We are not close Vatican watchers, but what we have seen in the news and read about the new Pope, so far, truly charmed us. When we learned that he was from Buenos Aires, we were instantly reminded of our memorable visit to his home city in 2008. Memories came flooding back – lovely people, impressive architectures, sophisticated café and dining culture, colorful neighborhoods, people dancing tango everywhere, ghost of Evita, the fancy cemetery, and for Keith, the best steak he ever had. In honor of the new Pope, we would like to share our fond memories of his beautiful city.
Architectures and Landmarks
The architectures and landmarks of Buenos Aires left great impressions in our minds. They were magnificent, dramatic and nostalgic.
Plaza de Mayo is the heart of the modern and historic city. It has been the site of important celebrations and historic protests. We were in awe of the grand landmarks and architectures that surrounded it.
Facing the plaza is Metropolitan Cathedral, the city’s main Catholic church and where Pope Francis presided as a cardinal of Buenos Aires. We found it very unique as it has no towers and high domes that are typical features of a cathedral.
On the eastern end of Plaza de Mayo is the stately Casa Rosada, the Presidential Palace. The balcony on the right was where Evita delivered her famous speech.
On the western edge of Plaza de Mayo is the Cabildo, a former government house and now a museum. Next to it is the city hall called May Triangle. What a stunning architectural cocktail!
The entrance to a Subte, the subway system of Buenos Aires and the oldest in Latin America. We enjoyed hopping around the city in both its modern trains as well as its charming vintage wooden trains. (We just learned that the vintage trains were retired as of March 2013).
The splendid facade of Basilica Nuestra Senora del Pilar, the second oldest church in Argentina.
Walking along Avenida Alvear, the city’s swankiest street, felt like being in Paris.
Avenida 9 Julio de Mayo is a pride of Buenos Aires. It is the widest avenue in the world consisting of 16 lanes. The obelisk in the rotunda of the avenue is a prominent city landmark.
La Recoleto Cemetery
We were amazed by La Recoleta Cemetery, a resting place for the city’s elite and one of the most visited sites in Buenos Aires. Its elaborate and lavish mausoleums make it more like a fancy village than a graveyard.
We got chills when we finally found the most visited tomb in La Recoleta – the resting place of Evita.
Colorful Barrios (“Neigborhoods”)
SAN TELMO
San Telmo is the city’s oldest barrio. It’s impossible not to be charmed by its colorful alleyway, cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, lively plaza and bohemian atmosphere.
San Telmo’s cobbled streets are lined with antique shops as well as art galleries.
A flea market surrounds Plaza Dorrego, the heart of San Telmo.
A free tango performance was a delighful treat at Plaza Dorrego.
While we were soaking in the scenes at the plaza, some pigeons landed on our table and helped themselves with the snacks!
One of the colorful restaurants that surround Plaza Dorrego.
LA BOCA
This kaleidoscope garage door in one of the streets of La Boca exemplifies the vibrancy of the barrio. La Boca is a port town where immigrants from Europe settled in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Today, it still retains some of its European flavors.
La Boca is famed as a home of La Bombonera, the stadium for Boca Juniors, Argentina’s most famous soccer team.
The soul of La Boca is Caminito – a pedestrian alley of colorful houses, bar & cafes, and artsy enclave.
Brightly painted houses of Caminito.
It is said that the Italian immigrants who settled in this area were mostly port workers and it was their tradition to paint their houses with leftover paints from the shipyard.
Caminito
Caminito
Delightful bars and cafe of Caminito.
Tango dancing on the sidewalks of Caminito.
PALERMO VIEJO
It’s hard to imagine that Palermo Viejo was once a decaying neighborhood of rundown houses and warehouses. It has transformed into the trendiest destination in Buenos Aires. Its streets are lined with designer boutiques, chic bars and restaurants, boutiques hotels, and art galleries.
Great Eats and Drinks
The prominent café culture of Buenos Aires reminded us of Paris. Lovely cafes, from historic to chic, lined up almost every street.
The grand dame of all cafes in Buenos Aires is Café Tortoni. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest & most historic café in Buenos. Local & world renowned figures (from Einstein to Hillary Clinton) were said to have visited this café.
We loved the sight and smell of the delicious bakeries and tasting Argentinian vinos at the lovely wine bars.
We also enjoyed the city’s wide array of delectable dining options. It’s a haven for foodies.
Our most memorable dining experience was at Cabanas Las Lilas – considered the best parilla (steakhouse) in Buenos Aires. The restaurant raise its own cows and they’re organic. Keith said he could tell the difference at first bite and proclaimed it the best steak he ever had. For a non-steak eater like me, there’s a vast option on the menu.
