Barbie bonanza in Buenos Aires

Have a major Barbie fan on your Christmas shopping list? If you've got enough frequent-flier miles to get you and the tot to Argentina, a trip to the world's only stand-alone Barbie store, in Buenos Aires, might be the ultimate gift.

L.A. Times reporter Patrick McDonnell recently visited this monument to Barbiedom and found girls shopping for clothes, having their nails and hair done, perusing the latest dolls and buying Barbie accessories such as wristwatches, two-way radios and play laptops.

A manicure runs about $6, hair braiding costs as much as $20, and an elaborate "Barbie Full Style" hairdo can set you back $38. For an extra $10 or so, you can gain entry to Casa de Barbie, complete with life-size Barbie bedroom, Barbie costumes and makeup counters, even a catwalk for showcasing Barbie couture or staging a Barbie disco.

For the entire story, including photos, click "In Buenos Aires, a Barbie playhouse big enough for fans."