Bohol: The Island of the Famous Chocolate Hills

Bohol is a little island paradise in the southern Philippines. The most notable among the tourist attractions in Bohol is Chocolate Hills.
However, there are more reasons why one should visit Bohol. The many activities and places to see is enough to make visitors see the place as a sanctuary for a lot of nature's beauty.

Why Visit Bohol?
The reasons to visit Bohol can be as varied as the number of people who visit the place, but there are a few that will usually resound among the many reasons. Those who favor some fun in the tropical waters will find a lot of idyllic beaches. You'll find all sorts of seaside wonders from developed beaches like Alona Beach to exclusive secluded waterfront locations for your own private encounters in the tropical waters.
Virgin Island Bohol

Water fun in Bohol is not only restricted to the wonderful beaches. You'll also have many wonderful experiences underwater since there are a lot of dive sites here to choose from. Dive sites range from easy dives to sites requiring advanced diving skills. Divers will enjoy the wide bio-diversity of aquatic life they will encounter under these tropic waters.
A trip to Bohol will be incomplete if you won't at least catch a glimpse of the Chocolate Hills. This still stands as the highlight to any visit to the island province. The more than one thousand uniformly shaped hills dazzle those who see the photos but they also give jaw-dropping amazement to those who have actually seen them. They are indeed a natural wonder no one should miss seeing.

Other inland attractions in Bohol also include a large host of caves numbering more than 1,400. Those who are into cave exploring will find this as a delight other than the fact that some of these caves have historic significance. The most popular among these caves is the Dagohoy Cave, named after Filipino revolutionary patriot Francisco Dagohoy. The cave served as his base of operations during his revolt against Spain in 1744.

Other than the caves, the landscape of Bohol is also beautifully laced by many waterfalls. If you're up for some inland trekking adventures, hunting for these romantic waterfalls will be a most welcome treat. Visitors should take note that most of these waterfalls are only known to locals. Prepare for difficult climbs, muddy terrain, and breaking some sweat before you reach these majestic heartland scenes.
If local flora and fauna is your thing, then your visit here will be more than rewarding when you encounter the Bohol wildlife. Bohol is also the home to the smallest primate in the world, the tarsier. You may visit the Philippine Tarsier Foundation and catch a glimpse of this intriguing creature. Other than tarsiers, dolphins are also under the spotlight in Bohol. Dolphin watching tours are often organized for visitors who want to see these amazing creatures in their natural environment.

Like other places in the Philippines, the air is made alive in Bohol by the many fiesta celebrations. May is a special month of the year since a lot of these feasts are commemorated. Colorful parades, street dancing, beauty pageants, and an avalanche of food highlight these special events.
Bohol's place in Philippine history

Even before the Spanish arrived in the islands of Bohol, the natives and other locals have already established thriving communities. The people have been trading with merchants from as far as China. With the arrival of Spanish came a peaceful treaty known as the Sandugo, which is also celebrated even today. This is proof of the Filipino's love for peace, friendship, and brotherhood.
How to get to Bohol

There are many different means of transportation available when trying to get to Bohol. Since it is promoted as a major tourist destination, you can find a variety of travel options. Flights are scheduled daily with more than one airline flying to Bohol. However, for those who would love an ocean voyage, there are two options open - fast ferry and regular ferry.

Fast ferries are those that take you to the Tagbilaran City Wharf via sometBohol-Beefarmhing comparable to speedboats, only that these passenger ferries travel at a rate of around 50 kilometers an hour. These trips are scheduled daily from different islands and tourist destinations like Cebu, Dumaguete, and Dapitan.

Read more about the Fast Ferry from Cebu to Bohol.

If you don't fancy semi-speed boating then you may opt for regular ferries, which will take around three days to get from Manila to Tagbilaran. This may well be the cheapest mode of travel, but take note that these ferries can become way too crowded during peak seasons like the Christmas holidays. In this category we will also find a ferry from Butuan to Bohol if you are coming from Mindanao.

