buenos aires ii

Buenos Aires has both the most beautiful bookstore (converted from an old theater) and the most beautiful zoo I've ever seen. It doesn't even look like a zoo, and the animals seemed more like accessories for the beautiful buildings.

Architecture and art that would look ridiculous in other places seemed to fit in perfectly here. Including their Venus de Milo.

The Argentines are known for their meat-grilling prowess, and the construction workers outside of the zoo were no exception:

La Recoleta, B.A.'s famous cemetery where Eva (Evita) Perron is buried, is also the most beautiful cemetery I've seen (showing up even Paris' celebrated Père Lachaise Cemetery, home to the likes of Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde).

Even your shopping experience is amplified in Buenos Aires. When trendy women's clothing is sold in stores that look like this:

And mall food courts look like this:

You just can't help but feel the style and everyday luxury that seemed to come so naturally to the creators of Buenos Aires.

Their answer to the American White House is la Casa Rosada (the pink house).

And if you ask nicely, you can take pictures with the guards in their fancy hats and uniforms.

When you walk around, you see beauty everywhere.

The grave of José Francisco de San Martín, an Argentine general honored as the liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru, has a huge Argentine flag cascading down perfectly (yet oh-so-casually).

And no visit to Buenos Aires is complete without seeing live tango, and we were lucky enough to be treated to one of the best dinner shows in town. The place had an old Hollywood feel, the dancers looked like they were enjoying themselves (always a plus), and our steaks were actually pretty good, too.

And for those of you who like street art, B.A. has something for you, too.

I'm sure it isn't true, but it seems like, during the day, everyone shops, and at night, everyone eats out.

Speaking of food, there was a lot of good food to be had. Dulce de leche desserts, for starters, graced every bakery shelf.

I'm not sure if I've had fresh homemade pasta before, but what we had in Buenos Aires was fresh and handmade and amazing. It wasn't cheap, but you don't need much of it.

As a lover of fine penmanship, I also fell in love with the Argentine signs and the flourishes they used.

So, I could go on and on about Buenos Aires (already did), but I'll wrap it up. The quick version: it's vibrant, beauty is crammed into every nook and cranny, and I'd go back for the gelato alone (Volta is the best).