitive city in Latin America

    Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, ranks 60th in the list of the most competitive cities in the world made by the British weekly The Economist. But, “the city of tango” ranks first among the cities of Latin America, before Sao Paolo (No. 62) and Santiago (68).

    The top made by the prestigious publication evaluated the ability to attract investment, businesses and the

number of tourists. Bucharest ranks 76 in the list and 29th in the ranking of most competitive cities in Europe. Residents of the city situated on the estuary of the river Rio de la Plata, Buenos Aires (with 13,349,000 inhabitants, 2003) called Los Portenos, claim that Avenida, their city's main avenue, is the largest in the world. It is, however, very busy. The first attempt to found the city, in 1536, failed because the opposition of Indians. A 70 meter obelisk recalls the events. In 1580, it was founded Nuestra Senora settlement of Santa Maria del Buen Aire. Buenos Aires became the rich capital of the Spanish Vice-Kingdom Rio de la Plata in 1776, due to increasing cattle on the plains Paraná and newly arrived immigrants from Spain, Italy and especially Germany. It gave up the Spanish sovereignty in 1810 and gained independence in 1816. Today, Buenos Aires is one of the most important cities in South America, both economically and culturally, with museums, galleries, orchestras, music and food, world-class level. The city is synonymous with the tango, dance which was born in the late nineteenth century slums. The city's attractions are the historic center, Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosado, The Presidency Headquarters, the Congress building which is modeled after the US Capitol building from Washington, the monument of "The Second Congress", which symbolizes the Andes, Calle Florida and Calle Lavalle , with elegant offices, banks, restaurants and shops, ideal for shopping. TheMurillo Street is specialized in fur coats. Most boutiques there are in Microcentro. Very interesting are San Telmo, the district of artists, and La Boca, the neighborhood where homes are bright colored, but both are expensive neighborhoods. The riches live in the neighborhoods Recoleta, Retiro and Palermo, with a huge and beautiful park in the north of the city, where there are the botanical garden and zoo. In the Park Francia from Recoleta people can buy artistic hats. The Recoleta Cemetery is famous for Evita Peron's grave, the wife of former President Juan Peron (1946-1955 and 1973-1974). The City's nightlife is intense, in the local Milongas one can dance tango all the night. The Tango Day is 11 December, occasion for celebration on the streets.