Tango Fever
We cannot forget our taxi driver who refused to take us to the tango venue where we had a reservation. He said it wasn’t that good, too big and it was where the bus loads of tourists go.
He insisted in dropping us off at his recommended venue, La Ventana. We were thankful that he had our best interest at heart. We absolutely enjoyed the intimate setting at La Ventana and its outstanding tango dancing and music.
Unlike the stiff regular tango, Argentine tango is very fluid and very sultry. Watching it invokes passion and a desire to make you want to learn its intricate steps.
It was no surprise that when we got back at our hotel, Keith displayed severe symptoms of tango fever!
We hope you enjoyed our memories of Buenos Aires. What made it more memorable for us is the fact that it was our last trip together as unmarried couple – before we got hitched in the paradise of Santorini.
This link is part of Travel Photo Thursday. Check out it our for more travel links.
I can now see why many people comment that Beunos Aires reminds them of Paris. Your wonderful black and white photos could have easily have been taken there. Beunos Aires is a city I have not been to but the temptation has just increased. With fun barrios to wander through, great food and the tango, how can it miss!
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..Sri Lanka’s Lion Rock
Hi Jenny, there were times that we forgot that we were actually in South America and not Europe. It’s a very pleasant city and with its great culture and food we’re pretty sure you will love it there.
So many beautiful photographs. I do want to see B.A. The photos remind me also of Spain and Portugal, two countries that I love. I think I will have to push it toward the top of my wish list. Maybe incorporate in a RTW trip form Aus.
Thanks for the inspiration. I love that free tango photograph so much.
budget jan recently posted..Budget Travel Interview with Krista Bjorn from Rambling Tart
Hi Jan,
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the photos. Buenos Aires with its so many beautiful churches definiitey invokes memories of Iberia. We hope you can make it there soon.
Great memories with such wonderful photos. Visiting Buenos Aires is my dream and I’m planning to make it come true next year :-). Love the black and white photography, stunning! I am planning to take some tango classes when traveling in BA
Agness recently posted..Exploring Wroclaw, Poland for Less than $25 per Day
Hi Agness, great to hear you’re planning to visit BA! I’m pretty sure you will love it there. Taking tango classes is one great thing to do in BA. I wanted to take tango classes myself but Keith didn’t want to:(
Love these memories and photos, Marisol! You really showcased the best of Buenos Aires. I would love to visit it someday soon. I’ve been fascinated with its culture and food for a long time. La Recoleta Cemetery is definitely a worthy stop and gotta admire all the color at Caminito. It is so wonderful to see all the people doing the tango everywhere. I’d have tango fever after all that too
Mary {The World Is A Book} recently posted..The Otherworldly Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks in New Mexico
Hi Mary, glad you enjoyed them. It’s cullture and food are fascinating indeed. It’s one South American city that is great to visit with the kids. I’m sure my adopted siblings will be fascinated with Recoleta cemetery and all the colorful places:)
What a fabulous series of photos – love the mix of B and W with color shots. And you’ve given a real feel for the vibrancy and grandeur of the city. Enjoyed this post a lot!
Jackie Smith recently posted..The Gift of Greece
Hello Jackie, thank you. We’re very glad you enjoyed it.
Hey guys, thanks for sharing your beautiful memories and photographs of BA. I enjoyed it a lot. It’s one city I’d like to visit someday and see every places in your photos and eat that steak that Keith ate!
Our pleasure, Kira. Ah that steak –Keith still talks about it:)
Haha…no wonder Keith got Tango fever when there are Tango dancers at every corner. Great photo series, Marisol. Seems like La Boca is a great place to see in Buenos Aires for its vibrancy.
Salika Jay recently posted..Dining And Nightlife of Cancun Explored
Hi Salika, yes it’s not hard to get afflicted with tango fever in BA:) Glad you enjoyed the photos. La Boca is definitely a delightful place to visit.
Beautiful, beautiful. I’ve always heard wonderful things about BA, no wonder it’s called the Paris of Latin America.
InsideJourneys recently posted..The Jamaican Pineapple
Hi Marcia, thanks! It really felt more like Europe, at times we forgot that we were actually in South America.
Wow, I’m sold on Buenos Aires now! Love the architecture, wide boulevard and the colors but oh that cemetery looks amazing. I can see why you have such fond memeories
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..The Grandeur, the Fall and Rebirth in Potsdam
Hi Debbie, We were pretty sure you would love Buenos Aires. It has a very European atmosphere.
I iI can feel the vibrance and en energy. I want to go there now!
Nancie recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday — April 4th, 2013 — Korea Views That Wow Travelers
Hi Nancie,
Yes, it has an energy that draw you in. We hope you get to visit it sometime soon.
