It's all but impossible to resist thinking of Evita (the person and the musical) when visiting Buenos Aires because Evita the person seems to be mentioned everywhere. Recently she became even larger than life with a new metal sculpture of her on the side of Argentine Social Development and Health Ministry building. I know you're not surprised, after all she really is part of the Argentinian Brand and Buenos Aires is a very art forward city. That is really clear when you see all the wonderful public art both old and new. Street Art in Buenos Aires seems to have a status like no other city in the world. I quickly became addicted to it and like most addicts I wanted more. So I toured around with a guide to see and learn all about it. The artists are extremely talented and surprisingly the demand by building owners looking for something to make their building unique is growing. Of course there is a bit of annoying tagging along the way but for the most part the Street Art is well regarded and street art and tagging are able to co-exist.
Like most large cities, the culinary skills in Buenos Aires are strong and chefs are interested in showcasing their culinary skills. Everyone talks about the beef in Argentina and while it is great I was enthralled by the growing trend of chefs who are moving beyond beef. Of course it doesn't hurt that there are some fantastic wines coming out of Argentina. Don't worry, you'll be popping into a wine tasting at least once or twice. But for those of you who know me it was the gelato/ice cream that really captured my attention. Arkakao was by far my favorite and officially reignited my love of dulce de leche.
Don't worry there are plenty of shops to explore to work off those calories. Of course many of the shops are selling special steak knives, polo gear, and other items associated with BA but the true gems offer something special. Maybe you'll be smart and pick up some tango shoes that allow you to dance all night? A friend who dances at melongas around the globe requested that I stop in to her favorite shoe shop to pick up some shoes for her. Never one to pass an opportunity to experience a new place I made my way to Comme il Faut. A few wise non-dancing shoppers have been known to snap them up due to their unique style and comfort. Of course how to decide to narrow it down to your favorite five or ten might be the biggest challenge fortunately the price is incredible so just take them all. Many people will tell you all about the street markets of San Telmo as the thing to do on a Sunday. What you need to know is that the best part of the market is the crowd. So after a brief walk, park it at one of the little cafes and watch the crowd go by and be entertained by the occasional dance. Who knows you may just decide to join in the dancing yourself. No matter when you go or what happens you'll want to go back. But will you be ready for Polo season?
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