Experiencing Soccer Fever in Cordoba, Argentina

Soccer, or “fútbol” as it is known here, is a serious thing in Argentina. The love for this favorite pastime brings together people of all ages, genders, nationalities, and backgrounds to rally behind their favorite team.

With this year’s 2014 World Cup event, people have been going to bars, restaurants, or a friend’s house to watch the games. They even head out into the streets to celebrate and show their team spirit.

I was actually trying to get to the Patio Olmos Shopping Center to meet a college classmate for some coffee. If you haven’t been keeping up with my blog, you might not know that I’m not a fan of crowds. In fact, one of the reasons I take anti anxiety meds is to manage my social anxiety. So as you can imagine, it was not easy for me to get through the crowd.

Fans gathered outside Patio Olmos, one of Córdoba’s main shopping centers in the downtown area. I will admit that I'm not a fan of sports. I never really followed them back in the States, and I certainly don't here in Argentina, but it was still nice to see people coming together for something other than a protest.

Still, I probably would have canceled on my classmate if I had known that everyone would be out on the streets showing their team spirit. Although it was excruciatingly overwhelming for me, moments like this made me appreciate the passion and sense of unity soccer brings out in the Argentine people.

Photoset Of Plaza San Martin in Cordoba Argentina

Plaza San Martin is another popular place where Cordobeses love to congregate, and I'm not just saying that because there's a huge church here either.

A lot of the locals come here during their break, after work, or after school, to sit down and read the newspaper, pigeon watch, or socialize and drink mate.

Overall, it gives folks the chance to walk around, and relax for a bit before heading into the mouth of the downtown shopping center. 

Since buses tend to stop here, it can get a little crowded sometimes, especially around rush hour, but other than that, it's just a nice area to hang out. 

At the end of the day, Plaza San Martin is less about the sights and more about the atmosphere. It's a place where you get to see everyday life unfold for both Cordobeses, tourists and expats alike.

Photoset Of Plaza De La Intendencia in Cordoba Argentina

Plaza de la Intendencia is only a couple of blocks away from the Patio Olmos Shopping Center, and many Cordobeses come here to relax, socialize, and drink mate. Personally, sitting in a plaza is not really my top choice when hanging out with friends, and neither is drinking mate, a popular Argentine beverage. However, it's still a beautiful location and quite peaceful when it isn't too crowded. So I tried to take some of the best photos from different angles to share with you.

There's no special story behind this plaza, at least none that I'm familiar with, but the beauty of the area speaks for itself. Don’t you think?

Even though it's not my favorite way to spend an afternoon, some of you might want to come here to relax, meet friends, or just take in the scenery in Cordoba City.