San Antonio de Areco

As a final activity before the start of courses, our program took us out to San Antonio de Areca, which is a ranch in the countryside 2 hours outside of Buenos Aires. They're known for their gauchos, or Argentine cowboys.

After 2 weeks of figuring out subways and buses it was nice to escape the city for some fresh air and quiet. The ranch was complete with giant slabs of carne cooking on an open firepit, corrals with dozens of horses, and newborn puppies running around.

We started out the day by riding horses, which I enjoyed despite my fear of horseback riding (which originated when I was thrown off my horse while learning how to cantor when I was about 10 years old).

Then began the feast of empanadas, choripan (chorizo sandwiches), carne and pollo served by gauchos (of course), and dulce de leche crepes. Argentines know how to eat.

After lunch we had a demonstration of traditional folk dancing (the same style as at the Ballet Folklorico) and then our gaucho show!

Gaucho is the name for traditional cowboys in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. You'd recognize them by their pants and ponchos -- waiters at steak restaurants will often dress up as gauchos. Well, we watched a demonstration of actual gauchos on their horses. The first test was to spear a tiny wooden stick through a metal loop, while galloping at full speed. Then they threw spears at a strawman and several of them performed gymnastics-esque tricks on their horses. The show ended with what seemed to be a traditional routine to show the closeness of the gaucho and his horse (I can't even begin to describe it!). For example, after the horse had flipped over on its back, the gaucho did a handstand on the horse's belly!

And now after a day of fresh air and good food, its back to the city. This is our last free weekend before classes start on Monday, so I'll be sure to keep you updated before then!

Besos!