So you've made it to the Buenos Aires, what now?
Semipro tip: If you have never been to Buenos Aires before be prepared to experience the most panic attack inducing driving you have ever experienced. You have been warned.
1. Visit the Recoleta Market and the Cementerio de la Recoleta.
Every Weekend the park outside of the Cementerio de la Recoleta transforms into a sprawling market. The market offers a wide variety of items and I still have most of the items I bought there. You can find a ridiculous amount of Mate's in case you jumped on the Yerba tea train, as well as a variety of hand made leather items. And if none of that interests you, the street vendors sell amazing food to chow down while you sprawl out on the grass and watch the street performers.
Semipro tip: Just a stones throw from the market is the Floralis Generica. A huge steel sculpture at the Plaza de las Naciones.
2. Parrillas, Milanesa, and Yerba!
One of the best ways to sample a culture is through its cuisine, and Argentina offers more than one excellent way to satisfy your taste buds (Even if the restaurants don't open until 8pm!). Parrillas, Milanesa, and Yerba are all uniquely Porteno, and you can find a ton of variety throughout the capital. A Parrilla is basically a large charcoal grill with anything you've ever wanted on it. Even though it’s a grill they tend to be fancier and equally as expensive. Make sure to come hungry and with a pocket full of pesos. Milanesa is a flat, breaded protein with whatever topping you desire. Where the parrilla tends to be a more expensive outing, you can find a restaurant that serves milanesa rather cheap. From my experience they tend to be more trendy shops that serve milanesa. Finally, get your hands on some Yerba. Yerba is tea that tastes surprisingly like dirt yet the locals drink it like its going out of style! Ohh and its not just a cup of hot tea that you drink at the local coffee shop either, there is a unique way to drink it. You will need to pick yourself up a Mate (which is traditionally a hollowed out gourd) and fill it with dry Yerba tea. then you will pour in hot water keeping a layer of dry tea on top of the water. Then grab a bombilla (a metal straw with a built in filter) and drink it up! Add hot water as needed and continue sipping throughout the day :).
3. Stroll through Puerto Madero.
Puerto Madero is revitalized dockside area which is home to upscale steakhouses, Businesses, and an ecological preserve. It is a great place to enjoy your afternoon whether you want to tour some of the attractions, jog through the reserve, or enjoy a parrilla along the dock. Puerto Madero Combines that leisurely feel with upscale dining and entertainment that creates a thoroughly enjoyable atmosphere.
Semipro tip: From Puerto Madero you can book a ticket at the Buquebus terminal and take a ferry over to Colonia in Uruguay.
My travels will never be exhaustive as I do my best to fit them into my PTO, and this trip is no exception. To me, it’s a bit brash to think that you could ever uncover everything that this beautiful city has to offer. My goal is simply to give you a plan to mold to your own ambition.
If you have any questions about the trip or just want to let me know how wonderful I am, give me a shout at jake@personaltravelobsessions.com
- Jake
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