I arrived in Buenos Aires on Monday afternoon, bleary-eyed after a long trip on the bus, and made my way to my hostel in San Telmo. It had been recommended to me by Helen, one of Myra's friends living in BA, and it was fantastic! The hostel itself was lovely and clean with a really cool communal space, big TV and free internet. I also met lots of really interesting people, varying from fellow round the world travelers to a photographer trying to break the industry, a girl who had previously captained a boat circumnavigating South America, a Brazilian male ballerina, an ex-tour guide from the Amazon rainforest and a Swedish student on a year long exchange. Had some fascinating conversations over breakfast each morning..

The city is amazing, I fell in love with the place. I only stayed 5 days but could have stayed 5 months. The architecture is stunning and there are parks and sculptures dotted all around the city. The cafe culture is alive and well, and people watching was my favourite activity. Most of the days I spent exploring by foot and it really gave me a feel for the different areas. San Telmo, where I was staying, was full of tiny little boutiques and antiques shops. The little cobbled streets were beautiful and the area was really lively. My other favourite area was Recoleta, which had lots of beautiful tree-lined avenues and apartment blocks with little balconies. A slightly European feel but with a twist. This area also houses the famous cemetery (check out the photos) where Eva Peron is buried.

In the evenings, BA comes alive whatever night of the week it is. One night I attended a milonga, a tango club, which was fantastic! It wasn't aimed at tourists at all, though it did have a class before the club started. I went with Helen and a guy from the hostel and we hilariously attempted to learn the dance. It was very hard! Though as a girl, it became considerably easier when I danced with the teacher. Just closed my eyes, and went with the flow.... heavenly. The club itself was fascinating, full of ordinary people who are incredible dancers. They also put a little show on at the end, a couple dancing a proper tango-show style dance, which was exceptional. If I had been in BA for longer, I would definitely have gone to one of the proper show places. It is such a beautiful dance. Amazingly, people dance it in squares during the day, for no particular occasion, simply to enjoy themselves.

Another fantastic afternoon and night was spent with the Mexican guys I met at Iguazu Falls. We went to another area called Palermo and walked around a beautiful park and some interesting clothing stalls. We then enjoyed a few beers in happy hour (which, amusingly to me, was from 7-10pm!) before going back to Montse's flat, then on to a club. So much fun! :)

So anyone who is reading this, and is looking for a gentle introduction to South America, Beunos Aires is the place to come. I'll definitely be back!