There is certainly more than one reason to come to the island paradise of Bohol. It is a sanctuary of nature's wonders and a thrilling escape from the humdrum of overly busy lifestyles. Visitors can immediately call it their own haven after a brief glimpse of what Bohol has to offer.
When to go to Bohol

Some people prefer to visit duting the colder months from November to February, but Bohol has something to offer year round, For example in May the Chocolate hills will be the brown color they were named from, the Bohol climate is pretty mild being in the middle of Visayas surrounded by water, but make sure you do your research to make sure the weather and events match your expectations.
Famous Tourist Spots in Bohol

This province is home to many of the most famous and attractive tourist destinations in the Philippines, Bohol also has many beautiful and fascinating resorts and beaches. Which is why the tourism industry contributes a lot to the economic development in Bohol province.

One of the best spots for a nice island BBQ or picnic is the beautiful Virgin Island off the coast of Panglao. There are no places to stay on Virgin Island but numerous tour operators arrange daily trips out to the island.

Panglao Island is famous for its white sand beaches. Along in these beaches are beautiful hotels and resorts where travelers and foreigners can stay and enjoy the sceneries. Travelers can also visit Mag-Aso Fallsthe Mag-aso falls, which is located at Antequera as well as the Bilar Mahogany Forest.

Each year the number of travelers who visit Bohol increases. This is due to the attractive tourist spots and natural wonders that can be found in the province.

The famous formation of limestone called the Chocolate Hills which is the most visited spot in Carmen. The Chocolate hills are green most of the year but they turn brown during the hottest summer months which is why they are named Chocolate Hills.

Meanwhile, many tourists also visit the popular rivers in the province which are the Loboc River with it's river cruises and floating restaurants with a small band playing for you while you eat and enjoy the beautiful view of the rivercruise being one of the main attractions for many tourists.
Festivals and Events

Travelers are encouraged to experience and have a glance at the festivals that are held in this attractive province.

The Sandugo Festival, the Tagbilaran City Fiesta, the Bolibong Kingking Festival and Festival of Lights or SidlaKasilak are the renowned festivals in Bohol, Tourists who would witness these festivals will will surely bring home fond memories which will help them remember their stay and vacation here for the rest of their lives.

Transportation to Bohol is very easy since the province is very accessible. Tourists can travel by land, air and water.

The national government of the Philippines established seaports and airports in the province so that travelers will not experience problems when it comes to visiting the beautiful island of Bohol.
Bohol in Numbers

Based on the 2000 census done at the province, there are 1,137,268 permanent residents in Bohol. The census also found that there are 209,588 households in the province with an average size of 5.41 people per household. The life expectancy in this province is greater than found elsewhere in the Philippines. Some say due to the more casual lifestyle while others attribute the fine food which is located throughout the province.

Most residents in the province speak the Boholano language, which is a Cebuano dialect. However, since migration is a constant trend in Bohol, there are also residents who use Chinese, English and Tagalog as their primary languages. In addition, some schools in the province taught Eskayan language to their students.

WHERE TO GO IN SPAIN, BEAUTIFUL PLACES.

Spain is one of Europe's most diverse countries, historically, culturally, gastronomically and geographically. While some people prefer to go skiing in the Winter months, others prefer to sunbathe on the coast. Not many countries can offer both options during the same month, but Spain can.
Below I am writing about some Beautiful places where you can easily go and travel there.

Alarcon
Alarcón is a beautiful medieval village, set on the rocky surroundings of the River Júcar in Cuenca, about an hour and a half drive from Madrid.The walled village, its castle, churches and stone-built houses blend in with the surrounding landscape and winding river, providing the visitor with outstanding views and complete peace and quiet. Alarcon Once you arrive, park your car in the carpark at the foot of the village, and stroll around the small, narrow village streets, savouring the peace and quiet. It is difficult to find a more peaceful, unspoilt village than Alarcon, although in recent years Alarcon has started to attract more tourists and a new hotel currently being built next to the parador suggests that its isolated charm may be about to be challenged.

