The great majority of travellers I've met in past few months assured me that Buenos Aires is one of those unique, terribly fascinating cities that one stumbles upon, falls in love with and keeps coming back to. Well, I grew up here, and I can't help but to agree with them.
I've always loved Buenos Aires; the people, the eclectic architecture - that ranges from cute brightly coloured colonial houses to stately buildings and steel-and-glass skyscrapers, - the gorgeous murals on the walls, the quaint cobble-stone streets, the beautiful trees everywhere, the open-air markets, the tango dancers in the streets, the cosy squares, the broad boulevards.. there's always something interesting to see, hear or be a part of.
It is, indeed, a city that seduces in uncountable ways. Somehow impossible to resist.

(Palermo, Recoleta, Monserrat, San Nicolas - BA - February 2012)

Wandering about in the marvellous village of Trindade - Rio de Janeiro, BR - I ran into this tiny ball of fur, proud owner of the most beautiful set of blue eyes I have ever seen. She greeted me happily with a sweet meow. Needless to say, it was love at first sight.
After setting up a new comfy home for her at Point O' Delicia, a local bar, I was beyond prepared to stalk the poor little cat with my camera all afternoon. To my surprise, she handled the pressure of such lens and zoom like royalty, seeming more than pleased with all the attention she was suddenly receiving. And yes, must admit I now have a far much larger collection of photos of this lovely one than those I have taken of people, beaches and landscapes during the whole trip around Brazil. Regret it? Never. Here are three of my favourite shots:

A long, long time ago, there where two people who looked very much like yourselves,
 and as with you, they were on a journey, a quest if you will, to find what we all seem to be searching for..

A STORY FOR TOMORROW

What drives most of us to explore the world is the desire for experiences beyond our own little lives. And Rio de Janeiro, considered one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world, definitely has a lot to offer. There are countless sights to see, beaches to explore, cultural events to attend, and people to meet.
I left for no longer than a month, yet the moment I found myself walking through its streets again, I was a bit surprised by how much Rio changed since. The city almost felt calmer. Or maybe it was just me, slightly beginning to feel more at home. But a home where I still have so much to discover. Full of wonders, and the most gorgeous and colourful scenery you can ever imagine to top it off. It makes me want to hold my breath every time I go wandering around the city with the camera.
Someone should have warned me that I would fall in love with Rio and lose my will to leave.

(Santa Teresa, Ipanema, Copacabana, Paraty & Trindade - RJ - January 2012)

"Make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life, you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty."

CHRISTOPHER McCANDLES