EL CAMINITO IN LA BOCA
Having gotten a dose of rural Mataderos life on the first day, today’s dedicated to exploring the major historical districts- basically, setting the base before spending the rest of the week reaping the modern ways of wining, dining, and shopping in BA. Now old pals, Madi from BA Cultural Concierge met us at our hotel at Palermo Place and introduced us to the extensive bus system in Buenos Aires (there’s like 200 different buses). We started with the 152 bus on Sante Fe and Carranza and made our way to La Boca, home to the colourful El Caminto, then the 29 bus to San Telmo, walked all the way up Defensa to Plaza de Mayo (pronounced Ma-sho), and subte (subway) to the El Congreso building. If you start at 11:30am, expect to wrap around 5:30/6pm.
Here's Day 2 in Buenos Aires in pictures:
CUTE OVERLOAD: BREAKFAST AT PANI
READY TO FEAST
THE TOPPINGS TRIFECTA: DULCE DE LECHE, WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE, AND PASSION FRUIT JAM
DULCE DE LECHE SMOTHERED ON A SCONE? YES PLEASE.
WALKING THROUGH LA BOCA (AN ITALIAN BARRIO WHERE TANGO IN B.A. WAS BORN)
THE OLD PORT
MADE IT TO EL CAMINITO
MUSEO DE BELLAS ARTES DEDICATED TO THE WORK OF BENITO QUINQUELA MARTIN
EL CAMINITO'S COLORFUL HOUSES ATTRACT HUNDREDS OF TOURISTS AND I CAN SEE WHY
CAMINITO'S CONCENTRATED COLORS ARE ACHIEVED WITH THICK BOAT PAINT
VINTAGE APARTMENT ABOVE EL PARAISO
CATS ON A TIN ROOF
OVERLOOKING EL PARAISO
PROA MUSEUM (MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE UPSTAIRS CAFE)
UNINTENTIONAL ART INSTALLATION? CUTE OLD MAN WATCHING TV INSIDE A LIFE-SIZED DOLLHOUSE.
LA PERLA BAR
INSIDE LA PERLA
WELCOME TO SAN TELMO
BLACK CAT GRAFFITI IN SAN TELMO
SAN TELMO'S CONVERGENCE OF FRENCH AND ITALIAN ARCHITECTURAL INFLUENCES
MERCADO DE SAN TELMO
JUAN ANTONIO BUSCHIAZZO, THE ARCHITECT BEHIND MERCADO DE SAN TELMO
DOLLS, DOLLS, DOLLS
VERDULERIA FRUTERIA
VEGGIE RELIEF AT HIERBABUENA
MUSHROOM RISOTTO
WARM SPINACH SALAD WITH RED PEPPERS, EGGPLANT, SPROUTS
FARMACIA DE LA ESTRELLA OPEN SINCE 1894
BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL FRESCOES ON THE CEILING INSIDE LA FARMACIA
PASAJE DE LA DEFENSA SIGN SHOWING THE GRIT OF BUENOS AIRES
AKA CASA CHORIZO (SAUSAGE HOUSE) BECAUSE OF ITS NARROWNESS
VINTAGE SHOP ON DEFENSA, EL BUEN ORDEN
THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF BUENOS AIRES, PLAZA DE MAYO
CASA ROSADA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE. EVA PERON REGALED THOUSANDS FROM THIS BALCONY.
HEAD SCARVES ON THE GROUND REPRESENT THE MADRES DE PLAZA DE MAYO
OLD SCHOOL WOODEN SUBWAY CARS MODERNIZED BY GRAFFITI OF TODAY
ALL ORIGINAL WOOD INTERIOR
PUT A BIRD ON IT... FLY-BY PHOTOBOMB AT AVENIDA 9 DE JULIO.
FOR THE LOVE OF STEAK. THE LINE-UP AT PARRILLA (PRONOUNCED PAR-EE-SHA) LA CABRERA.
MEAT LOVERS REJOICE, EVEN THE PLATES ARE COW-SHAPED.
GRILLED PROVELTA CHEESE WITH SUNDRIED TOMATOES
RIB EYE STEAK AND SHORT-RIBS (IN THE BKGD)
TOO... FULL... TO HOLD... HEAD UP.
For a packed day like this, I'd recommend BA Cultural Concierge - there are a ton of free and paid tour guides around Buenos Aires but I particularly liked the balance of Madi's insane knowledge and casualness. It felt more like discovering the city with a friend who happens to be a local, rather than a stiff city guide. We got along so well that aside from us both being around the same age (and Libras), we found we had a lot in common and actually did become friends. Love when that happens.
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