Hondarribia (Fuenterrabia):

    Fuenterrabia, known as Hondarribia in the Basque language, is on the Cantabrian coast near San Sebastian in the Province of Guipuzcoa. It is the last place you get to before crossing the Spanish border into France. Aswell as being a traditional Basque fishing village it is increasingly a popular tourist destination due its beautiful little beach promenade with views across the Txingudi bay to France.

Where to go: Visitors to Hondarribia should visit the picturesque marina, the historic quarter. It is also worth visiting the Parador of Hondarribia which was once a 10th century fortress.
The neighbourhood where many of Fuenterrabia´s fishermen live consists of traditional dwellings brightly painted in different colours - historically they used the paint left over from painting the fishing boats.
What to eat: Fuenterrabia has plenty of small restaurants and bars serving typical Basque pinchos and Basque cuisine including some of the freshest fish you are ever likely to try.


La Alberca :

Alberca, formerly known as Valdelaguna, is located in the Southern part of the province of Salamanca. This village is 1084 metres above sea level on the Northern slopes of 'la Sierra de Francia'(the French mountain range'). Its unusual houses and streets have put it on the toursist map for visitors to the province of Salamanca.

With the Cabras Pintas prehistoric caves on the edge of Alberca, it is thought that this village was repopulated during the times of Alfonso VI by the French. In fact some of its place names like 'la Sierra de Francia' and 'el rio Frances' (the French river) refer to these origins.

One of Alberca's greatest assets is the diversity of the wonderful scenery that surrounds it. On one side you can see granite, slate and quartzite which support the varied wild vegetation and forests of oaks, chestnut trees, pine trees, walnut trees, apple trees and almond groves.

Like many other villages in Spain, Alberca's population is declining. Over half a century ago it had 1700 inhabitants but now this figure hardly reaches a 1000. However, the village is still well maintained and despite harsh winters and very hot summers tourism plays an important part in its economy. Its narrow cobbled streets, small squares and curious houses make this a beautiful place to visit.

All the traditional houses are made of granite and stone and wooden beams, and have a maximum of 3 floors, each with a different function. In the past animals were kept on the ground floor and the kitchen was on the next floor, the loft was used to cure the meat, normally ham, pork and chorizo (sausage), this is why the floor used to have holes in it so that the smoke from the kitchen could rise. Many of the houses have large wooden balconies full of flowers. The main square in Alberca is flanked by doorways made of granite and wood.

Fiestas in La Alberca: These take place on the day of the Virgin of August, a special celebration when a play is staged in the streets of the village. Alberca's inhabitants become actors for the day giving life to characters such as the devil and angels. The atmosphere of the village is dominated by the multicoloured typcial costumes adorned with gold and silver which are worn with pride. At Easter there is also a fiesta celebrating 'el Día del Trago' or 'Lunes de Aguas' when the town hall invites the whole village to an aperitif.
Hotels in La Alberca: Although the remoteness of this beautiful Spanish village has largely protected it from an influx of tourists, it does boast two interesting hotels for those who want to stay overnight . Hotel Doña Teresa**** (www.hoteldeteresa.com) in the village itself, with spa facilities and a very good restaurant, and Hospedería Santuario Peña de Francia*** up in the Peña de Francia mountain sierra at 11 km. from La Alberca with wonderful views and another great restaurant.

Restaurants in Alberca: La Abuela Carmen Restaurant in the Hotel Doña Teresa serves good local food, as does Las Petronillas in Miranda del Castañar, 18km from La Alberca. Otherwise try one of the various tapas bars serving traditional dishes in Alberca itself.

Altea: 

 

gg Altea is one of the most picturesque places on the Levante coastline despite the fact that some of the more recent buildings have slightly damaged the special beauty and charm of this Mediterranean village. Alicante city is a half hour drive from Altea and Benidorm is just ten minutes away.

Altea used to be considered as a the 'hippy centre' of the area attracting a large international community of artists and musicians. Nowadays, tourism has overtaken cultural activity although a small number of artists still live in the old part of the village.

AlteaAltea is full of little white houses built on top of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean. One of the prettiest views of the village can be seen from a new promenade built from Albir beach (in the village Alfaz del Pí) to Altea port.

