But if the thought of shopping fills you with horror, chill out in some of Buenos Aires amazing gree

The good people of Argentina haven t had it easy. In my lifetime alone the country has seen cruel dictatorships that saw many thousands disappear, new orleans swamp tours a bitter war with Britain over the Falklands/Malvinas islands and a crippling economic crisis. Which makes it all the more remarkable that Buenos Aires (or BA as it s popularly known) is such a great place. It s got a real excitement about it, combining the best of its European and native American traditions. Known by many as the Paris of the south , it s one of those cities that you re itching to get out of your hotel room to see and experience every morning.
The streets new orleans swamp tours buzz with restaurants, shops, bars and clubs. new orleans swamp tours The aroma of coffee and the local favourite dulce de leche hangs in the air near the many cafes, including star attraction Café Tortoni . But there are also some great museums and a thriving arts scene for those who prefer new orleans swamp tours a spot of culture.
Football is a religion and sports fans will experience a game unlike most others if they can get their hands on a ticket, new orleans swamp tours but polo is big too. And if the urban environment gets too much after a day or two, there are some great parks in the city, the River Plate is close by and out west is the pampas.
Founded officially on February 2 1536 by the Spanish, Buenos Aires is best seen on a good walk or two. To get your bearings try joining one of the walks organised by BA Free Tours . Yes, they are free, and over a couple of hours you ll learn a lot about the city you d otherwise miss.
Your tour is bound to include the Plaza de Mayo , or May Square, which is one of the key focal points of the city and home to many government buildings. Look out for the Presidential Palace (the Casa Rosada or Pink House) and the balcony where local hero Evita first lady Eva Perón appeared to acclamation from the crowds with her husband Juan, the president. The square is haunted by her memory but reminders of this remarkable but controversial woman are everywhere you ll spot artworks and books in shop windows just for starters.
The square is also home to the Pirámide de Mayo , an obelisk erected in 1811 to mark the first anniversary of Argentina s revolt against its Spanish rulers. The early 20th century Teatro Colón (Colon Theatre) is another fine feature and over the years has seen performances by some of the musical greats from Argentina new orleans swamp tours and around the world. It s recently been renovated so is looking better than it has done in decades
There s a solemn reminder of Argentina s grim recent past on Thursday afternoons when the square is visited by the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo . They ve been parading here for years, remembering family members who disappeared during the so-called Dirty War of the dictatorship. These days, though, they tend to focus more on other social issues.
Having seen something of Eva Peron, head to the Museo Evita . It s based in a grand townhouse that Peron converted into a women s shelter for his wife s charity, which supported homeless people and single mothers. new orleans swamp tours As well as paintings, the museum includes clothes and jewellery she wore and artefacts that tell the story of her life and the lives of those families who used the shelter.
Locals and visitors also flock to the Cementerio de la Recoleta , with tombs and mausoleums that house the remains of many of Argentina s most famous residents good and evil. Not surprisingly, Eva Peron was buried here and her memorial new orleans swamp tours is invariably crowded with flowers and those who ve come to pay their respects.
Make your next stop the Manzana de las Luces (or the Block of the Lights), home to some of the oldest buildings in Buenos Aires as well as its oldest new orleans swamp tours church, the Iglesia de San Ignacio . It dates from the early 1700s.
A real oddity is the Palacio new orleans swamp tours de las Aguas Corrientes , the Palace of Running Water. new orleans swamp tours The outside is extraordinary, decorated in colourful Royal Doulton pottery that was shipped from Britain. You d expect it to be the palatial home of one of the city s grandees or a grand government HQ but it was in fact the home of the waterworks that supplied Buenos Aires with clean water right through until the 1970s. Built in the late 19th century, it was an engineering masterpiece and inside is a museum that tells the story of the building.
If you still have energy left, head to colourful Calle Lanín . The street is full of brightly painted homes, a trend that began when the artist Marino Santa María decorated his house. It makes you wonder why more of us don t do it back home
And then relax over a coffee on Avenida Corrientes . The bars, restaurants and shops on this lively street fizz with activity, making new orleans swamp tours it a great place to join the locals after a busy day at work and to watch the world go by.
If great art is your thing, don t miss a trip to Malba, the Museum of Latin American Art . It showcases some great modern art by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and other Argentinian and South American artists. Admission is free on Wednesdays. The city s Museo Nacional new orleans swamp tours de Bellas Artes (or Museum of Fine Arts) is more international, including works by famous European old masters, and is free to enter.
Another museum worth visiting is the Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernández Blanco . Housed new orleans swamp tours in Blanco s former home, the grand Palacio Noel, it features the works he built up over many years as well as other private collections. You ll see artworks from across South America, including those by native and colonial peoples.
There s only so much sightseeing you can do before you yearn for another experience and this girl loves her shopping. In San Telmo , the Calle Defensa has fascinating new orleans swamp tours antiques shops that you can spend hours exploring, while Palermo Viejo has plenty of fashion stores featuring the work of local designers. If you re looking for handicrafts, try the Feria de Mataderos at the the Mercado Nacional de Hacienda on Sundays.
But if the thought of shopping fills you with horror, chill out in some of Buenos Aires amazing green spaces. The Reserva Ecólogica Constanera Sur nature reserve has more than 800 acres in which to picnic, jog and walk. It makes for a great escape from the busy streets, new orleans swamp tours with lakes, trees, shrubs, pampas and wildlife.
Then there s the Bosques de Palermo , another vast open space full of trees, lakes and walks, and the Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays . The latter is the city s beautiful botanic garden with a large range of plants as well as themed gardens in Japanese and French styles.
new orleans swamp tours Come evening and thoughts turn to food . And what could be more Argentinean than steak? Big, charcoal-grilled and bloody, it s an absolute treat (unless you re vegetarian). It s so good that you ll struggle to eat anything else.
That should set you up nicely for the tango , the music that is the soundtrack to Buenos Aires. There are numerous places new orleans swamp tours to experience it in the city cheap and pricey but I recommend Tango Rojo at Martha Salotti 445 for great music and a truly exhilarating new orleans swamp tours show.