We’re on the road again. This time we’ll be celebrating the new year in the icy grandeur of Antarctica. But first we are taking a brief stop to explore colorful, vibrant Buenos Aires, the gateway city to our adventure.

In the center of the downtown is the historic Plaza Mayo. Festivals, demonstrations, even riots have been known to take place in this beautiful park surrounded by public buildings.

On another side of the plaza is the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Catholic church’s main site in Argentina and where Pope Francis performed mass as an archbishop before he was elevated to Pope.

We had coffee and croissants at the nearby Cafe Tortoni. It’s the oldest cafe in Argentina dating back to 1858. This iconic cafe was a meeting place for politicians, artists, writers, tango dancers and it’s like stepping into history to be here.

In the colorful Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires is the famous Caminito. It’s just one short block, but it’s dear to the hearts of the local people and a song was written about it. The spirit of the Caminito has sprawled into a few of the surrounding streets. It’s crammed with murals and handmade artisan goods, restaurants and music. It’s truly the spirit of Buenos Aires.

We ended our day with an elegant dinner and the dramatic, sensuous Rojo Tango Show. This art form is uniquely Argentinian, a combination of Spanish flamenco and the spirited dance moves of the Africans who were brought here first as slaves. It was in the beautiful Faena Hotel, which was once a warehouse but is now quite upscale. We were just off our flight from California early that morning so I was fading by the end of a long evening. But it was a perfect way to experience our first day in Argentina.