We’ve now been in Buenos Aires a little over three weeks. As I promised in my last post, here’s number two of the three things that we’ve found very quickly that tell us that we’re going to love living in the city of Buenos Aires (BA).
Number 2 – Green Spaces
The population in Buenos Aires is currently 3.1 million in the city proper. It’s always busy and there’s the usual big-city commotion. Buses, cars, and motorcycles cruise up and down streets. Sidewalks are busy with people hurrying to catch a bus or metro to work, walking dogs, shopping, or meeting friends. And tables and chairs from cafes, restaurants, and bars spill outside to take advantage of warmer weather as we head into summer (more about the cafe culture in Part 3). So far, these things are exactly what I love. I find the sounds, people, and hustle of a big city as calming as some find only when they hear ocean waves, or wind blowing through trees on a quiet hike in the mountains. Don’t get me wrong, I love those solitary, peaceful moments as well, but I feel a sense of being at home when I’m enveloped in the bustling flow of a city.
One of the things that puts any big city at the top of the list for me is if it has great parks and green spaces, and BA has that in spades! The parks and gardens we’ve encountered have massive trees, beautiful botanicals, meandering paths, plenty of grassy areas to picnic on, and benches to linger on and soak in the sound of birdsong.
As of 2022, the city had 4,448 acres of green space and has plans to add more as it pursues an initiative to achieve carbon neutrality and improve urban resilience by 2050.
A city that makes the commitment to preserving, creating, and maintaining lovely green areas is one that I know I’m going to love. To me, it signals that the people who run and live in that city care about and are proud of it. Also, while I enjoy the hustle and bustle of a big city, I also enjoy having these green oases available. A place where the sounds of the city fade into the background, and I can hear the wind rustle through the trees. (To see some info on the beautiful Japanese Garden click here.)
But of course, I also love that, when I’m ready, I can easily merge back into the fray and hustle, and enjoy a coffee at one of the numerous corner cafes while the sights and sounds of the city flow around me.
