Foreign Policy Magazine loves rankings, and so do I. They also love big, gorgeous photographs, and have some great ones in their new list of the world's top cities. So without further ado, check out the Latin American cities from "Metropolis Now" ranking.- #22, Buenos Aires: Sandwiched between Shanghai and Stockholm, the Argentine capital is noted for progressive politics and "longstanding cultural affinity with Europe."
- #30, Mexico City: El D.F., apparently not nearly as smoggy, though still sinking.
- #33, Miami: I (and TIME magazine in 1993) call it "the capital of Latin America" - 67.9% of the people in Miami-Dade County speak a language other than English at home and 57% identify themselves at Latin@. Plus it's the hub for business and entertainment across Latin America.
- #35, Sao Paulo: The most helicopters per capita of any city in the world. What more do you need to know?
- #49, Rio de Janeiro: Some of the World Cup in 2014, the Olympics in 2016. The jewel of Brazil and skimpy bathing suit aficionados the world over.
- #54, Bogota: Colombia's bustling capital and model of the "new Colombia" was reminded of the horrors of the not-too-distant past with last week's bombing outside the Caracol Radio offices.
- #55, Caracas: Could it be any coincidence it's one spot behind Colombia's capital?
Running through the list it's easy to note the rise of Asian cities to global prominence. Being pragmatic, the only city in the region I think that has a legitimate gripe about being left off the list is Santiago - the home of the vibrant Chilean economy and a growing hub for entrepreneurship.
Please chime in if you feel anybody else got snubbed.
Image Source: Foreign Policy ("
Known to some visitors as the "Paris of the South," Buenos Aires shares a longstanding cultural affinity with Europe. More socially progressive than its neighbors, Argentina in July became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage. Here, a tourist looks at Caminito Street from a window on Aug. 18)
Online Sources: Foreign Policy, AFP, Google News, AZ Central, TechCrunch, TIME, Census.gov, The Guardian, Financial Times
