First established by the Spanish in 1536, Buenos Aires has grown as a city and cultural center through the centuries. From smugglers' den to bustling port, Argentina's sprawling capital now boasts a population of over 15 million and is a cultured metropolis, full of art, literature, tango, and luscious lomo (tenderloin). Overcoming a dictatorial regime in the 1970s, 1976's "Dirty War," and 2002's currency crash, Argentina endures, and its hip capital is alive with new boutiques, galleries, and cafés all the while preserving its past. The "Paris of Latin America," some say BA is easy to love and hard to forget. With the peso still devalued against the weak U.S. dollar, it's more affordable than many other world-class cities.