My first trip to South America and to say I am excited is an understatement. I cannot wait to experience all that Buenos Aires has to offer as my introduction to this country.

Argentina's capital, the "Paris of South America" is also known as the city that never sleeps!! The City of Buenos Aires (population ~15 million) has 48 districts called barrios (neighbourhoods). Buenos Aires means fair winds, or literally good airs, in Spanish.

Fun Facts of Argentina and BA

• BA is home of the Tango which originated in the brothels of the working class suburbs in the 19th century
• BA has over 280 theatres, more than any other city in the world
• Avenida 9 de Julio is the widest avenue in the world with 14 lanes, plus 4 lanes of parallel streets.
• Its formal name is Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, or Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
• BA has more bookstores per person than any other city in the world.
• Before he entered the seminary, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, aka Pope Francis, was a bouncer at a nightclub in BA!
• 95% of Argentina's population are of European descent, mostly from Italy, Spain and Germany.
• The name "Argentina" derived from the Latin word "silver".
• Argentina has the highest consumption of red meat in the world. Steak anyone?
• Buenos Aires has more psychoanalysts and psychiatrists than any other city in the world.
• Argentina became the first country to use fingerprinting as a method of identification in 1892.
• Mate is the national drink of Argentina - this is a bitter tea that is served in a mate (the cup) and sipped through a bombilla (straw).

Central area/ Microcentro/ San Nicolàs/Monserrat

The compact, tree-lined central barrios are home to many of the famous landmarks of this city and are a great place to start your adventure. The streets are laid out in a grid pattern, so it is really easy to get around.

A good place to start is Avenida de Mayo, Buenos Aires's answer to Paris's Champs Elysées. The Avenida de Mayo connects the National Congress building with the Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada and was named in honour of the May Revolution of 1810 which lead to Argentina's independence from Spain. As you wander down be sure to check out Palacio Barolo (Avenida de Mayo 1370). Commissioned by an Argentine businessman, Palacio Barolo is a fascinating building inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy. It's divided into three parts: the basement and ground floor are hell; the 1st to 14th floors are purgatory; and the 15th to 22nd floors are heaven. If you climb to the top (not suitable for those afraid of heights!) you'll have a magnificent view over Buenos Aires. The building can only be visited on a guided tour, which is offered in English and Spanish.

Mayo Square (Plaza de Mayo) This historic landmark that has been at the centre of large rallies and the scene of major historical episodes such as the first step towards independence in 1810, the swearing of the Constitution in 1860, the popular manifestations supporting Peronism in 1954, and since 1977 it has become the meeting place of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who demonstrated weekly asking for the re-appearance of their children kidnapped by the military government. Be sure to spend some time in this historically and politically significant plaza to see the Casa Rosada ("Pink House") where the President of Argentina works, and where Juan and Eva Perón delivered famous speeches from its balconies. The official name of the building is Casa de Gobierno, or Government House, and it is a National Historic Monument of Argentina. The current structure evolved from a fort that dates to 1594. The historical El Cabildo, built in the early 1600s, this is the oldest building still standing in Buenos Aires. However, only 5 of its original 11 archways remain. Today, it hosts the National Museum of the Cabildo and the May Revolution. To the right of El Cabildo is the beginning of Avenida de Mayo.

There are 2 important Plaza de Mayo monuments: The May Pyramid and the Belgrano Monument. The May Pyramid - or Piramide de Mayo - sits in the centre of the square and ranks as the first (and oldest) monument in Buenos Aires. The 61-foot-tall slender pyramid was erected in 1811 in celebration of the one-year anniversary of the May Revolution. The equestrian statue of General Manuel Belgrano stands at the east end of the square in front of Casa Rosada. A military leader, Belgrano is recognized as one of the country's liberators - or Libertadores. The statue shows Belgrano hoisting the Argentinean flag, which he is credited with designing.

At the other end of Avenida de Mayo you will find Plaza del Congresso (Congress Square) which was inaugurated in 1910. Argentina's green-domed Congress building, modelled on the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, was completed in 1906. The Plaza itself is dominated by the Monument to the Two Congresses. The central figure represents the Republic on the march, with snake faces and an allegory of abundance at its feet. The two lateral figures represent the assembly of 1813 which abolished slavery and the congress of 1816 which declared independence. The statue El Pensador is a copy of Rodin's Thinker.

The Obelisco stands tall in the centre of Buenos Aires and is perhaps the city's most recognizable icon. The large stone pillar surrounded by lights and electric screens draws comparisons with New York's Times Square. The column itself resembles the Washington Monument. It was built in 1936 to mark the fourth century since the city's inception. In all, the Obelisco is 67.5 meters tall. It is often decorated to celebrate holidays and events. Gaze up at the giant structure from any location around the city centre; it dwarfs the buildings around it. Learn about current events from the temporary decorations of the landmark. For example, in 2005, the Obelisco was dressed in a giant condom to mark World AIDS Day. Read the sonnet by the poet Baldomero Fernández Moreno at the base of the monument. From its base is a good vantage point for Avenida 9 de Julio, which at 14 total lanes is the widest street in the Americas.

If it is shopping, you are after then you need to set your sights on Avenida Florida which is a popular pedestrian street full of shops and restaurants. Be sure to stop by Galerías Pacífico which may be one of the most beautiful malls in the world, and instead of window shopping, you'll probably be staring at the ceiling. The mall was declared a national landmark because of the breathtaking murals painted onto the ceiling.

One of the most important opera houses in the world and a Buenos Aires landmark, Teatro Colón began operating in 1857, with the current space opening in 1905. Now fully restored to its former glory, visitors can take in symphonies by famous orchestras, operas, and ballets in the majestic building. The theatre is seven stories high and takes up an entire city block. Did you know that Luciano Pavarotti and Maya Plisetskaya appeared at the Colón Theatre? The theatre is considered one of the five best in the world and has its own annual programme of events.

The Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral is the main Catholic Church in Buenos Aires in the San Nicolás neighbourhood. The Cathedral features an impressive Greco-Roman façade and tombs of Argentina's most famous generals. Once inside, the cathedral is a marvel of soaring ceilings, beautiful stained glass, marble columns and frescoes on the walls. The Rococo-style altarpiece features the Virgin Mary as well as the Holy Trinity, and the large German organ dates from 1871. Look down to appreciate the Italian-style mosaics that cover the cathedral floor. The cathedral's floor plan is shaped like a Latin cross. While the church's cornerstone was laid in the 16th century by the city's founder, Juan de Garay, the structure has been rebuilt six times and further improved upon. The cathedral you see today dates from 1791, although it wasn't finally finished until 1910.

A fantastic day of walking and am amazed at how close everything is. It seems that you turn a corner and you are in another barrio. What I have written about is but a small slice of the sights we have seen today. I only hope my photos do justice to everything. Looking forward to exploring more tomorrow.......