There is a church at the top of the village which you can reach by going up the steep, narrow lanes. When you get to the top there is a small square with a several bars and restaurants, very popular with both locals and visitors, next to the church. There is a viewing point in the square with spectacular views over Altea bay and the Mediterranean.

view from AlteaBelow the old part of the village there is a small port, a pleasant promenade and a sandy beach with a playground for children. For those who prefer a more peaceful atmosphere you can reach a small beach with white pebbles and crystal clear water a short walk away along the Albir promenade.

Altea, like Alfaz del Pí and Benissa, has a large number residents from other parts of Europe (mainly Germany, the United Kingdom and Nordic countries). However these villages have retained their originality while at the same time welcoming the new residents and their influence on cultural activities and gastronomy as well as the changing urban landscape.

Monuments and interesting places in Altea

    * The Old Part: It is a pleasure to walk along the narrow lanes up to the top of the hill where you get fantastic panoramic views over the Mediterranean.
    * Iglesia Virgen del Consuelo: The church presides the town and has a pretty blue dome typical in Mediterranean villages on the coast.
    * The fishermen's quarters: The barrio de pescadores is in the lower part of the village.

Fiestas in Altea: On the 15th August there are fireworks from Castell de L'Olla, and 'Moros and Cristianos' fiestas at the end of September. Also on the 16th July the 'marineras de la Virgen del Carmen' fiestas.
Where to eat in Altea: Restaurante El Patio, fish, rice and seafood (especially mussels) next to Altea port. Very busy at weekends; Restaurante La Capella this is at the top of the village, it has a pleasant evening terrace during the summer months; Racó de Toni, traditional cuisine. There are some excellent restaurants just a short drive from Altea such as Casa Pepa (click on link for full description) and Al Zaraq. For the more reviews of restaurants near Altea see: Restaurants in Alicante, and Restaurants in the Costa Blanca.

Amanohashidate

Amanohashidate is one of Japan's three scenic views. The sandbar is located in Miyazu Bay in northern Kyoto Prefecture.A thin strip of land connects two opposing sides of Miyazu Bay. This sand bar is 3.3 km long and covered with about 7,000 pine trees.
The sand bar is best viewed from the hills on either side of the bay, which are both accessible by chair lift or cablecar.

To view the sand bar as a "bridge in the heaven", turn your back towards the bay, bend over and look at it from between your legs. Travelers to Amanohashidate have been doing this for more than a millenium.
It can be viewed from mountains on either side of the bay or it can be traversed on foot.

Near the southern end is Chion-ji, a Buddhist temple.

Also, on this bar is the Isoshimizu fresh water well cherished since the Heian period, which was selected as one of 100 best springs and rivers in Japan by the Environmental Agency in 1985.
At the southern end of the sand bar, which is just a few steps from the railway station, stands Chionji, a nice Buddhist temple with a small tahoto, a kind of pagoda which still resembles the Indian stupa more than the more common three and five storied Japanese pagoda.
It takes about two hours and 4,380 yen to reach Amanohashidate from Kyoto by direct limited express train, while direct limited express trains from Osaka take a few minutes more and cost 5,240 yen. By local trains, the trip takes more than twice as long, but is roughly half as expensive.

Japan Rail Pass users note, that the trains to Amanohashidate run on non-JR tracks (owned by the Kitakinkitango Railway) on the last 35 kilometers between Fukuchiyama and Amanohashidate. This means, that pass holders need to pay a supplementary fee of 1,480 yen (one way) at Amanohashidate Station.

If you use local trains on the non-JR tracks instead of the limited express, the supplementary fee is 740 yen between Fukuchiyama and Amanohashidate.

