One of my favorite sites in all of Rio de Janeiro is the Escadaria Selarón. This stairway from Lapa to Santa Teresa has all its 250 steps covered in tiles from all over the world. Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón worked on them from 1990 until he committed suicide on the steps on January 10, 2013.
Copacabana beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world. The word Copacabana itself creates images of hundreds of perfect bodies on a crowded beach, men and women flirting with each other, playing football, working out, or laying out for a tan.
The most famous and colorful (and touristy) area in Buenos Aires is the old working class area of La Boca. Settled by Italian immigrants, mostly from Genoa, this area retains an Italian feel to it. In fact, the official emblem of La Boca has the Genoese flag in it. La Boca was also instrumental in the rise of the tango. You’ll find many tango performers in the street.
The main attractions in Colonia del Sacramento are in the small historic district. If you have time, there are a few interesting things to see just outside of that part of town.
Most people come to the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires to explore the cemetery, but the area around the cemetery is a good place to explore as well. Recoleta is one of the wealthiest areas of the city and has many points of interest.
San Telmo is a bohemian area of Buenos Aires. After a yellow fever epidemic in 1871 caused an exodus of the middle and upper class, it became home to the working class and immigrants. Most of the attractions I found in San Telmo are either on or within a block or two of Calle Defensa.
North of Palermo is the barrio of Belgrano. It’s famous as a footnote in Argentinian history for being the capital of Argentina for a few weeks in 1880, until Buenos Aires was officially declared the capital. Today, it’s a mainly a residential district with high-rise condos and not much to see.
El Centro (Central Buenos Aires) is made up of Barrio San Nicolás, a rectangular area bordered by Avenida Córdoba to the north and Avenida de Mayo to the south. It’s rarely called Barrio San Nicolás and has taken on the name El Centro.
Avenida de Mayo, one of the main streets in Buenos Aires, has lots of attractions between Plaza de Mayo and Plaza del Congreso. It separates El Centro and Microcentro from Barrio Monserrat.
I took the 405 bus that runs along Alameda, and a half hour later, I found myself in Vitacura. This posh area is home to some of Santiago’s wealthiest citizens. With tree-lined streets, large homes behind high walls, and lots of small art galleries, I felt like I was in Southern California. I love Southern California, but I don’t mean that positively.