I am so disappointed with our stopover in Lima as we are not going to see anything much except for the bus ride from the airport to our hotel and back to the airport. Our only bit of sightseeing was an evening walk through Barranco. It was cold and wet, but we persevered so we could at least see something this city has to offer. It appears that Barranco comes alive of an evening as people are out and about wining and dining. This is Lima's arty, bohemian neighb...

Our last day in Buenos Aires and we are doing the two extremes today - vising the oldest and youngest barrios. San Telmo is the oldest barrio and preserves colonial-style houses along narrow cobblestone lanes, illuminated with pretty wrought iron lanterns. It was originally home to high society before they moved elsewhere in the 1870s to escape an outbreak of yellow fever. Their ornate homes were converted into convetillos to house poor immigrants, which save...

Today we headed north from the centre of the city with our first place being the barrio of Retiro. The barrio takes its name from the Casa de Retiro, which was built by Governor Agustin de Roble at the intersection of Arenales and Maipu streets at the beginning of the 18th century. The first known development of Retiro began in 1800 with the construction of Plaza de Toros, a bullring whose outline is still visible in Plaza San Martin. During the English inva...

La Boca - considered Buenos Aires's most colourful and picturesque neighbourhood with a very outgoing personality. This is where you really get slapped in the face with vibrant colours: greens, yellows, reds, and purples. Legend has it that the Genoese immigrants who built the houses used left over paint from the shipyards. The current colours are the result of an initiative led by artist Benito Quinquela Martín. Caminito Street is the one-time railway rou...

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 Argentin...