Las Colectividades XXIII

Every year in the beginning of February , the city of Alta Gracia hosts the annual festival "Las Colectividades" in front of the Tajamar lake. Each night, a schedule of 8 countries perform their traditional dances on stage, ending     the night with performances by local and international artists such as  rocker/folk singer Leon Geico, coined the Bob Dylan of Argentina, the incredibly popular folk singer Jorge Rojas, the late, great Mercedes Sosa, and a variety of
 entertainers. The event is quite entertaining and well organized. Aside from listening to music and

watching wonderfully entertaining dancers on stage, one can visit the different tents and sample foods from around the world.
Under the Sirian tent, you will find a harem of belly dancers wiggling their way through a packed tent full of spectators. (one of the more entertaining tents) If you make your way to Espana , one of the largest tents in this event, not only will you be entertained by a robust Zarzuela singer belting it out, but you will also come across  one of the largest paellas you will ever see in your life! The massive desserts from Germany are eye popping and tempting as are the  honey drenched phyllo  pastries from Armenia.  If you are in the mood to shake your hips, head on over to the Cuban tent, grab a daiquiri or mojito and get ready to move your feet where you will be entertained by some excellent Cuban salsa dancers.    The Cuban tent usually starts hopping late at night.  This years entrance fee is 10 pesos. This event gets packed quickly so it is recommended to come early. Don't forget your dancing shoes!

My Cuban Trifecta

      Growing up in Miami, one of my most treasured childhood memories was my mother's garden. I often remember coming home from school and finding  my mother in the backyard wearing her blue polka dotted halter top revealing her dark freckled skin, and almost always with a machete in hand hacking away amongst the invasive banana trees that covered the walkway to our garden.  Our front and back yard was a tropical jungle with trees and plants overlapping each other while camouflaging our house with color  and fragrances.

Aside from our  pet parrots and the singing male canaries perched in their cages against the wall, I often wondered if my mother was trying to recreate her childhood home in Cuba  with this tropical paradise.  
 The Bougainvillea trees that seemed to take up  the most  space in our garden were of two variety of colors, a deep violet purple and a dark bright pink color that covered the dividing wall between our neighbors home and ours.

   Palm trees, Gardenia trees, Banana trees, Hibiscus trees, an Avocado tree, a collection of orchids and Cactus and a huge mango tree were all part of my mother's tropical menagerie.
   There are three trees in particular that I like to refer to as a "Cuban Trifecta". They are  the three that remind me most of growing up Cuban.
They are the Bougainvillea tree, the Gardenia tree and the Palm tree. I am happy to announce that my very own "Cuban Trifecta" finally came in!!
After waiting patiently for what seemed like an eternity, my Gardenia tree finally produced its first fragrant flower, giving 279 Bed+Breakfast its' very own "Cuban Trifecta" !

  I dedicate my "Cuban Trifecta" to "La Cubana".

                                   
                                                                     
                                           
                

Who will play Myriam Stefford and Raul Baron Biza in Hollywood's next Romance film?

When I hear the names Myriam Stefford and Baron Biza, I just can't believe that Hollywood hasn't produced a movie about this handsome and glamorous couple. Perhaps Stefford and Biza were not as controversial as Evita Peron or Ernesto"Che" Guevara to  have a three hour film produced about their lives, I really can't say. I can only comment from a romantic point of view, and in my opinion, this story has the makings of a true Hollywood romance film.
Swiss born, Rosa Margarita Rossi Hoffman took the pseudonym Myriam Stefford while working as an actress in theater in Vienna. In 1928, at the age of 23 while visiting the city of Venice, she met the writer and Argentine millionaire Raul Baron Biza with whom she fell in love and married in 1930. Stefford gave up her acting carreer and relocated to Argentina with her new husband. They alternated between Buenos Aires and the Sierras of Cordoba where Baron Biza owned an Estancia, "Los Cerillos" near the city of Cordoba. Baron Biza and Stefford shared a mutual lust for adventure. He introduced Stefford to the world of aviation. Prompted by a passion for flying, she earned her  pilots license and became one of Argentina's first female pilots. Baron Biza gifted Myriam her very own biplane christened "The Chingolo I". Expressing a strong desire to become the first female pilot in Argentina to fly a long distance route, Myriam and her flight instructor planned a  flight that would take her through 14  cities beginning on August 18th, 1931.

