Buenos Aires, Argentina is the capital city and typically known for its artist metropolitan flavor. Tango Dancing the night away, sipping on coffee at one of the boutique cafes, or taking in art at one of the many museums, culture is in the air in Buenos Aires.
If you would rather listen to our detailed podcast episode on this subject, check out
Podcast 31: Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, and Buenos Aires (Brazil & Argentina).
A good day trip is to visit El Tigre. You can shop, eat and take a nice boat ride to relax on the Rio de la Plata. El Tigre is where the Panama and Uruguay Rivers flow into the Rio de la Plata, an estuary. There are several islands along the delta that are inhabited.
The fascinating thing about the islands is that there are no roads on the islands. People who live on the islands must go to and from their homes by boat. There are floating supermarkets that come to these homes that provide the people their necessary food/ items.
We had an amazing day, where a gentleman by the name of Tomas, took us on a private boat tour of El Tigre. We cruised the Rio de la Plata for hours just talking and soaking up the sun and had a lunch right out on the boat in the middle of the water. His family actually owned property on El Tigre so we were able to hear stories of how the homes on El Tigre have evolved and how the people of El Tigre obtained their groceries and toiletries and simple things like ice cream or a pizza.
Travel Tip: You don’t need all that stuff when you travel! Stop it. Go with the bare essentials and your trip will be much better. Focus more on the experiences you are going to have than the clothes you are going to wear. Less is more. No one will judge you for wearing the same outfit twice, or even three times.
Try to get your packing down to a single backpack or carry-on then you won’t have to risk your luggage being lost or stolen and you won’t have to wait on the long lines at baggage claim. We get all of our goods into these 46-Liter Backpacks that fit into carry-on overhead around the world. Find this and other tips on our Travel Tools page.
San Telmo Market
Even if you are not wanting to buy anything, there is always something interesting to see at the colorful, Sunday street fair near Plaza Dorrego. The fair itself has a wide variety of merchandise to choose from. There are truly unique and authentic antiques around Plaza Dorrego.
The antiques consist of cookware, jewelry, clothing, figurines, knives, and even magazines and newspapers. In contrast, several blocks down, on Calle Defense, offerings include original art, handmade clothing and jewelry, handmade games, homemade food, mate cups, housewares, handmade statues, and anything else your heart desires.
The San Telmo Market is not only about the tangible but about the amazing street food you can find dispersed throughout the crowds. There are street vendors selling espresso with alfajores, fresh orange juice, and cheese or meat empanadas. There are also a variety of quaint restaurants, cafes, and bars to choose from. In addition to the trinkets and food, there is also tango dancing and many street performers.
La Recoleta (Cemetery)
Taking a tour through a cemetery while you are traveling may seem like a morbid or creepy thing to do, but this cemetery located in the upscale Recoleta area is a must- see for those visiting Buenos Aires as it is the beautiful, final resting place for various political leaders, war heroes, philanthropists, government officials, and wealthy families.
Among the most famous are Raul Alfonsin, former president of Argentina, and Eva Peron, former first lady of Argentina. There are over 6,000 mausoleums and vaults and over 90 have been declared National Historical Monuments and are protected by the state. The cemetery itself feels as if it is a living, breathing thing.
There are stained glass windows projecting tiny flecks of color onto the ground when the sunlight hits the glass at the right angle. There are live flowers everywhere, brought in by family, friends, and visitors. The vaults made of marble and granite are cleaned by the workers with a broom and soap and water thus making the stone shine bright and glisten in the sunlight.
When the wind blows you can hear the leaves on the trees rustling in the wind. There are birds walking throughout the cemetery on the ground and flying above it and perching on the monuments within it. Next door one can hear the bells from the church, Iglesia de Nuestra Senora del Pilar. The cemetery feels alive. It is peaceful and beautiful.
Traveled August 2015
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