Ana Astri OReilly

Acclaimed Argentine author and poet Jorge Luis Borges once wrote, “Hard to believe Buenos Aires had any beginning. I feel it to be as eternal as air and water.” Buenos Aires has a rich history and architectural heritage for a relatively young capital with an ancient soul. And the best way to discover the soul of the city is to take long, leisurely walks.
As you stroll around, you will find oases of quiet in busy areas. These are the pasajes, or passageways, which serve as time capsules, prese...

Imagine spending days, even weeks, in the vast plains with only your horse and your loyal dog for company. Herding cattle during the day, sipping mate next to the campfire at night. The need for human interaction will be met at the nearest pulpería, although near and far are relative terms in the Argentinean Pampas. Deliver the cattle to the port first or take it to a distant pasture and only then you can relax and stock up on staples.
These taverns known as pulperías were one-story construct...

The reddish-pink ramparts around the Marrakech medina enclose a thousand years of history. The Almoravids, a confederation of Berber tribes, conquered North Africa and Muslim Spain in the 11th and 12th centuries and established Marrakech as their capital. The new city became a thriving political and economic center, as well as a multicultural and multiethnic crossroads.
At the time, the medina was the commercial and religious center of the city. It continues to be a hive of activity, which no...

Friday traffic crawled its way south out of Dallas on the interstate. Everyone was trying to leave the city at the same time. Flatbeds, cars, and the ubiquitous pickup trucks were nose-to-tail for miles. My chest felt tight with anxiety. It was not just because of the dense Texas traffic. The pressures of living in a new city far from my home were getting to me. I needed relief.
I found it hard to adapt to my new home in Texas. The first few years were difficult. Everything was different. I d...

The limestone buildings shimmer in the blazing Texas sun. A Franciscan friar emerges from the parish office behind the church. I briefly wonder whether he’s melting under his brown habit. I know I am, and I’m wearing shorts.
Weather considerations aside, the sight conjures images of a once-bustling religious community. Brown-robed monks give religious instruction in Spanish and teach practical skills. Coahuiltecan Indians weave on the looms or hammer away in the smithy—an ordinary day at one ...

It is a bright spring day in the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires. The usual mix of cars, buses, taxis, and delivery vans comprise the heavy traffic. Just people going about their business along Avenida Bullrich. On one side of the road, elegant apartment buildings crowd behind the elevated train tracks. On the other side, behind the railings, a different story emerges. Here, soaring minarets dominate the skyline, and open space and silence abound...

The neighbourhood of La Boca with its huge iron Transporter Bridge, a local landmark. | Photo: Ana Astri-O'Reilly
Buenos Aires is a vibrant and diverse city located on the shores of the River Plate. A medley of eclectic architecture, museums, festivals, and a lively fashion and design scene make the Argentinean capital a leading cultural powerhouse of the Southern Cone of South America. Latin passion intersects with a zest for the visual arts, literature, and theatre. Local expert Ana Astri-O...

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Two hundred years of Argentinean creativity and talent cannot be easily summed up. However, visitors to Buenos Aires, a major Latin American cultural hub, can appreciate and learn about Argentinean art at some of the city’s art museums.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA)
The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, or Fine Arts Museum, holds the country’s largest collection of Argentinean art. On display are artworks from the Middle Ages to the present.
Th...

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I think of reading a book as no less an experience than traveling or falling in love.
Jorge Luis Borges
Imagine losing yourself among bulging bookshelves looking for that unique treasure; the smell of ink, glue, and paper enveloping you like a warm hug. Buenos Aires, the hometown of acclaimed Argentinean author Jorge Luis Borges, offers the combined experience of travel and books. With 20.1 bookstores per 100,000 population, Buenos Aires is a haven f...

Pizza is a big deal in Argentina, and its capital is peppered with iconic pizzerias. Here are the Buenos Aires pizzerias—and Argentine pizza styles—to know.
Growing up in Buenos Aires, I have clear memories of my dad, almost every evening after work, stopping to get a slice of pizza. Even when he reminisces about it now, he says his taste buds ran amok just thinking about that perfect combination of melted fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, and baked dough. He simply had to get his daily fix.
Ba...

What if you could prevent equipment breakdowns and save time, labor, and money? Then, preventive maintenance in manufacturing is the answer. The benefits of IoT preventive maintenance solutions are, on average: a 25% increase in productivity, a 70% breakdown reduction, and a 25% decrease in maintenance costs.
What Is Preventive Maintenance in Manufacturing?
In a smart factory, IoT-enabled sensors monitor and collect data from machines in real-time. Then, a preventive maintenance system evalua...

There is no doubt that technology evolves at a fast pace: new devices and systems constantly vie for consumers’ attention. And many of these new technologies offer endless opportunities for businesses to grow. Industry 4.0, for example, offers manufacturing companies the possibility to collect and analyze data from their production lines and to automate processes. The way it works is through connected devices, machinery, and production systems. The end result is a smart factory with enhanced,...

Buenos Aires
The famous expression “los cien barrios porteños” translates as “the 100 neighborhoods of Buenos Aires” and originates from a piece of tango music that was popular in the 1940s.
Although in reality there are only 48 neighborhoods, each one has its own identity, whether it’s known for the tango, its elegant or modern style, or as a working class or immigrant neighborhood.
Read on to find out more about five different neighborhoods that really show the diversity within this amazing...

With its cobbled streets, wrought iron balconies, and eclectic architecture, San Telmo is Buenos Aires’ oldest and most historic neighborhood. And, although it is the smallest one with an area of half a square mile, it is packed with fascinating local history and culture. The magic of San Telmo attracts tourists, local hipsters, recent immigrants, and antique hunters alike.