Of wall the many attractions in Buenos Aires, I found the neighborhood of La Boca to be the most fun and interesting of the bunch. Though the conventillos (tenements) here are restored and freshly painted, this neighborhood is still one of the oldest, the home for many Italian immigrants in the 1940's. Colorful buildings shown above line the streets of La Boca. It is said that past residents of this barrio used remaining paint they found in the docks to coat their wood and corrugated zinc dwellings. This explosion of colors adds a festive air to the neighborhood. Narrow alleys like this separate the conventillos in La Boca. Living in such close quarters, there's not much privacy in these tenements. The courtyards became the living room of residents and this is where the celebrated tango was performed by the immigrants who were said to have introduced the tango to these shores. A whimsical mural in the Antiguo Mercado de La Boca reminds visitors that thi
“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” - James Michener