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.

Fall in Love with Paris

Where else can you see exquisite sights, get samplings of the finest art, eat world-renowned delicacies and of course, fall in love but in Paris, France? The most romantic city in the world is indeed just that but Paris has so much to offer that it’s hard not to wonder what to do first. Only in this wonderful city can you have your portrait painted, listen to unique music and sample some of the finest cheeses and wine all within one city block! Whether you’re there for romance or simply to visit a city unlike any other, Paris is sure to be perfect!

Top your list of things to do with visiting the top of the Eiffel Tower, perhaps Paris’ most famous attraction. Throughout the years lights have been added all along the structure that twinkle every twenty minutes for amazing effects and viewing the tower at night there are fountains that also light up as the magic spray shoots up. Travel to the top of the tower and enjoy the many different views of the city from the platforms – you can see over 65 kilometers in any direction! If heights aren’t really your game, the view is just as good at the bottom where you can grab a picnic basket and sit in the grassy area around the tower and marvel at its beauty.

If the Eiffel Tower is the top attraction in Paris, the Louvre is a close second. This museum is massive so it’s best to plan to spend a day or two in it and to avoid becoming overwhelmed, split one day up with a break for lunch and come back and try to take in all the rest. Tickets are good all day and include leaving privileges so it’s easy to fully enjoy this other world-renowned attraction. When you first enter the museum, make sure to check out the signs that will point you to the most popular displays – these will be forever helpful in finding very interesting pieces and won’t leave you frustrated as you try to track them down.

While you are in the fashion capital of the world it only makes sense that you would check out some of the newest trends and designs emerging from some very young and hot designers. To see some of the finest work you will need to check out the Marais, where shopping is abound and designers have their galleries right in the center of it all for you to check out! This is truly a once in a lifetime shopping experience and you can also pick up things such as contemporary house wares if fashion isn’t your thing. But do at least check out the different styles and you will be amazed at some of the hottest pieces that come out of Paris!

Go see what all the fuss is about at Notre Dame. This magnificent building is just like you see it in the movies, with gargoyles leering from the sides of the building and the steeple which reaches high into the sky. Once you are done fawning over the architecture and taking a tour inside, cross the street for the finest ice cream you will ever eat at Berthillon. This isn’t any old ice cream, though. Not only does is have specialties such as being artifice-free but there are so many flavors, there’s sure to be something for everyone! If you’re crazy about chocolate, you may want to even sample any one of their five different chocolate flavors alone!