Buenos Aires - the Paris of S.America

When most people think about travelling to a place filled with the arts and great shopping, they often first think of travelling to Paris. However, if you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten path and a truly unique experience, you may want to consider heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is here that you can find some fantastic dance and opera performances and absorb some of the finest art in the world. Buenos Aires is a popular tourist destination for many people year after year but because it’s not usually the first location to jump into people’s minds, you can enjoy all the sights without as many crowds and noise as some of the more mainstream locations around the world.

For your first taste of Buenos Aires culture, Teatro Colon should be your first stop. This theater hosts mainly operas but they also hold symphony concerts in the building as well. Even if you’re not much for classical music, the building is amazing so it’s worthwhile to take a tour of it while you are in town. Reserve in advance for a guided tour and on the tour you will not only see the amazing architecture of the structure but you will also be given the opportunity to see the different areas backstage including wardrobe and makeup. Ask which times are the best to go as it’s most interesting when designers and performers are around so you can see them in action!

Tango dancing is huge in Buenos Aires and whether you want to cha-cha-cha yourself or simply watch others dance in their beautiful costumes, you can do it at Complejo Tango. The theater holds tango lessons, which are a lot of fun, especially for couples or you can simply enjoy a meal and watch the performers a few feet away glide across the stage. The instructors are friendly and classes are available for groups, individuals or couples. If you’re more interested in looking at art instead of being a part of it, you can visit Musea Nacional de Bellas Artes. This museum is toted as one of the best in the world and here you can find big name artists as well as works from the lesser known. Although the pieces are truly astounding, the best thing about this museum might be that it’s free to enter!

And once you’ve had your fill of the arts and want to spend some time shopping in some of Argentina’s finest areas, Buenos Aires is the place to do it! Start your day at Plaza Dorrego, the city’s main center. Here not only will you find all sorts of funky little treasures but there are also many street performers that will provide the perfect atmosphere for a day of shopping! Calle Florida is another wonderful shopping experience in the city. Not only is there a ton of fascinating architecture to check out while you’re in the area but you can also walk along the mile-long stretch of strip mall to find anything that you could need. And for a more local-feel shopping experience, you will want to stop by San Telmo Antique Market. Here there are also street performers and buskers that will tickle your senses while you barter with the local vendors selling their unique goods.

Rio De Janeiro - much more than carnival and beaches

Nestled in Brazil, South America’s largest country, is Rio de Janeiro, one of the top tourist spots every year. When considering travelling to Rio de Janeiro, most people often think of the vast rain forests and the carnivals and while these are both worthwhile reasons to visit this city that is rich in culture, art, and history, there are many more sites to see when visiting this city that more than six million people call home.

The Copacabana Beach is one of the main attractions as it combines one of the most popular beaches in the world with one of the most popular festivals in the world. The beach itself is an area filled with miles of white sand and calm waters and every New Year’s Eve sees the start of a wonderful celebration that can only be done Rio de Janeiro style! The New Year’s Celebration holds amazing firework displays, and white is the common color as it symbolizes good luck. Most of the two million people that come are dressed in white and white flowers are also given to Yemenja, the Goddess of the Sea. Carnival in Rio is another festival that can’t be missed. At this carnival there are some of the most colorful and vibrant costumes that can’t be found anywhere else as well as some spectacular entertainment such as music and everyone dancing right in the streets!

There are also many sights that this wonderful city has to offer and one that should never be missed is the Christ the Redeemer statue that stands atop Corcovado has just been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and it’s no wonder why. The statue has been standing since the middle of the 1850s and its area is impressive, standing tall at 130 feet and weighing approximately 700 tons. Mount Corcovado is located within the Tijuca Forest National Park and standing on top of the mountain is a sight in itself as you can view almost the entire city in all its astounding glory! The statue was constructed when Brazil wanted to celebrate one hundred years as an independent country.

The hill of Sugar Loaf is another site that must be seen in one’s lifetime and although it is a very large hill, it’s easy to get atop of as there are two cable cars that take passengers to the top every half hour. From the top of Sugar Loaf you can see Fort Santa Cruz da Barra, another must-see when staying in the city. The fort was constructed to provide security to the entrance of Guanabara Bay, another site you can view from the top of Sugar Loaf. The Fort has architecture that is hard to find anywhere in today’s modern world and makes for a truly unique experience!

And if you’re looking for a day filled with just a little bit of everything, you will surely want to stop at Banco do Brasil Cultural Center. It is here that you can see the library that is fully computerized, an auditorium that holds different shows, two theaters also holding a variety of shows, multiple displays of all kinds in the four different exhibition halls, and a tea room. There is something for everyone in Rio de Janeiro. It’s a city of contrasts and many fun things to do, no matter what you fancy!