Córdoba, Argentina

Dec. 4, 2024

Córdoba, Argentina, population about 1 1/2 million, is the second largest city in Argentina and also the largest city in square kilometers. Córdoba was founded in 1573, when it was to be a refuge from the indigenous people, for the incoming Spanish people. As big as the city is, the vast majority of its buildings are under 20 stories tall. Here is Córdoba is the National University of Córdoba which was founded in 1613, making it the fourth oldest university in all of the Americas. The Rio Suquia runs through the city.

This region has a climate classified as humid subtropical or pampas. The daytime high in summer is around 30° C (86° F) and about 6° C (43° F) in the winter. Humidity ranges from the mid-50s to the mid-70s percents. The city sits at only 440 meters (1443 feet) elevation.

Córdoba has auto manufacturing plants from Renault, Fiat, Iveco, Materfer, and Volkswagen. They have an area called Business City which has many high tech and software companies. There is also an international airport.

During my visit the weather cooperated and was very nice, but something I just can't get used to in Argentina - their late dinner time. They eat dinner after 8pm. Most restaurants close at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, then reopen at 7 or 8. Those that are open in the afternoons serve meriendas - snacks. That means for us who are used to a 6pm dinner, finding an actual dinner-type meal at 6pm is almost impossible. What you will find are sandwiches (usually ham and cheese, or if you're lucky - chicken), pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers. And coffee. All the way into the night they are drinking coffee. Dinners are typically versions of these - milanesa (breaded chicken/beef/pork), pizza, asado (BBQ)(beef or chicken), and not much else. There is cordero (lamb) cooked split open over a fire. The menus are skimpy. They have empanadas, of course, but every one I've eaten has been dry, like paste in my mouth dry. Not at all as good as the empanadas in Colombia. A snack that is so common it is sold everywhere and there are specialty shops for custom versions - alfajores. Those sandwich-type cookies with various fillings, and usually very very sweet. I like one occasionally but rarely can I eat the whole thing and they are not big, as in diameter, but they can be quite thick with fillings.

This city has lots of trees lining just about every street, same as the previous cities here in central Argentina that I visited. It's not as noisy as other big cities, probably due to the trees. There are lots of bike paths and lanes, nice plazas and parks. It's a pleasant city if you happen to be visiting Argentina be sure to put Córdoba on your list of places to visit.