Floralis Generica is a metal sculpture in Buenos Aires which gradually opens throughout the day until it is wide open

Breathtaking Buenos Aires

Visiting Buenos Aires for a week, we settled into the rhythms of this vibrant city. Here are our Secret takeaways from this magnetic South American icon:

We appreciate the novel lodging choices, so we decided on a B&B in the Monserrat neighborhood just south of the Plaza de Mayo. The couple who owned the B&B were tango instructors, and taking tango lessons onboard our cruise ship, we were ready for a class with our B&B owners. However, when they took us to their classroom, we were told to forget everything we had learned. “You need to learn to walk”, they told us. So the lesson ensued and Rick and I thought we could tango at the tango houses in Buenos Aires when we had completed our short lesson. Ha. This B&B has closed as the instructors moved to Portugal. Another great neighborhood choice would be in the Palermo neighborhood. We walked this area and the cafes and boutiques lining the streets were enchanting.

Cafe Tortoni, Avenida de Mayo, 825 – The basement is a stage for jazz and tango artists, and this 1858 coffeehouse was frequented by Albert Einstein. We found a delicious americano and biscuits inside this wood paneled interior and painted glass ceiling.

Mooi, Avenida del Libertador, 3883 – This was a perfect stop for a delightful cafe cortado after visiting the Rose Garden.

Rose Garden or Paseo el Rosedal, corner Avenida Sarmiento and Avenida del Libertador – Beautiful park between two lakes with 18,000 rose bushes in every color, we loved the heavenly smells and lazy boats floating along the lakes under the wooden bridge.

Japanese Gardens or Jardin Japones, Avenida Casares, 2966 – We took photos crossing the red bridges over the ponds filled with orange koi.

Floralis Generica, Avenida Figueroa Alcorta – A massive steel structure which resembles a flower, the electrical system allows the “petals” to open every morning at 8 and close at sunset, on a schedule that changes according to the season. As the flower closes each evening, a red glow emanates from within.

Street Art – The best street art is found in the barrios of Palermo, Villa Crespo, and San Telmo. The artwork may be signed by the artist and was a fun scavenger hunt as we wandered throughout the city.

 

San Telmo Sunday Market, Plaza Dorrego – The colorful collections of bottles and dolls, antiques and artwork made this a lovely Sunday activity.

Casa Rosada, Plaza de Mayo – The presidential palace has a soft pink facade and is the site where Evita would stand on the balcony to address her fellow Argentinians.

Recoleta Cemetery, Junin, 1760 – This statue rich impressive cemetery features mausoleums which house entire families for centuries. Evita Peron is one of the famous people buried here.

 

 

La Boca neighborhood – We took a fun bike ride through this neighborhood which features El Camineto, tango houses, and a color infused explosion of brightly painted walls.

El Ateneo, Avenida Santa Fe, 1860 – This theater, which opened in 1919, has been converted into an elegant bookstore. We thought it was stunning and we enjoyed a cortado from the cafe which is located on the stage.

 

Day Trip to Uruguay – Go to the Buquebus office north of the Monserrat neighborhood, Avenida Cordoba, 879, to buy tickets from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. Buy the tickets, which run about $60, at least the day before for the one hour ferry ride over the Rio de la Plata. This wonderful day trip takes you to another country and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It makes for a fun excursion from the hustle and bustle of the big city of Buenos Aires. buquebus.com.