Herewith we offer useful information for the stay of the delegates and accompanying persons.

Places of cultural interest

The city offers traditional cultural strolls and unique places. In fact, at the national level, the magnificent and world widely-known Teatro Colón, located at Libertad 621, is the most important theatre among other recognized theatres. It is considered one of the most significant operas of the world. Visiting the Teatro Colón is almost compulsory, even for those who are not particularly interested in classical music. It has a renaissance style and it was designed by architect Francisco Tamburri. Some of the artists who performed in the theatre are Vaslov Nijinsky and Anna Pavlova. Among directors, Bernstein, Strauss and Stravinsky may be mentioned. Caruso, Melba, Callas, Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo song in this 2,500-seat theatre. Currently, it is being repaired and it would be opened on May 25th for the Bicentenary of the May Revolution. Guided tours are organized through the Central Saloon, the Gold Room and the auditory, where Raúl Soldi’s paintings may be appreciated in the dome. Entrance for guided tours: Pasaje Toscanini 1168 (Viamonte 1100).

Buenos Aires has other important theatres managed by the Government City: Teatro General San Martín, Teatro Alvear, Teatro Regio, Teatro Sarmiento and Teatro de la Ribera. Undoubtedly, there are even more theatres which offer an intense cultural activity too: Teatro Nacional Cervantes, Centro Cultural Recoleta, Centro Cultural General San Martín, Teatro Maipo. The Luna Park Stadium, where the most important box tournaments took place, now holds international shows as Holidays On Ice, national and foreign artists, etc.

Moreover, Buenos Aires houses plenty of independent theatres, which offer the so-called “under theatre”.

Other cultural options are the antique book stores and the new cultural centres, more than one hundred museums, the handicraft fairs and the modern commercial centres.

The historic cafés, the tango, the milonga, and the hundred of bars are also an essential part of Buenos Aires history and culture and they are spread all over Buenos Aires.

The Tango cultural richness may be appreciated in the letters (especially in the use of the lunfardo, the origin of most of the words); in the music (especially in the bandoneon, which gives Tango its melancholic and grumbling sound); and in the dance (which is exhibited in the shows and practiced in the milongas). Buenos Aires has plenty of tango houses or tanguerías with live orchestras and dancers. Some of these tanguerías include dinner (Argentine meat or international menu). Among others, we can mention: La Ventana, La Esquina de Carlos Gardel, Piazzolla Tango, Sr. Tango, El Querandí.

Typical food

Cow meat –including its different cuts and presentations- is not only the Argentine people favourite choice, but also the visitors’ one. Therefore, the barbecue is accompanied by chinchulines (chitterlings), kidneys, mollejas (sweetbreads), chorizos (pork sauasages), morcillas (black sausage), and other world-wide recognized cuts.

Home made pasta is also excellent in Argentina. There is a great variety, including gnocchi, spaghetti and the delicious filled pasta namely raviolis, sorrentinos and lasagnes, without forgetting the great variety of pizzas.

The typical Argentine cuisine (criolla), is represented by the empanadas, which may be filled with chicken, meat, ham and cheese, etc, together with the matambre, a kind of meat rolled filled with  pepper, eggs and vegetables which may be eaten cold or warm. The regional cuisine also includes locro (prepared with wheat and pork meat).

Moreover, the great variety of wines defines the country as one of the best wine-producers of the world.

However, the mate infusion prepared with a green herb, is the most typical and historic drink. It may be drunk with or without sugar.

As regards desserts, there are many options, among the most important ones, we can mention: (i) ice-cream (the almendrado, cream with almonds is one of the favourites), and (ii) the alfajor, traditional and very popular in Argentina, it consists of two circular disks of mass, generally filled with dulce de leche and covered with black or white chocolate. Alfajores made in Mar del Plata are the most recognized ones.

The typical Argentine food for breakfasts or afternoon snacks are the facturas, a great variety of sweet breads, some of them filled with dulce de leche, marmalade or pastry
cream.

Entertainment places

Most of the entertainment places are located in Buenos Aires city, in touristic neighbourhoods, namely San Telmo, Recoleta, La Boca, Palermo, Monserrat, San Nicolás and Puerto Madero, among others.

(i) Floating Casino of Buenos Aires: Dársena Sur- Elvira Rawson de Dellepiane Street, Puerto Madero. Open 24 hs.

(ii) Tigre Casino: Between Parque de la Costa and the Mercado de Frutos.