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is an Argentine  city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Buenos Aires Province, 400 km (249 mi) south of Buenos Aires. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata". Mar del Plata is one of the major fishing ports and the biggest seaside beach resort in Argentina. With a population of 614,350 as per the 2010 census [INDEC], it is the 7th largest city in Argentina.
Economy
As part of the Argentine recreational coast, tourism is Mar del Plata's main economic activity with seven million tourists visiting the city in 2006. Mar del Plata has a sophisticated tourist infrastructure with countless hotels, restaurants, casinos, theatres and other tourist attractions. Mar del Plata is also an important sports centre with a multi-purpose Olympic  style stadium (first used for the 1978 World Cup and later upgraded for the 1995 Pan American Games), 5 golf courses and many other facilities.

As an important fishing port, industry concentrates on fish processing and at least two large shipyards.

The area is also host to other light industry, such as textile, food manufacturing and polymers. There is a well-developed packaging machines industry, its quality being recognized in international markets. One of these companies was one of the pioneers in the automatic packaging of tea bags, exporting its original machine-designs abroad. Another company also exports its products and sold royalties to other countries.

During the mid 1980s, Mar del Plata saw the birth of electronics factories, focused mostly on the telecommunications field, with two of them succeeding in the international market.

Located southwest of the city there are quartzite quarries. The stone is traditionally used in construction (see Architecture). There is a huge area of farms in the rural areas surrounding the city, specialized mostly in the cultivation of vegetables.

Although the area had suffered from a high rate of unemployment from 1995 to 2003, Mar del Plata has seen 46,000 new jobs created from the third quarter of 2003 to the third quarter of 2008, representing an increase of 22%. The 2008 Davis Cup Final was held in Mar del Plata and, after being shut for a decade the Gran Hotel Provincial (one of the largest hotels in Argentina) was reopened by the Madrid-based NH Hotels, in 2009.

Mar del Plata continues to lead Argentina's room availability: of 440,000 registered hotel rooms nationwide in early 2009, the city was home to nearly 56,000 (5,000 more than Buenos Aires).
Transportation

Mar del Plata is served by Ástor Piazzola International Airport (MDQ/SAZM) with daily flights to Buenos Aires served by Aerolíneas Argentinas and Sol Líneas Aéreas and weekly flights to Patagonia served by LADE.

It has a bus terminal serving most cities in Argentina. There is a train station with two daily trains to Buenos Aires' Estación Constitución.

Highway 2 connects Mar del Plata with Buenos Aires and Route 11 connects it through the coastline, ending at Miramar, 40 km (25 mi) south of Mar del Plata. Route 88 connects to Necochea) and Route 226 to Balcarce, Tandil and Olavarría.
 History
Main article: History of Mar del Plata

Pre-Spanish era: The region was inhabited by Günuna Kena nomads (also known as northern Tehuelches). They were later (after the 11th century) strongly influenced by the Mapuche culture.

1577-1857: First European explorers. Sir Francis Drake made a reconnaissance of the coast and its sea lion colonies; Don Juan de Garay explored the area by land a few years later. In 1742, during the War of Jenkin's Ear, eight survivors of HMS Wager, part of Admiral Anson expedition, and led by Isaac Morris, lived through a ten-months ordeal before being decimated and captured by the Tehuelches, who eventually handed them to the Spaniards. After holding the Englishmen as prisoners, they returned Morris and his companions to London in 1746.First colonization attempt by Jesuit Order near Laguna de los Padres ended in disaster (1751).

1857-1874: The Portuguese entrepreneur Coelho de Meirelles, taking advantage of the country’s abundance of wild cattle, built a pier and a factory for salted meat, but the business only lasts a few years.

1874-1886: Patricio Peralta Ramos acquired the now abandoned factory along with the surrounding terrain, and founded the town on February 10, 1874. Basque rancher Pedro Luro bought a part of Peralta Ramos land for agricultural production. First docks also erected around this time.

1886-1911: The railway line from Buenos Aires, built by the Buenos Aires Great Southern reached Mar del Plata in 1886; the first hotels started their activity. The upper-class people from Buenos Aires became the first tourist of the new born village. They also established a local government that reflected their conservative ideals. Build-up of a French style resort.

1911-1930: The residents, mostly new arrived immigrants from Europe, demanded and obtained the control of the Municipality administration. The socialist were the mainstream political force in this period, carrying out social reforms and public investment. The main port was also built and inaugurated in 1916.

