City I'd Most Like to Live In: first runner up
#2 City I'd Most Like to Live In: Buenos Aires
People say Buenos Aires is a city that's easy to fall in love with. For me, it was instant love. I can't really name any important tourist attractions. BA is more about just being there. The cafe culture is what I think of as Parisian, but have never actually experienced in Paris before. You're tired from walking around all day, and just pop into a cafe and order a coffee (which comes with mineral water and a cookie), and sit there as long as you'd like with no one bothering you. The people are very polite, always lining up for things, and friendly to tourists. And dare I say it, the people are also consistently, across age ranges, both male and female, the most attractive people in the world.
Food: Between the rich lattes, lots of sweets, and the best meal in the world, this is a place where you can eat nonstop.
Art & Design Culture: Pretty good. MALBA was a decent art museum, and Fundación PROA an engaging contemporary arts space. Not quite as bountiful as Sao Paulo. And the modern and contemporary Argentine work seem to still reference Europe a lot vs. finding their own voice.
Public Transport: Excellent. The Subte (subway) is terrific, and buses are frequent.
Overall Energy: A true 24/7 city (since people don't have dinner until 8 or 10pm, and clubs don't close until dawn). At the same time, it's a bit more calm and sophisticated than Sao Paulo.
Safety: Since it's a 24/7 city, I felt pretty safe walking around after dark. But there were reports of muggings and pickpocketing among others I met, so it's important to keep your wits about you. People said that buses, parts of San Telmo, and La Boca are places to be cautious about.
Shopping: Unfortunately I didn't do much shopping here. Next time!
