My husband and I just returned from our second trip to Buenos Aires. On our first, we did little else besides dance tango. We never made it out of the city despite more than one Porteno telling us that Argentina is much more than just Buenos Aires. We didn't leave the city this time either but, despite a lot of dancing, we did discover that Buenos Aires is much more than just tango. We had the good fortune to meet Alejandro Kazanietz, a practicing Porteno architect who, in his spare time, gives walking tours of different sections of the city. Along with three friends, we spend several hours with him exploring the amazing architecture on Avenida de Mayo. On another day, he took us around and through the national library, a landmark building designed by one of Argentina's foremost living architects. San Telmo, La Boca and Recoleta Cemetery are among his other favorite touring areas. He talked a lot about buildings but we would up learning a lot about Argentine history as well as contemporary Porteno life. Like where to eat and what to eat. He carries a backpack filled with photos and maps so everything is put into either an historical or spacial context. Kazanietz's English is good, as is his sense of humor, and his prices are reasonable. He can be reached at [email protected] It's wonderful to dance tango in Buenos Aires. It was especially wonderful to understand where we were. Martha Ledger P.S. I have no financial interest whatsoever in Sr. Kazanietz's city walks. He just seems too good a find not to share.
