December 18: Tango In Town

Captivated by colorful pictures of little neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, I arranged for a three-hour tour of the city, taking me to historic buildings, working class neighborhoods, cobblestone streets, and even a live tango demonstration.

After picking me up at my hotel, our small group ventured past the tall white stone Obelisk on Avenida 9 de Julio, built in 1936 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires, to the Plaza de Mayo.

This civic and colonial square featured the iconic pink-hued Casa Rosada, the seat of the Argentine Presidency, with a lush green lawn and multiple water fountains in front. Equally striking across the street was the El Cabildo de Buenos Aires, an old colonial town council building sporting arched doorways and a silver turret shining in the sun.

From there our bus traveled through the cobblestone streets of San Telmo, brimming with restaurants, cafes, and markets, and continued to the neighborhood of Caminito, a tourist highlight featuring tango dancers, artists, and souvenirs in brightly colored buildings reminiscent of the ones local laborers painted with the cans of left over ship’s paint. I couldn’t resist an offer to pose with a dancer in one of the brightly colored doorways.

Our bus then headed to the norther suburb of Recoleta, a more affluent area of the city featuring grand architecture, museums, large green areas, and a more European look.

Along the way I so much enjoyed getting to know others with me on the bus, sharing a little about our stories, taking pictures of each other, and talking about our future adventures. What a great day in the city!