Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires

Favorite thing: Inaugurated on May 25, 1908 with the opera Aida by Giuseppe Verdi, its architecture reflects the Italian Renaissance. The elaborate plaster moldings, stained glass dome, sweeping staircase, sculpted busts with gold-leaf details, frescoes, French furnishings and gargantuan chandelier in the theater hall are some of the elements which create the unparalleled opulence. Despite much needed structural maintenance, the acoustics are difficult to surpass. Some 2500-theater goers experience some of the world's finest ballet along with the Colón's own Ballet Estable, Filarmónica symphony orchestra and opera during seasonal performances. Guided tours are available during the week by telephone, or through the website. Box office hours vary on show days. Check website or call ahead for more information

Favorite thing: On our first major walking expedition in the downtown area, after checking out the Obelisk on Av. 9 de Julio, we decided to get away from the busy traffic on this huge thoroughfare. It happens that the very pleasant pedestrian walkway, Av. Roque Sanez Pena (unusual because it runs diagonally across the city blocks) leads away from the Obelisk. We chose a direction that would take us toward Plaza Lavelle in the area of Tetro Colon, the famous theatre.

Fondest memory: It was great to be out in the morning sunshine enjoying the sights of the city. With it's tiled pavement and great foliage, this is a very calm and relaxing street which reminded us of our walks in Lisbon, Portugal. Avenida Roque Sanez Pena even had some nice Jacaranda trees with their purple blossoms for us to admire!

Favorite thing: There is a great movie theatre adjacent to the Obelisk on Avenida 9 de Julio that is great if you want a quiet night to rest up. You can't miss it, the outside is brightly lit with a sign that says 'cinema'. It doesn't look like much from outside, but when you walk into the theatre, you will be amazed by it's size. It probably seats well over a thousand people and has huge, floor-to-ceiling curtains over the movie screen. The screen itself is almost as large as some drive-in movie screens in the States. They usually play American movies in english with spanish subtitles. Just ask the ticket-taker if the movie is in English before you buy the tickets.