Barrios of Buenos Aires

I think the best way to see a city, if you have the time, is by walking. And since we do, we have taken our time and visited many of the beautiful barrios in Buenos Aires. The elegance and sophistication of the architecture of the city is undeniable. On many streets, there is a blending of modern design and old world elegance.

Surrounding the Plaza de Mayo (the site for most political and social demonstrations) is the Casa Rosada (pink government house) and the Cathedral, the city's most important church and where their national hero, General Jose San Martin's remains are kept. From the plaza, you can see the Obelisk, a 67m structure that dominates the landscape of the neighbourhood. Also worth mentioning is the Teatro Colon, known as one of the world's best opera houses and also really beautifully designed.

The barrio of Recoleta is the centre of arts and culture. We went to the National Museum of Fine Arts which had a diverse collection of art, and was free, which is always impressive. The Sculpture of the Rose, which is a gigantic metal rose is beautiful but what makes it really impressive is that it is mobile. It opens during the day and closes at night. Recoleta also has a cemetery, where the countries' finest are buried. The photos we took speak for themselves about the grandeur of the mausoleums there. When you're there you can buy a guide map of the cemetery or just look around for the crowds of people to find where the remains of the most famous people are kept. We had to visit Eva Peron's family mausoleum and snap a photo!

San Telmo fair is a highlight in Buenos Aires for us. On Sunday's this block is brimming with locals and tourists. On the sidewalks are the artists and musicians, drumming away, drinking mate and working on their art. The fair is the place to be if you are looking for antiques and local art. But you can find just about everything from clothing to jewelry, mate gourds to knives and even fine china. It's really a nice place to spend a few hours, munching on street food, and snapping some nice photos. I'd love to come back here to do some shopping on a shorter vacation where I won't have to carry what I buy for another 8 months!