Podworld - Exploring interesting places

On a bright a beautiful Sunday morning here was one of Buenos Aires most colourful neighbourhoods of barrios. Read any literature about the area and it seems to have two personalities. The painted splendour or a rejuvenated area underpinned by petty crime. What were we to discover? From the centre of BA getting to the Boca is not problem. Taxi or bus will get you there, our choice was the 152 from the Correos or Post office on Leonardo Alem close to the junction with Correntes. Bombonera We were early. The market stalls which attract visitors on Sunday's were just beginning to open. They mainly sold poor quality replica shirts and designer goods. There, two blocks away and towering like the mightiest cathedral, a remarkable building. The Bombonera is home to the local football side, the world famous Boca Juniors. Here was the place were Diego Maradona and Antonio Ratin, colourful and controversial captains of Argentina plied their trade.  It was match day and fiv...

It is not a country that features heavily in the travel sections of British Sunday newspapers. You will never see it shining down from the shelves of your local travel agent. Most of you friends will never have been there. Yet there is sits this vast country at the foot of the Americas. Argentina has been on my agenda since 1978 and I am happy to explain why. In that year the county played host to the globe's major single sport event the football (soccer for Aussie and USA readers) World Cup. I remember as young viewer being mesmerised by the colour, ticker-tape and joie de vie of the host nation as they swept to victory led by the charismatic forward Mario Kempes. Mario, I thought, I am coming to see your country. 38 years later sitting on the tarmac at Heathrow airport instead of the usual joy and pleasure of an anticipated trip I was griped with an unusual anxiety. What if Argentina failed to deliver? What if it had nothing to offer? Perhaps the travel writers had fail...