Today was our first free day in Argentina without any hospital visits or lectures. We took the time to visit Don Silvano ranch in Pilar which is a city about an hour north of where we are staying in the Buenos Aires province. When we arrived at the ranch, we were greeted by the staff and hundreds of mosquitoes. We began the day at the ranch by walking around a little to explore the setup and all they had to do. We saw many llamas, horses, and other animals roaming the property of the ranch. The ranch was kind enough to provide us empanadas which were the best I have had yet on this trip. After exploring the property more, we road in a carriage around the ranch that was being pulled by two horses and directed by a gaucho. While I did want to ride a horse, this was a unique way to explore the property and the Argentinian ranch culture.
After the ride, the staff at Don Silvano taught us about the history of the gauchos and their role in Argentine history. Gauchos are cowboys that came over to Argentina in the 19th century. When they first began agriculture in Argentina, it was not for exports or a commercialized reason. These gauchos wanted to sustain themselves and live a ranch lifestyles in Argentina. However as time went on, they realized that they could export large quantities of leather and agriculture to make a business out of their lifestyles since these goods were in high demand. So, while the gaucho has become more commercialized over time, an Argentinian gaucho has always represented the symbol of masculinity in Argentina and is a crucial part to Argentine history. Argentina is now known for their excellent cattle, agriculture, and leather. The reason that Argentina is known for these things today is because of the gauchos that came to Argentina in the 19th century. Today, the image of a gaucho has changed in Argentina. While gauchos still tend to cattle everyday, many perform shows to visitors giving them a glimpse of the history of the gaucho. After the history lesson, we had lunch at Don Silvano ranch with a lot of food and a show of dancing and singing that was traditional to Argentina. We watched the dancers perform tango and there was a singer with a guitar who played many traditional Argentine songs and styles.
We finished the day by watching the gauchos in action which was very cool. One of the traditional gaucho games was called Corrida de Sortija where we watched them charge full speed at small rings suspended from sticks and try to fit a small stick into them while standing on the saddle. This was extremely impressive because it is clear that only someone with a lot of experience could successfully do what they were doing. If they got the ring off the stick they would then choose an audience member to give a besito too as part of Gaucho tradition. It was a really cool day that was focused on a key element of Argentine culture that formed it into what it is today.
Also, with Mother’s Day being tomorrow and me in Argentina, I want to write about the best mom in the world. Mom, thank you for being the most supportive and loving mom I could ask for. I know you weren’t the biggest fan of me going to Argentina but I haven’t gotten anything pickpocketed yet so you should be proud. But actually, I miss you and love you and can’t wait to see you on Saturday!