1930-1946: A military coup reinstated the Conservative hegemony in politics through electoral fraud and corruption, but in the local level they were quite progressive, their policies viewed in some way as a continuity of the socialist trend. The seaside Casino complex opened in 1939, was designed by architect Alejandro Bustillo, and Highway 2, the main road to Buenos Aires, also dates from this period.

1946-1955: Birth of the Peronist movement. A coalition between socialists and radicals defeated this new party by a narrow margin in Mar del Plata, but by 1948 the Peronism will dominate the local administration. The massive tourism, triggered by the welfare politics of Perón and the surge of the middle class marked a huge growth in the city’s economy.

1955-1970: After the fall of Perón, the socialists regained the upper hand in local politics; the city reached the peak in activities like construction business and building industry. Massive immigration from other regions of Argentina.

1970-1989: Slight decline of tourism demand, counterbalanced by the increasing of other industries such as fishing and machinery. General infrastructure renewal under the military rule. The centrist Radical Civic Union becomes the main political force after the return of Democracy in 1983.

1989-Present: Though the Peronism replaced the radicals in central government amid a national financial crisis, the latter party continued to rule in Mar del Plata. Some resurge of mass tourism in the early '90s was followed by a deep social crisis in town, with an increase of poverty, jobless rate and emigration. By contrast, the first decade of the 21st century shows an amazingly quick recovery in all sectors of the ailing economy.

On November 2005 the city hosted the 4th Summit of the Americas.
Culture
Mar del Plata is the most popular destination for conventions in Argentina after Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata has a wide range of services in this sector. The summer season hosts over fifty theatrical plays.
Shows and festivals

    * The Fiesta Nacional del Mar ("National Sea Festival") with the election and coronation of the Sea Queen and her princesses, which takes place in December as the official inauguration of the summer season.
    * The Premios Estrella de Mar ("Sea Star Awards") which honor the best stage plays and shows of the season.
    * The Valencian Falles week, a local reenactment of the Valencian event conducted by the Valencian community.
    * The Mar del Plata Fashion Show, along with a number of fashion parades that gathers the best haute couture designers.
    * The Fiesta Nacional de los Pescadores (National Fishermen's Festival), a colourful display of seamen tradition and cuisine.
    * The Mar del Plata International Film Festival, the only competitive accredited film festival in Latin America.
    * Mar del Plata has also hosted the 1995 Pan American Games, the 2003 Parapan American Games, the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championship, and co-hosted the 1978 FIFA World Cup and the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship.
    * Since 1987 Mar del Plata annually hosts the Mar del Plata Marathon, in early December.

The local Government sponsors a stable Symphonic Orchestra, as well as a Conservatorium and a School of Classical and Modern Dance.
Juan Carlos Castagnino Municipal Museum of Art
 Nightlife

Mar del Plata has a wide variety of clubs located by district: the area of Alem street and Irigoyen (known for its quantity of pubs and nightclubs) and the coast and Constitution Avenue.
Museums

    * The Juan Carlos Castagnino Municipal Museum of Art.
    * The Museum of the Port of Mar del Plata Cleto Ciocchini.
    * The Museum of Natural Science Lorenzo Scaglia, specialized in Paleontology of the Quaternary species around the region.
    * The Mar del Plata Museum of the Sea, which includes one of the most complete collections of sea snails of the World.
    * Villa Victoria, a vintage wooden house, the former residence of the late writer Victoria Ocampo, now a place for art expositions and classical music.

