Roxana's City Tours

Greetings everyone,

Buenos Aires is a great city, and there's no better way to experience it than in the company of a life-long resident. I know all the cultural attractions, including Recoleta, La Boca, Retiro, Puerto Madero, San Telmo, the Micro Center and other places of interest. In addition, I can accompany you on shopping trips to the Florida Avenue Pedestrian Mall, the weekly Recoleta Art Fair, the San Telmo Antique Market and other locations to help you negotiate your purchases of custom-made leather goods, art work and to help you select gifts for your friends back home.

My rates are only $15 USD per hour per person for my services, plus the cost of transportation that varies depending on the vehicle I need to hire. I give special rates for groups of 3 or more persons.

Please send me an email or call me to discuss your needs.

roxanainba@gmail.com

Cellphone in Buenos Aires: 15-5103-3905

Here are some suggestions for places I can show you.

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Recoleta
This is the aristocratic neighborhood around the Recoleta Cemetary, which is the final resting place for many of the ancestors of traditional Buenos Aires families. The Cemetary is a must for visitors due to it's many stories of Argentina history and its ostentatious mausoleums, a symbol of traditional Buenos Aires society lineage. It's an ironic twist that Eva "Evita" Peron's remails should rest there, surrounded by those who, when alive most despised her lower class origins. Her grave is marked by a simple dark marble crypt with barred doors emblazoned with the name Duarte. Points of interest include the Recoleta Cemetary, Plaza Francia, Our Lady of Pilar Church, the Museum of Fine Arts, Palais de Glace, Buenos Aires Design and the Biblioteca Nacional.

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La Boca
La Boca is located in the south of the city. It's history, tied to immigration and tango, makes it one of the most picturesque areas of the city. Many Italians who came to Argentina in search of a better life built their corrugated metal houses near the Riachuelo. The neighborhood still has cobble stone streets such as the Caminito, now converted into a foorpath that recreates the tenements of times of old with their stricking colors and windows hung with laundry. Artists and craftsmen display tango and other neighborhood-related paintings and souvenirs there. Places of interest include the Caminito and the La Boca Museum of Fine Arts.

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Monserrat
West of the harbor, the Monserrat neighborhood and it's surrounding area are both the centrer of the country's political history. The city was built around the Plaza de Mayo which is bordered by the Cabildo, the government's center in the colonial period and curreltly a museum area. The neighborhood anso includes the Casa Rasada, seat of executive power, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, built in the 18th century in the neo-classic style where the remains of General San Martin are laid to rest. Points of interest include the Plaza de Mayo, Cabilido, the Casa Rosada, The Metropolitan Cathedral, the May Pyramid, the City Museum, the Manzana de las Luces, the Saint Ignacio Church, the Avenida de Mayo, Cafe Tortoni, and the Palacio del Congreso.

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San Telmo
The city's oldest neighborhood preserves the enchantment of cobblestone streets, low houses with barred windows and lanterns that light up the evening. Ten blocks from the Plaza de Mayo, at Humberto Primo and Defensa streets is Dorrego Place, the neighborhoods tourism center. The San Telmo flea market, with it's vendors displays offering antiques and collectables of every description includeing old records, glass antiques, porcelain, silverware and clothes, is a weekend attraction. The area's antique stores, the tango street performers and the restaurants and bars located around the square on neighboring steets add much to the area's attractiveness. Points of interest include Dorrego Place, Pasaje Giuffra, and Lezama Park.

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The Micro Center / Retiro
The name Retiro (literally "retreat") goes back to the period when spiritual retreats were held outside the city. This area, which surrounds the train station built by the English, the renovated Bus Terminal, and the Torre Monumental (formerly the English tower) with it's Big Ben style clock which was donated by the British Government. Points of interest include the Torre Monumental, the Plaza San Martin, the Kavanagh Building, the Florida Avenue shopping district, the Teatro Colon opera house, and of course The Obelisco.

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Puerto Madero
This neighborhood was created in 1991 with the intention of recuperating the old harbor district that had been abandoned for many years. Streets were opened and the old brick wharehouses were renovated and converted into restaurants and offices while preserving the original exterior. Today the area includes the offices of the Catholic University, a five star hotel, a mega disco, and numerous restaurants and bars. Places of interest include the Sarmiento Frigate, the striking Calatrava Bridge, and the Buenos Aires Casino.

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Tango Shows
Of course no trip to Buenos Aires would be complete without spending an evening at one of the many world-renowned tango shows. Tango shows include drinks, full dinner, wine and dessert, plus an evening of entertainment featuring several tango performances and popular local singers. Some of the more famous shows include Esquina Carlos Gardel, Señor Tango, El Querandí, Che Tango, Piazzolla Tango, Tanguera, and of course the famous Cafe Tortoni.

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Shopping Excursions
Argentina is world-famous for leather goods, antiques, art, custom-tailored clothing, Cuban cigars, and of course Argentine wines. I can show you the best shopping locations within the city and assist you in making selections for yourself or as gifts for friends. I can also help you negotiate your purchases, especially open-market antiques and custom-made leather goods. In addition, I can take your "traveling companion" on an afternoon shopping excursion while you may be simuntaneously engaged in other pursuits. Some areas of interest include The Florida Avenue Pedestrian Mall, Pacifica Galeria, Patio Bullrich, Buenos Aires Design, the weekly Recoleta Art Fair, and the San Telmo Antique Market.

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