2010 is Bicentenary Year in Argentina, the 200th anniversary of the May Revolution, the year in which the country’s first national government was formed. The occasion offers a unique setting for the 51st edition of the Latin American Steel Congress.

The event will take place from October 24 to 26 at the Hilton Hotel, Buenos Aires, for executives of major steel and mining companies and the industry’s suppliers and clients, not only from Latin America but also the rest of the world.

The panelists this year are some of the world steel industry’s most respected referents, renowned experts, analysts and high-ranking public officials who will be analyzing the state of the global economy in a post-crisis scenario and the critical role played by steel in the field of environmental protection. Of particular interest is the presence of Nouriel Roubini, Professor of Economics at the Stern School of Business, New York University.

The ILAFA Congress is held on a yearly basis in different cities throughout Latin America to encourage the key players in the sector to share information and work together to map out the future development of the industry.

ILAFA 51 has been declared of National Interest by the Presidency of the Argentine Republic and is also sponsored by the City of Buenos Aires.

 

Two hundred years after the revolution that led to independence, the country’s capital city offers its visitors a highly appealing and varied range of cultural activities, culinary options and entertainment to suit all tastes.

Founded on the western shores of the River Plate, the city’s southern limits follow the winding course of the Riachuelo tributary, while the General Paz ring-road circles the city north and westwards.

Buenos Aires was hailed as the gateway to South America for the thousands of European emigrants who landed on its shores as from the beginning of the 1900s. The city owes its popularity to its sizeable port, lying strategically on the river estuary flowing into the Atlantic Ocean which has also brought it renown as the country’s busiest economic center. The urban design and layout of the city are a clear pointer to the origins and vision of these early émigrés who contributed so much to the city’s cultural diversity.

The city’s blend of architectural styles is unlike that of any other in Latin America, a mix of Italian façades, Parisian parks and avenues, cool airy Spanish villas and British country residences all comfortably sharing the same living space. A melting pot of different races and cultures, Buenos Aires has always kept its doors wide open to welcome newcomers, a city whose own inhabitants call themselves “porteños” in deference to their identity as port-dwellers.

 

Recoleta: A fascinating blend of art, history and wide green parks, the city’s central-northern district is home to numerous sites of cultural and touristic interest, including the National Fine Arts Museum, the National Library, the Recoleta Cultural Center, the Church of Our Lady of Pilar, the Palais de Glace exhibition center, the historic La Biela Café, and last but not least, the Recoleta Cemetery where the tombs and mausoleums of some of the country’s most historic and influential figures can be found.

Palermo: Neatly divided by the northwest-bound railway, Palermo is composed of two districts: Palermo Soho, whose shady streets are lined with hip boutiques selling cutting-edge fashion and accessories created by enterprising young designers; and Palermo Hollywood, known for the exceptional quality of its restaurants, specializing in ethnic and signature cuisine. The Palermo Parks, or Bosques de Palermo, also deserve a visit as one of the largest green spaces in the city, the Planetarium and City Zoo.

San Telmo: Uneven cobbled streets, old colonial houses, charming petit hotels, hundreds of antique shops and turn-of-the-century bars haunted by the ever-present strains of tango music give the San Telmo district a distinctively Bohemian feel. Ideal for a stroll, a meal or a cafecito, a leisurely wander through its streets is the best way to enjoy its old-world atmosphere and discover unexpected treasures and souvenirs among sepia-tinted photographs, ornaments and other bric-à-brac.

La Boca: South of the center, the area is best known for its picturesque history and colorful “conventillos”, the tenement buildings that housed a different family in each room, so typical of city life in the 19th century. The short Caminito alley is one of the most typical postcard views of Buenos Aires, while the Quinquela Martín museum just steps away offers art lovers a broad selection of works by the most representative artist to emerge from the district.

Music: In Buenos Aires, each musical style enjoys its own circuit. The most popular genres are tango and folk music although there is also varied menu of options for lovers of classical, rock, jazz and electronic music.

Museums: Buenos Aires has 129 private and public museums, ten of which are administrated by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires as a form of preserving the city’s heritage in addition to exhibiting touring art collections from all over the world.

Theaters: The selection of theater and musical variety shows is extremely wide-ranging and caters to all tastes from traditional plays to fringe theater productions. Avenida Corrientes is the Broadway of Buenos Aires, a succession of bright lights and billboards advertising plays, tango shows, musical comedies and the locally-adapted versions of the some of the best-known and most popular international stage works.

Cafes and bars: A number of bars and cafes around the city have been officially granted a place on the roster of locations of cultural heritage, known as the “Noteworthy Bars”. These include such gems as the old billiard halls from the early 1900s or cafes linked in some way to cultural events of significance for the city’s history. Others owe their fame to sheer age, their architectural value or relevance for the neighborhood. The best-known of these are the art déco-styled Café Tortoni, the 36 Billares on Avenida de Mayo, La Giralda and La Paz on Avenida Corrientes, and the Bar Británico on the edge of Lezama Park. Also not to be missed are La Biela in the Recoleta district and La Academia, on the intersection of Callao and Corrientes, both of which are frequented by local political figures and intellectuals.