Otavalo market is a shoppers dream. I would definitely recommend organizing your trip to fly out of Quito so that you can hit the markets for all your souvenirs before flying home. I don't have a problem, honest.
Some travellers don't rate it as it does have almost everything most other markets in South America have just over and over again. Personally I don't see what their problem is? Yeah so it's the same old crap?...over and over again?! Ace!
No I joke, in my opinion Otavalo had lots of souvenirs I didn't see else where as well as local items like traditional dress and jewellry. It also gives you the option to find the best of what it is you're looking for within your price range. It doesn't beat the cheap steals of Bolivia but it did have more western styled items that you might be able to use at home, such as blanket and bag designs. I left with a queen sized hand woven bed spread, a table runner, two hand painted wooden spoons, a dream catcher made from cow intestines and rare bird feathers, some paintings and some jewellry. It was fantastic. And let's be honest everyone loves mincing around a market?! It's what holidays are made for right? All the boys say YEEEAAAAHHHHH!!

If you get up early enough the nearby animal market is an absolute must! Ask around for days it's on. We got up around 6am and headed out to find a field full of every farmyard animal you could think of, pigs, cows, llamas, ducklings and sacks of puppies. Literally SACKS of puppies. Sacks of pretty much anything really, woman walking round with handfuls of live chickens and all animals large and small. The basic rundown is each seller stands with their wares and waits for someone to approach them with a price. It's just as much a hang around and chat situation as it is a selling one. If you're big on animal cruelty you probably won't enjoy it but if you can embrace the madness of another culture it's brilliant and well worth the early morning.

SURVIVAL TIP
Haggle hard, get a price in mind and stick to it, if you walk away they'll either call you back or you'll have the afternoon to decide whether to go back and pay the price they're asking AND DON'T BUY A PUPPY!

The first of hopefully many STREET MEAT! updates I bring you the perfectly formed choripan sausage. You can find choripan on most street corners in Buenos Aires, however my favourite was that found at the Sunday Market. This delightful red, spicy sausage has a slight kick but isn't too spicy and is best served with all the trimmings of tomato, finely chopped onion and homemade salsa in a warm roll similar to a french baguette. I like to add the obligatory mayonnaise that I add to almost any meal. Best eaten on patio chairs on the roadside with a cold cerveza! 

Buenos Aires had to be my favourite city on my trip so far. Rough around the edges but with all the beautiful european architecture as promised I fell in love with the city. My hostel room had a balcony which enabled me to sit out and watch the world go by, I even witnessed a taxi crash from my perch!
With street art everywhere and an array of parks in the Palermo district it was clear to see why I loved the city and known as the city that never sleeps the nightlife didn't disappoint.

On the days I made it up and out for sightseeing I went to the Evita museum which taught me a wealth of information about a woman I previously knew very little about. After meeting up with Gemma (my friend from the plane) who had been in BA for some time she then took me to the main square and to see Evita's balcony.

On one particular day Gemma and I headed back to the main square to see the women march for their lost children, something they still do every week. After finding out it was National Women's Day we were unsurprised to see a large amount of people and banners surrounding the square. However after a small nap we opened our eyes surrounded by feet and found ourselves in the middle of a full on protest, the first of many during our time in South America. Regardless of day or time South Americans love a protest! Turns out the event of Women's Day was enough to ensure a congregation of all different demonstrations in the square of which we were in the middle. Crazy but fun! We soon left as we had no idea what was going on and with everyone around us wearing football shirts we weren't sure what may or may not happen!

La Boca was probably my favourite tourist attraction in the city. The multi coloured houses, artists stalls and street performers provided a lovely chilled afternoon and the nearby La Boca stadium rising out of the delapatated back streets was a fantastic juxtoposition of architecture. 

Buesnos Aires is famous for its Sunday market. A sprawling affair and covering everything from clothes, souvenirs and antiques it was one of the most interesting markets I've been to and you could spend all day meandering and bargaining. Probably more expensive than smaller cities or towns, however there's certainly a lot to choose from and you can sit in the bordering cafes and watch the world go by. My favourite aspect of the market was the numerous street performers including puppeteers, dancers, musicians and mime artists meaning you were never short of entertainment.

Second to La Boca, and following on from earlier 'Evita Day' was La Recoleta cemetery, the final resting place of Evita. She does not sleep alone however and the cemetery houses hundreds of elaborate graves. Somewhat like a city within a city I strolled leisurely through the crypts, peering in at the coffins in awe. Shining white marble stood next to rotten decrepid wood and their was an eery yet calming sense in the air which made me feel restful. A perfect antitode to the wild crazy nights!

TOP TIP:
There's a lot to see and do in Buenos Aires, both for the day and night. Dont let yourseld sleep in all day however much you might want to, you'll definately live to regret it!