One thing I love about Melbourne is that our suburbs have different feels to them. I think BA is the same. I tried to visit as many barrios (neighbourhoods) as I could which was made more possible by doing the amazing Biking Buenos Aires Ultimate Tour. This took six hours on my second day (best birthday present thanks Alex!)
It was the sunniest spring day and I was lucky enough to be the only one on the tour so felt very spoilt. The ride completely cured seediness from all you can drink malbec the night before too, thankfully. I also got extremely sunburnt hands which are now sore and swollen. Silly gringo.
The City Centre
I was lucky enough to stay in a hostel on Avenue de Mayo which I think is the ideal location for staying in BA. I could walk to most places including the Plaza de Mayo which is the main city square.
It was the sunniest spring day and I was lucky enough to be the only one on the tour so felt very spoilt. The ride completely cured seediness from all you can drink malbec the night before too, thankfully. I also got extremely sunburnt hands which are now sore and swollen. Silly gringo.
The City Centre
I was lucky enough to stay in a hostel on Avenue de Mayo which I think is the ideal location for staying in BA. I could walk to most places including the Plaza de Mayo which is the main city square.
Casa Rosada is the Government House and is where Evita did her famous address to the people of Argentina. I need to see the movie now... The pink colour comes from a mix of lime and bulls fat that was used in construction. They say the bulls fat had blood in it which means when mixed with the white lime created the pink.
The Veterans of the Falkland War have a permanent demonstration at Plaza de Mayo. Since the war ended they have been protesting for their rights, saying they never had the resources and training to begin with and were not looked after once the war finished.
The Veterans of the Falkland War have a permanent demonstration at Plaza de Mayo. Since the war ended they have been protesting for their rights, saying they never had the resources and training to begin with and were not looked after once the war finished.
La Boca
The colourful neighbourhood where some houses are made out of corrugated iron stolen from the old shipyard when this area was the port. It's on the mouth (boca) of the Rio Riachuelo. It's a poor and dangerous area so I just stuck to the main tourist part, the Caminito area, but that was enough to get a good sense of the cute barrio.
The colourful neighbourhood where some houses are made out of corrugated iron stolen from the old shipyard when this area was the port. It's on the mouth (boca) of the Rio Riachuelo. It's a poor and dangerous area so I just stuck to the main tourist part, the Caminito area, but that was enough to get a good sense of the cute barrio.
San Telmo
Another reason why you have to be in BA on a Sunday! Damn it. In Plaza Dorrego on Sundays there is a antique market which is supposed to be amazing. These markets started in the 19th century when the rich residents of San Telmo deserted the area after a break out of Yellow Fever. They didn't know the disease was mosquito borne so left all their jewels and valuables thinking they were infected. The poor then moved in and deciding they didn't want all the fancy stuff, sold it! Tango dancers also add to the feel of the sqaure.
Another reason why you have to be in BA on a Sunday! Damn it. In Plaza Dorrego on Sundays there is a antique market which is supposed to be amazing. These markets started in the 19th century when the rich residents of San Telmo deserted the area after a break out of Yellow Fever. They didn't know the disease was mosquito borne so left all their jewels and valuables thinking they were infected. The poor then moved in and deciding they didn't want all the fancy stuff, sold it! Tango dancers also add to the feel of the sqaure.
Recoleta
This is where the affluent from San Telmo moved to during the yellow fever endemic and is still one of the fanciest areas of BA. It used to be the home to a monastery of the Recollect Fathers hence the pretty name of Recoleta. To recollect or meditate. I really like the area especially the cemetery which is the main places where tourists check out.
This is where the affluent from San Telmo moved to during the yellow fever endemic and is still one of the fanciest areas of BA. It used to be the home to a monastery of the Recollect Fathers hence the pretty name of Recoleta. To recollect or meditate. I really like the area especially the cemetery which is the main places where tourists check out.
Palermo
Home of many cool bars and the famous La Carbrera, a 'must do' steak house! I really love Palermo and Plaza Serrano which is a cute little square surrounded by bars. I went there a couple of times and I reckon if I ever was to stay in BA again I would make sure I spent a couple of nights here just to eat and drink!
Puerto Madero
The Docklands done right. Come here and you feel you're in a different city! It was supposed to be a port but, by time they finished building, the boats were too big to fit in... Being a complete failure it then became a deserted dumping ground until Argentina asked international investors to come in. Now its home to international companies (google has an office here) and is full of modern buildings. A total contrast to the european buildings in the city. It's such an expensive place to live though with a vacancy rate of about 50%. What I like about this place the most was the giant park, Ecological Reserve, dividing the buildings from the Rio de la Plata. Here we rode our bikes till we hit the river and it was incredible. You couldn't see a skyscraper or hear any cars!
Home of many cool bars and the famous La Carbrera, a 'must do' steak house! I really love Palermo and Plaza Serrano which is a cute little square surrounded by bars. I went there a couple of times and I reckon if I ever was to stay in BA again I would make sure I spent a couple of nights here just to eat and drink!
Puerto Madero
The Docklands done right. Come here and you feel you're in a different city! It was supposed to be a port but, by time they finished building, the boats were too big to fit in... Being a complete failure it then became a deserted dumping ground until Argentina asked international investors to come in. Now its home to international companies (google has an office here) and is full of modern buildings. A total contrast to the european buildings in the city. It's such an expensive place to live though with a vacancy rate of about 50%. What I like about this place the most was the giant park, Ecological Reserve, dividing the buildings from the Rio de la Plata. Here we rode our bikes till we hit the river and it was incredible. You couldn't see a skyscraper or hear any cars!