You’ve done a superb job capturing BA. Hard to pick a favourite. Love the B&W but the colours are so vibrant – and daring by Canadian standards. Keith looks like he’d have all the moves down in no time. Me – I think I’d be embarrassed to try with my two left feet.
Leigh recently posted..A Stop at The Columbia Icefield on the Icefields Parkway
Thanks Leigh! Ha! Ha! The colours may be daring by Canadian standards but its as vibrant as Canadian personalities:) You have to try the tango Leigh – your left feet may finally discover the right!
Beautiful shots! They brought back great memories of my own trip to Buenos Aires a couple years ago.
Michael Figueiredo recently posted..Photo Essay: Lighthouses of the World
Thanks Michael!
I found your blog through your comment on Jan’s interview of me this week. Buenos Aires sounds like an INCREDIBLE place.
I’ve never been there but you’ve rekindled my desire to travel there one day. 
Hi Krista, BA is incredible indeed and hope you get there someday. Thanks for dropping. It was nice to find your lovely blog through Jan.
Loved all of your beautiful photographs! I have wanted to visit Buenos Aires for such a long time and even more so now that I have seen your photos!
Lisa recently posted..Viva Las Vegas (With Kids)
Hi Lisa, thanks! Buenos Aires is a lovely city to visit with kids. We’re pretty sure you family will have a grand, colorful time.
Great photos! My parents just returned from B.A., visiting right after the pope was named. I love the feel of your black and white photos and also the liveliness of the color ones. Thank goodness for taxi drivers!
Michele | Malaysian Meanders recently posted..Getting Lay’s in Thailand
Thanks Michelle! I hope your parents loved it there as much as we did. Glad you enjoyed the photos. Yes, you gotta love the taxi drivers in BA!
This is a beautiful photo essay and it’s done its job – It’s made me want to go to Buenos Aires. That’s why I really think travel blogs are amazing – unlike guidebooks they can pack lots of photos and give you a really good impression of a place. well done.
Denise recently posted..Love with a Change of Drowning – Why I still love this book
Hi Denise, thanks for your kind words. That’s basically why we created this blog. We feel that travel is very visual. When we research for a trip we always wanted a visual guide but sometimes its frustrating that we cannot find enough. We’re very pleased that this photoessay has done its job for you:)
I am impressed with Tango as well as the architecture of this city. Your clicks are very impressive and the last one in which Keith tried Tango is pretty cool. I enjoyed your post about BA too.
Hi Peter, thanks. Glad you enjoyed the post.
I’ve never been to BA, but have heard so many good things about it. We’ve also heard it called more European than S. American – I can totally see why from your lovely pics.
jill recently posted..Looking Forward: The Next 6 Months
Hi Jill, it definitely has more European feel. We sometime forgot that we were actually in South America.
I love the pictures of the street tango, something you might see anywhere else in the world.
Sensibletraveler recently posted..Photo of the Week: Loch Ard Gorge
Street tango in BA is something really unique. Glad you enjoyed the photos.
Ah Tango in the street! love it! Thank you for taking us on this amazing trip. Colour, vibrance, movement, history, people – wonderful!
And did I say tango in the street! love it! Wish I was there.
Thanks for stopping by my blog a week or so ago – I have been absent and am catching up!
Life Images by Jill recently posted..On the waterfront, Bunbury, Western Australia
What wonderful photos! I have no doubt that I will fall in love with Buenos Aires when I finally get there. The architecture, food, wine, people & tango — all sounds good to me.
Hi Cathy, It’s hard not to fall for BA. I hope you can visit it soon.
What a fabulous snapshot of BA! It’s been on my list for a while now, I love the colors and the vibrant life of the locals. I mean, just look at the tango!
Thanks so much for sharing, and I look forward to following your travel adventures!:-)
Jess @UsedYorkCity recently posted..New Yorker Moments: Le Petit Proposal In The Big Apple
Hi Jess, thanks! We have no doubt that you will enjoy the city.
Incredible photos! I was just talking about Buenos Aires the other day and how I really want to visit this year — and this post has made my decision a whole lot easier.
I had no idea the buildings were so colourful!
Laurie recently posted..Porto Weekend Breaks: The Alentejo coast
Hi Laurie, thanks. Glad we made your decision easier:)
I loved BA, but then who doesn’t! Didn’t have time for La Boca though, which I can see is a big shame.
Hi Arianwen,
BA is indeed beautiful. Glad you loved it as well. Hope you get to see La Boca on your next visit:)
What a amazing snapshot regarding BA! It’s also been about our checklist for a short time today, I enjoy the actual colors plus the radiant living on the local people. I mean, just think about the tango!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it,
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Across the capital city of Buenos Aires are hundreds of grassroots memorials to the victims, documenting the scope of the state’s reign of terror.