F


BUENOS AIRES


Laura French picks out the highlights in Argentina’s


cultural capital @laurafrench121


or some, Buenos Aires is to South America what Paris


is to Europe – a glitzy, beaux arts hub where bohemians gather on cobbled plazas and ornate French palaces straddle leafy parks. For others, it’s a politically


intricate metropolis with a turbulent past; an arty, gritty city splashed with colourful street murals or a sensual, cultural melting pot that has tango as its raison d’etre. In places perfectly polished, in others rough around the edges, it’s hard to shrink this sprawling, diverse city down to a few words, and the only way to fully appreciate its Latin-meets- European vibe is to go there yourself – or send your clients. It’s now more affordable than


ever thanks to Norwegian’s direct service from Gatwick, which


launched in February and is increasing to daily from October 31 in response to demand – joining the direct British Airways route from Heathrow. We’ve put together a 48-hour


guide to the very best of the city’s sights, with everything from parrilla steakhouses to hidden speakeasies, modern art galleries to traditional markets on hand to charm clients of every age.


w DAY ONE 10.00: Start your trip in one of Buenos Aires’ most renowned barrios, La Boca, located in the south of the city and home of the Boca Juniors stadium. Traditionally a working-class, Italian immigrant neighbourhood, the area is now something of a tourist hub thanks to the vibrant street art murals and candy- coloured corrugated houses that


hug the main street, El Caminito. Here, you’ll find a cluster


of colourful houses-turned- shops and restaurants serving Argentine food, as tango dancers in flamboyant costumes strut their stuff on street corners. It’s safe during the day, but you’re better off not walking there in the late afternoon or evening, and taking a cab to get there.


12.00: A 10-minute taxi ride north will take you to the city’s oldest area, San Telmo, whose cobblestone streets, antique shops and bohemian cafes have been drawing in writers, dancers and artists since the mid-1900s. Head here on a Sunday for a massive weekly market bursting with trinkets, bags, craft stalls, fresh juices and street performances, and check out the colonial buildings, historic


52 travelweekly.co.uk 19 July 2018


PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72