Early in the year 2007, Ramona and I traveled to Buenos Aires Argentina to visit my sister Kathy and her family.

A wondrous introduction to the beauty that is Buenos Aires - is by standing on the balcony of the South African Embassy and absorbing the wonderful sights. We joined the University Women’s Club, a group Kathy is a member of, for a light lunch and, of course, some wine.

Moving around Buenos Aires is much like a journey through New York City. Trains, Subways, Buses and our legs got us everywhere we wished to go.

Buenos Aires' physical structure is a mosaic as varied and diverse as its culture. The city has no dominating monument, no natural monolith that serves as its focal point. Instead, Buenos Aires is composed of many small places, intimate details, and tiny events and interactions, each with a slightly different shade, shape, and character. Glass-covered skyscrapers cast their shadows on 19th century Victorian houses.

Tucked in the midst of city structures one finds a precious plot of land influenced by Japanese planning. Exceptional landscaping, rock islands, and small red bowed bridges over Koi carp filled waterways  – provides a feel of the Orient as soon as you enter the park.

The famous Recoleta Cemetery is where the rich and famous of Buenos Aires are resting in an area - filled border to border with private mausoleums. This place was paved from wall to wall divided into what looked like little city blocks with just sidewalks. Each mausoleum was built touching the one to either side just like downtown buildings. The main walks were wide and overhung with trees in places - but on the whole this was not a place for the living.

We visited a hospital. Here we found “Crazy Charlie” – a friend of my sister Kathy. Charlie is a radiologist who also plays percussion in a band. His character more personifies the band image.

Surgical Nurse Ramona was offered a tour of the operating room while Kathy and I roamed the campus beyond.

The town of Tigre on the outskirts of the city is only 45 minutes by train from downtown, and is a great place for sightseeing or a riverside cup of coffee. But - this day it was gray and gloomy. Sunshine came in the form of time spent with Kathy’s oldest daughter Amanda and her children.

To reach the landings along the waterway we take the local public transportation - the riverboat. This is a long, narrow, wooden boat that holds perhaps 100 people and has large windows.

Buenos Aires has no shortage of shopping places. There are glitzy malls, blocks of stores along major shopping thoroughfares, and many bakery, meat and grocery stores in every residential neighborhood. What I didn’t find was native crafts. The closest to something – native –was the purchase of my gaucho pants.

No one seems to think of eating until after 9 pm.

Beef rules and barbeque is king, however, because they cut meats differently, I never knew what I was getting. Salads are wonderful but do not come with the variety of choice dressings we have. A variety of oils and vinegars – but no blue cheese, French or Ranch.

The bars & restaurants were civilized enough except for their inability to make a proper Gin Martini. British influence no doubt - but when ordering a gin martini, straight up with two olives results in a glass of Martini & Rossi wine - there is a problem.

Fortunately, Argentina has wonderful Malbec wine.