During the third stage of her flight in the city of JuyJuy, she flew into wire cables cutting off part of her wing during a landing procedure. A fellow pilot had offered to lend Stefford his airplane so that she could  continue her flight as planned. On August 26th, 1931, two days before their first wedding anniversary, a malfunction in the engine occurred ,tragically ending Myriam Stefford's life at the age of 26.
Completely heart broken, Baron Biza hired the engineer Fausto Newton to construct a giant mausoleum  in the shape of an airplane wing on his property  in Cordoba. The wing which is 82 meters high with a foundation of 15 meters deep, was constructed out of cement and 170 tons of iron for support. It took 100 construction workers one year and a half to erect .
In the interior of the wing, the 406 steps lead to the top of the wing where visitors can view the surrounding landscape from  the two windows built at the top of the monument. Myriam Steffords tomb and final resting place lies in a crypt several meters beneath the monument.
Rumor has it that Baron Biza had his wife's jewels and the Cruz del Sur, a 45 carat diamond placed in a silver box and buried inside of cement a few meters below the crypt.
Tragedy later followed Baron Biza until his death several years later by suicide. If you google Raul Baron Biza you can find out more about his turbulent life after Stefford's death. (juicy Hollywood material)
The Monument is really a majestic sight to see and not to be missed if you are traveling in these neck of the woods.
The Myriam Stefford Monument is located on Route 5 between Alta Gracia and Cordoba. If you look carefully, at night, you can see the the tail lights,  a subtle red beacon glowing on the wing.

Alta Gracia's "homeboy"

I found this really informative, entertaining, nicely designed website about Ernesto "Che " Guevara. I think it covers just about everything from  history, music videos, documentaries, quotes, Cuban related subjects,  merchandise, and a very entertaining collection of photos. It has everything you ever wanted to know  about "El Che".
The only thing missing is an actual visit to his hood in Alta Gracia !
http://www.hey-che.com/portal.html

Welcome to Alta Gracia's Best Kept Secret!

   279 Bed+Breakfast is entering into its 4rth season as Alta Gracia's first "Boutique"  Bed+Breakfast.

   Combining a blend of shabby chic simplicity and a touch of modern design, most clients feel quite comfortable and appreciate the over all atmosphere created here at 279 Bed+Breakfast.  After working in New York City as a photographer and PropStylist for more than 20 years, my experience and eye for detail, came in handy while decorating 279.
     279 has two rooms, each with its own bathroom and a very comfortable Queen size mattress.   Both rooms open to the patio and have a view of  several very colorful Bougainvillea trees that I have diligently  trained against the wall for the past 3 years.        
        The antique iron garden chairs and tables in the patio are a comfortable place to kick back and relax  with a book, a glass of wine or one of my specialty mojitos!
         279 is located within walking distance of Alta Gracias' historical district which includes The Jesuit Estancia, a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE and of course, the idyllic Tajamar Lake also built by the Jesuits which  is located parallel to the Estancia.
     Other attractions include The Che Guevara Museum and The Manuel de Falla Museum which are definitely worth visiting and also within walking distance from 279.  
      Alta Gracia's outdoor activities ; horseback riding, tennis, hiking, biking, and golf are also added attractions for the outdoorsy type, especially biking, my personal favorite. In about 45 minutes by bike (depending on your athletic ability) there are rivers with pools of water to be explored in surrounding towns. This type of  biking adventure to the river is what originally attracted me  to Alta Gracia.
 It's a great location for a picnic and a day of swimming surrounded by nature!

All this, and much , much more...

Lareo
279 Boutique Bed+Breakfast