2025_26 Buenos Aires, Argentina...

We got an early start due to the time change in North America and Cathy not having her phones set to Saint Pierre & Miquelon time instead of Buenos Aires... Paola, our guide, met us in the cruise terminal and we started on an off the beaten path adventure…  Paola tried to come up with some different things for us to see. We drove north to along the port area and came upon some beautiful murals painted to improve the area. Following the river front we visited the Christopher Columbus Monument opposite the Jorge Newbery Airport along the Rio de la Plata River bank. This restored white marble monument, was a gift from the local Italian community in 1910 to Buenos Aires to celebrate its Centennial independence from Spain. Prior to the relocation and restoration, the monument was behind the government house in Columbus Park. Next, we went to the Palermo area of the city stopping at Tres de Febrero Park and a visit to the Rose Garden. Palermo is Buenos Aires' largest and trendiest neighborhood, known for its diverse districts like Palermo Soho with boutiques and cafes and Palermo Hollywood with its abundant restaurants and nightlife. It's characterized by tree-lined cobblestone streets, street art, and a mix of historic and modern architecture. Paola parked the car and we did a walking tour of a number of streets seeking Palermo Hollywood Street art…this type of art has evolved from "vandalism graffiti" to an added value, aesthetically pleasing, in the trendiest venues of the city. Leaving Palermo, we headed to La Boca for and authentic Argentinian lunch of Empanadas and Provoleta – Argentinian Grilled Cheese…absolutely delicious! Our next stop was the Buenos Aries Opera House or the Teatro Colon, celebrated for its stunning architecture, lavish interiors, and exceptional acoustics, ranking among the world's best opera venues alongside La Scala and the Paris Opera. Opened in 1908, it hosts major opera, ballet, and classical music performances. We toured its magnificent halls, including the Hall, the Main Foyer, the Gallery of Busts and the main auditorium. The architecture is a masterpiece of neoclassical design with lavish decorations, marble from Italy, Portugal and Spain, and stained-glass domes…It was an enjoyable 50-minute tour. We had a great weather and good time with Paola touring in the lovely city of Buenos Aries and seeing some new venues.