To truly discover the beauty of Argentine culture, come to San Telmo. The streets are crowded with diverse artisans, talented street performers and friendly antique sellers. The area is especially hopping on weekends when everything centers around the Antiques Fair in Plaza Dorrego, featuring anything you'd ever want from vintage dresses and secondhand jewelry to old records, beautiful paintings, and hours worth of other ancient treasures to skim through from Argentina's past.

Walk down Calle Defensa to continue getting the feel for Buenos Aires. Here, a wide range of street performances take place, such as Tango orchestras, solo singers, magicians and even the man caught in the storm, complete with blowing jacket and inverted umbrella. Crafts from local artists and handmade clothes make for lasting memories of San Telmo. There are also quite a few boutiques on the cobblestone Defensa with colorful and stylish window displays that are sure to catch your eye and entice you to come inside.

After hours of exploring the uniqueness of this little South American dream, there are many delicious outdoor cafes on the paths off the main roads that will revive you. Try an Argentine Picada, an assortment of meats, cheeses, and olives from one of the spots along Calle Chile for a true taste of the Argentine world.

Many natives of San Telmo say tango was born there, and it is undoubtedly be true that the dancers there know their moves. Many restaurants, such as El Viejo Almacén, offer dinner and a special tango show for one price.

Shop for: Antiques, crafts

Cafe Stop: Territorio, on Bolivar and Estados Unidos

Get here: the 152 bus or by Taxi

Written by  Mary Kate Alfieri.

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