Notable people

    * Alberto Bruzzone (1907-1994), painter, was born in San Juan but chose Mar del Plata as his home city.
    * Ástor Piazzolla, composer and musician.
    * Auro Tiribelli (1908-2006), architect, the main representative of the Mar del Plata style.
    * Erica Bibbó (1985), the first female commander of a naval unit in the Argentine navy.
    * Gabriel Gaby Amato, former international soccer player.
    * Germán Mono Burgos, former goalkeeper. He played two World Cups. Currently, he is oriented to music.
    * Guillermo Vilas, top tennis star in the 1970s.
    * Héctor Babenco, movie director, who made Hollywood films like Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ironweed.
    * Homero Cárpena (1910-2001), actor, playwright and filmmaker.
    * Inés Arrondo, hockey player, winner along with the national team of an Olympic Silver medal in Sydney 2000 and a Bronze medal in Athens 2004.
    * Juan Carlos Castagnino, painter.
    * Juan Eduardo Esnáider, international soccer player. Former forward of Espanyol, Atlético de Madrid, Juventus, River Plate.
    * Jorge Lanata, journalist and writer.
    * Laura Echarte, agricultural engineer, researcher in crop physiology studies, winner of a 2007 L'Oreal-Unesco international fellowship for Women.
    * Maria Gabriela Palomo, marine biologist, also winner of the L'Oreal-Unesco junior award in 2003 for her works on port-areas environmental pollution.
    * Mario Benedetti (1945), electronics engineer, the main Argentine scientist involved in the Large Hadron Collider project. He is also the owner of Tío Curzio, one of the most fashionable restaurants in the city.
    * Martin Donovan (not to be confused with American actor Martin Donovan), Hollywood screenwriter and producer, co-author of the screenplay of movies like Death Becomes Her and Loving Couples.
    * Nacha Guevara, singer and actress.
    * Ricardo Piglia, writer born in Adrogué but raised in Mar del Plata.

The common linguistic and social background of the city is that of the so called rioplatense culture.
Architecture

The development of the city as a seasonal resort in the early 20th century led upper class tourists from Buenos Aires to build a European-inspired architecture, based mainly on the picturesque and later on the art deco styles. This gave Mar del Plata the nickname of the Argentine Biarritz. The building industry became the main non-seasonal activity of the town by 1920.

During the '30s,'40s, and beyond, local architects and builders, like Auro Tiribelli, Arturo Lemmi, Alberto Córsico-Picollini and Raúl Camusso recreated and transformed the picturesque values into a middle-class scale, marking the beginning of a vernacular architecture, called Mar del Plata Style, consisting in small samples of the luxury-laden summer residences of high society, built for the summer visitor as well as for the local resident.

These chalets were built with stone façades, gables roofs covered with Spanish or French tiles, prominent eaves and front porches. This gives the town some distinctive urban character compared with other Argentine cities, despite the fact that the growing mass of tourists in the '60s imposed the construction of large apartment buildings and skyscrapers as the predominant architectural style downtown.
Climate

The weather pattern for the region is that of an oceanic climate, with humid and moderate summers and relatively cool winters, although polar air masses from Antarctica are frequent. The average temperatures for January reach 20°C (68 Fahrenheit) and 8°C for July (46 Fahrenheit). The West-Southwest winds bring down the temperature below 0°C (32 Fahrenheit), while the Southeast ones (the so called Sudestada) are stronger, producing coastal showers and rough seas, as well as strong squalls, but the cold is much less intense.
Snow on La Perla beach, August 1, 1991


There are about 20 days of frost each year, and almost 60 in the west hills area (some 300 mts above the sea level). Snowfall is not uncommon, but snow accumulation on the ground is rare, a phenomenon that takes place every 6 years or so, according to the last 40 year's data.

Among the most best known such occurrences were the 1975 and 1991 snowstorms, but there were also snow accumulations in 1994 and 1997, in the highest hills area of Sierra de los Padres, in 1995 along the southern coast, and other two during the first hours of July 10, 2004 and July 15, 2010. There were two flurries in September 1986 and June 2007.There is fog in the last days of fall, and springtime is often marred by sea winds and sudden temperature's changes. There are some ten days of 30°C (86 Fahrenheit) each summer, certainly milder values than the rest of the pampas region. Usually, the summer nights are cool and pleasant, with values between 13º to 17°C (55 to 63 Fahrenheit). The record high is 41º on January 1957 (105 Fahrenheit). The wet season occurs during spring and summer, specially in January, with values between the 70 and 80 mm. The average annual rainfall is 780 mm.