Bariloche Chocolate

There must be few tourists who bid farewell to this city on the shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake, without taking with them at least one box of chocolate. Anyone planning to take a souvenir or a postcard from Bariloche, chooses chocolate.

But why did chocolate in Argentina became so typical of Bariloche? There are two factors that may explain it.

First: the weather of the region, cold during most part of the year, suitable to enjoying chocolates’ calories.

Second: the characteristics of the cultures that settled in Bariloche, which also were –and still are- an important factor. Central European origins left their mark. In fact, the first chocolate store was that of the Italian Aldo Fenoglio, who was followed by others of his same origin, bringing along the culinary customs of the Old Continent.

Tomb of Eva Duarte Peron

Evita’s tomb

Extra measures were taken by the government to secure Evita’s tomb. There is a trapdoor in the tomb’s marble floor, which leads to a compartment that contains two coffins. Under the first compartment is a second trapdoor and a second compartment. That is where Evita’s coffin rests, about 8 meters underground. The tomb is said to be secure enough to withstand a bomb attack, even a nuclear attack. Eva Perón was the most powerful woman in Argentina, and it is said that she was the most powerful woman of South America. She quickly became a popular myth.
lle est rapidement devenue un mythe populaire. Pour en savoir plus, lire l’article dans Wikipedia.

Evita's Grave: Don't Cry for Me, Argentina

We are also going to the grave of Eva Peron, the famous Evita of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina!" fame. She is buried in the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires. Argentinians were upset that Madonna, an Italian-American, was chosen instead of an Argentinian actress,  to portray the famous First Lady.

Here are two videos.

Carlos Gardel and Tango

Buenos Aires is the home of the tango, the sexiest dance ever, which originated in the neighborhood of La Boca, the port area of BA.

The most famous tangista of all was Carlos Gardel, born in France.

One of his famous songs is Mi Buenos Aires Querido, (My Beloved Buenos Aires)

Mothers of the Plaza del Mayo

During the "Dirty War" of the 1970's to early 1980's in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, the governments (in my opinion and that of many international human rights organizations) overreacted to some terrorist acts by leftist organizations by "disappearing" many innocent people, many of whom were university students and union activists. Pregnant women were kept until their babies were born, and then the mothers were murdered and the babies given to supporters of the government regimes. For over thirty-five years, the mothers of the "disappeared" (pseudonym for "murdered") and grandmothers of the stolen babies have been marching in the Plaza del Mayo. We hope to visit these mothers on Thursday.

For an excellent film, see "The Official Story."

The Official Story- Argentina- 1985

In Spanish with English Subtitles

During the 1970’s in Argentina, the government began a “dirty war” against those suspected of terrorism, and those who, unwittingly, knew people who were suspected of being terrorists. Most of those affected were young. Thousands of people began “desaparecidos” (disappeared), while thousands of others were jailed. In some cases, pregnant desaparecidas were kept alive until their babies were born. Then the mothers were murdered and the babies adopted.

Alicia, (Norma Aleandro) though a history teacher, seems unaware of this piece of recent history of her own country, or perhaps she is purposely closing her eyes to it. On the eve of her adopted daughter, Gaby’s, fifth birthday, Alicia sits up drinking and talking with an old friend, Ana. Ana has been living in Venezuela for five years and Alicia is very happy to see her. But Ana reveals a secret: She was jailed and tortured. She had seen the young mothers whose babies were stolen from them. Alicia is shocked. Who was Gaby’s mother? What happened to her? Being forced to discover the truth about Gaby’s origins is the pivotal point of the film. When Alicia confronts her husband, a successful businessman, about the origins of their child, the husband urges her to forget the whole thing. Alicia goes on a search for the truth, which leads her to the Plaza de Mayo, where the mothers of the disappeared march each Thursday, demanding the truth of their children’s “disappearances. ” Alicia’s search leads her to the hospital where Gaby was born, and, finally, to a woman who may be the child’s grandmother.

Two interesting subplots are: the discussions of Argentinean history by the very erudite students in the history class and a family meal with Hector’s father, an anarchist who fled Spain following the Civil War there, who is upset by his son’s politics.

Director: Luis Puenzo
Actors: Norma Aleandro and Hector Alterio

Rio Negro Province

Río Negro (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈri.o ˈneɣɾo], Black River) is a province of Argentina, located at the northern edge of Patagonia. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut, Neuquén, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean.
Its capital is Viedma. Other important cities include the ski resort town of Bariloche, Cipolletti and General Roca.