Argentina Day 1

Argentina’s present state of recovery and recuperation is apparent in its every aspect. Argentina has always had a strong culture, with its people speaking in “che’s,” and predominantly in “vosotros,” almost in a state of defiance to the rest of the Spanish-speaking nations. In the words of our dear gray and grisly bearded Roberto, one of our many loving hosts here, the Argentinians are a passionate people. And if anything at all, they are passionate of their country. However, beneath the passion lies sadness that is brought to life each night in the sorrowful and solemn dance of the Argentine tango. Long inhibited by political and economic unrest, Argentina is just barely beginning to emerge from its burdens and reinstate its nationalistic pride that had formerly only prevailed by tongue through the “che’s,” and “vosotros” in their language. And it’s readily apparent.

The governmental buildings of La Plata that lie in disrepair and have revolutionary graffiti emblazoned on their white walls are slowly being renovated and repaired by construction workers. I do not deny – the slum neighborhoods consisting of ill-constructed shanties and lean-to’s clumsily constructed of rusting metal and planks of wood amidst piles of junk and trash are still very much a reality. However, they now stand in the shadows of high-rise apartment buildings and government sponsored and subsidized cookie-cutter houses where children and their families can move into, away from the illness, rats, pests, and trash that they had formerly lived amongst. And all this change in the looks of the country is supported by real and substantive change in the government and economy. Microfinance institutions such as that of our very own Grameen Bank are effectively working towards empowering the impoverished to bring themselves out of poverty. And Pinky says the political system is good. “The president is good. But Argentina’s a hard country to rule,” he says. Elections are today, and the people are indeed excited, because they know that they now live in a true democracy – And for a people that has just recently begun to experience true democracy, it is priceless.

In this state of recuperation, you see traces of Argentina fiercely holding onto its past as renovation projects are often conducted such that the familiar characteristics of the old architecture remain. The renowned cathedral of La Plata still stands as it did when it was first commissioned and constructed, just as the old Catholic faith still pervades in this country.

La Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción de La Plata

Interior de La Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción de La Plata

However, there are also those cases in which the old is torn down to construct buildings that are reminiscent of the 19^th and 20^th century architectural style of norteamericano. Even this passionate country is not immune to the lure of the red and yellow double arches of the McDonalds.