(iii) Palermo Casino: Av. Del Libertador 4101, Palermo.

(iv) San Isidro Hippodrome: Av. Márquez 504, San Isidro.

Transport

Buenos Aires has a wide variety of buses, taxis, and 3 train lines to Buenos Aires province, one of which connects with Tren de la Costa,a train which bordersthe Rio de la Plata, ending at the Tigre city.

There are many subway lines that go throughout the entire city.

Car rental

Some companies: Rent-a-Car, Annie Millet or Localiza

Commercial hours

(i) Banks and exchange offices, Monday to Friday, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

(ii) Commercial Offices, generally from 9 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 7 PM.

(iii) Stores, in general from 9 AM to 8 PM, although stores in cities other than Buenos Aires close at midday. On Saturdays, the opening hours are 9 AM to1 PM, shopping centres are opened until 9 PM from Monday to Monday.

Coffee Stores and Pizzerias, are almost usually open, they close between 2 and 6 AM.
In restaurants, lunch is served as of 12:30 PM and dinner as of 8:30 PM. Most of the places offer fast food during all the day.

Shopping in Buenos Aires:

Shopping Centres:

• Patio Bullrich: Posadas 1245, Buenos Aires City
• Galerías Pacífico: Florida and Córdoba, Buenos Aires City
• Alto Palermo: Av. Santa Fé and Coronel Díaz, Buenos Aires City
• Abasto: Av. Corrientes 3347, Buenos Aires City
• Unicenter mall: Paraná and Panamericana, Martínez
• Dot Baires Shopping: Vedia 3626, Buenos Aires City (General Paz y Panamericana)
• Handicraft Fairs during weekends: Plaza Francia (Recoleta), San Telmo (on Sundays), Tigre, etc.
• Palermo neighbourhood: young designers’ stores. In Córdoba and Scalabrini Ortiz Avenues, several outlets may be found.
• Florida Street: the main commercial street of Buenos Aires, a pedestrian street always full of people. There are small and big stores.
• Santa Fé Avenue: elegant and big, with galleries and stores that remain open until late hours on Saturdays.
• Corrientes Avenue: the avenue that “never sleeps” includes economic stores. Towards the Obelisco, the street offers plenty of theatres and night activities.

Payment methods

Although the US dollar and the euro are generally accepted in all the stores, the exchange of foreign currency into local currency is made in banks and authorized offices, also in some hotels (although the rate is not so favourable). Credit cards generally accepted are VISA, American Express, Master Card and Diners. There may be some difficulties as regards the change of travellers’ cheques outside Buenos Aires and generally a commission is charged.

VAT Tax Refund (value added tax)

If you have bought domestic products in the stores identified by the "TAX FREE Shopping” logo, in the airport you may recover the 21% of your purchases in IVA concept.

You shall ask the seller to give you a reimbursement cheque together with the respective invoice. Before you arrive to your country, you shall go to customs to validate the stamp of the cheque. The VAT refund may be paid in cash, accredited in a credit card, or received by cheque at your domicile.

Tips
In Buenos Aires, tips are not included in the restaurant menus (a 10% of the total consumption is suggested).

As regards boy bells, guides and chauffeurs tips are voluntary.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Ambulance or Emergencies Service: 107
Tourism Police: 131
Police: 911

Drug stores:

There are drug stores chains open the 24 hors (namely Farmacity, Zona Vital, Selma)

Closed drug stores have a sign in the door where all-night drug stores are listed.

Medical Assistance:

Registration to the Colloquium does not include medical assistance. Remember to contract medical assistance before travelling.

Visas and passports:

Any person who does not have the Argentine nationality shall present the national identity card (in the case of bordering countries) and/or passport so as to enter Argentina.

Depending of the country of precedence, a Visa shall be necessary. We advise you to contact the Embassy or Argentine Consulate in your country to get more information.

Data of interest:

Official Web site of tourism of the City of Buenos Aires – Section foreign representations in Argentina:
http://www.bue.gov.ar/servicios/index.php?menu_id=69&info=consulados&lang=en

Locutorios: telephonic offices and Internet service. They have telephone guides of all the country and perhaps of some foreign countries too.

There also public telephones, which work with coins or with cards that can be purchased in any kiosk. Dialling 110 you may make any necessary enquiry.

Weather: www.smn.gov.ar

Electric wire: 220 w.

Plugs: