Buenos Aires...

...has been called the Paris of South America, but it is actually more like the perfect combination between Rome, Madrid, and Paris.
      Rome because many of the residents are of Italian origin, which is evident in the habits, ways of speaking and the food.
      Madrid, because the city was founded by the Spanish, it speaks the Spanish language, and still has some Spanish colonial architecture.
      And Paris, because the predominant architecture is French and the city is laid out with wide boulevards and large green parks.

What to see in Buenos Aires in few days

Downtown

West Downtown

North

South

The Green BA

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Plaza de Mayo The name of this plaza commemorates May 25, 1810, the day people began a revolution to make this land independent of Spain (Argentina gained independence July 9th, 1816). The office of the President faces one side of the plaza; also the Cathedral and the Cabildo and historic building and museum. The Plaza has always been the site of political movements. In recent years, Porteños still seeking retribution for past and ongoing injustices committed during the "dirty war" march here every Thursday at 3:30pm. They are called the "Madres de la Plaza" (Mothers of Plaza de Mayo) and they march every Thursday around the chalked outlines of relatives who disappeared as a result of political violence. Casa Rosada In a huge building on the eastern side of the plaza, you will find the offices of the president of Argentina. Named for its pink color, this building was once a fort in colonial days, (protecting the city from sea invasion via the Rio de la Plata). From the balcony of the Casa Rosada, Eva Peron delivered her speeches to the Argentine masses. La Catedral It is located on the site of the second church built in Buenos Aires (1593). This greek facaded structure contains the tomb of General Jose de San Martin, who with the help of Simon Bolivar, led the South American wars of independence from Spain in the 19th century. The structure has gone through many renovations. Lavalle and Florida steets These two intersecting pedestrian streets form a sort of a huge open air mall. Calle Florida contains mostly upscale clothing stores, galleries, shoe stores, CD stores, and kiosks for magazines and newspapers. Stop by the beautiful Galerias Pacifico, located in what was the old train depot. It's BA's newest upscale place to shop and also to admire art and architecture. Most shops are open from 9 am to 9 pm. Calle Lavalle contains most of Buenos Aires cinemas, where you can see the current movies playing in the Capital. The cinemas are interspersed with restaurants and cafes; most are open past midnight as is typical in this city. Plaza San Martín This verdant and beautiful plaza, named after General Jose de San Martin, is about a square block in size. Plaza San Martín is located at one end of Calle Florida, where it intersects with Calle Santa Fe, in one of the cities most fashionable neighborhoods.

Avenida Nueve de Julio According to the locals, called Porteños, these 26 blocks make up the world's largest avenue. The "9 de Julio" measures over 400 feet across, and accommodates huge billboards that loom over skyscrapers and the pink-blossoming palo borracho "drunken trees." Kiosks, cafes, and sandwich shops line the street, and two huge fountains illuminate the sky at night. Pre-1930, many old colonial homes occupied the thick green strip that forms the median of 9 de Julio, but in 1936 a military government destroyed these structures in the name of industry and progress. One period mansion still standing here now contains the French Embassy. Teatro Colón Located at Tucuman St. corner with Avenida 9 de Julio, the Colon was one of the world's major opera houses for about 80 years and today is the hub for the city's classical music life. It houses the symphony orchestra, the opera company, and hosts many touring concerts and international artists. You can tour the theater, including the underground containing rehearsal halls, tailor and carpentry shops, from 10am to 6pm weekdays. The concert season runs from March through November. The Congress Congress building is the symbol of a time where progress and urbanism were a priority in the government's mind (1870). Congress outstands as a result of its purely European architecture. The Two Congress Square (Plaza de los Dos Congresos) is the vestibule to the Nation's majestic legislative palace.

Barrio Recoleta The city's chicest neighborhood, the Recoleta is like the "Beverly Hills" of Buenos Aires. The Barrio Recoleta houses among other things the famous Recoleta cemetery, the beautiful Plaza Vicente Lopez, and the grassy Plaza Francia. Just above the Plaza Francia you will find a complex called the BA Design Center which houses some interesting galleries, as well as many good restuarants and cafés (Hard Rock caffe included). On Saturday/Sundays this is the place to go. There are many artists performing mini-concerts on the grass in front and onto the Recoleta Cultural Center, and the whole area is lined with stands selling crafts from artisans that come in from the outer provinces. The best way to enter the scene is where Calle Junin meets the Recoleta cemetery. Recoleta Cemetery It may seem strange to include a cemetery as a sightseeing attraction, but this this final resting place offers a unique insight into Argentine culture. Many of the country's most famous deceased are entombed here in Moorish, Arabian, Greco-Roman and traditional Catholic crypts. All come from Buenos Aires' most prominent families, and entombed among them is Eva Peron whose inscription reads, "Volvere y seré millones" (I will return and be millions). Open daily 8am-6pm. 1822 Calle Junin. La Recoleta. Museo de Bellas Artes Bellas Artes is Argentina's finest art gallery, and has a good collection of modern Argentine painters, wood sculptured artifacts from the provinces, and Impressionist and Post-impressionist paintings such as Monet, Degas, and Chagal. The museum is located across the street from the Plaza Francia on Avenida Libertador, In front of Recoleta cultural center. Palermo Viejo, Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood The new MUST area for young (and no so young) people. Fridays/saturdays nights yuo will find and incredible number of bars & restaurants, some of them with live shows (rock, jazz, folk groups)

Barrio San Telmo Lined with cobblestone streets, San Telmo is the oldest area of the city. During the turn of the century residents fled from this barrio after outbreaks of yellow fever and malaria. Today it is a thriving neighborhood. By day San Telmo is home to antique shops, cafés and the Sunday flea market and outdoor Tango show (Calles Humberto and Defensa). By night San Telmo is the place for cabarets, nightclubs, and Tango bars. Barrio La Boca La Boca is one of the older barrios of Buenos Aires, and was the original Port area of the city. Many of the residents can trace their ancestry to the town of Genova, Italy. La Boca is where you will find many sleazy bars and nightclubs, and homes painted in bright colors with leftover boat paint. If there is a dangerous area to be at night in Buenos Aires, this is it, so take a taxi or tour bus, but don't let that scare you.

Parques de Palermo Over 1000 acres of park, Palermo Park includes areas to golf, play tennis, play polo, picnic, or take long walks. More recently Palermo Park is the hot place to Rollerblade, and the streets around the park are closed to traffic on Sundays. Parque Zoológico The Buenos Aires Zoo is more than a century old, and contains gardens and architecture inspired by the countries in which its animals come from. It is open from 9:30am to 6:30pm every day except Monday. Jardín Botánico Containing flowers from around the world, the Botanical Gardens are a great place to relax, read, walk, and just get away from the noise and traffic of Buenos Aires. They are open from 8am to 6pm, and located at the 3900 block of Avenida Santa Fe, besdides the Zoo.