Fiesta de Gauchos (Argentine Cowboy Gathering) in Alta Gracia

   Far away from the center of town, driving through one of those out of the way , dusty, graveled  roads, a desolate field  surrounded by trees, shrubs, and blue skies  awaits us.  Local Gauchos ,"Los Serranos" from Alta Gracia gather for another “Fiesta de Gauchos” event.

    My friend John,  an honorary “Gringo Gaucho”, is always one up on these events and is my “In” connection to this underground world of what I would call the real McCoy's of Argentine cowboys. Arriving to one of these events, always feels like a secret out of the way gathering, that is only for a select breed of participants and spectators. These Gauchos, many of them entire families , are dressed in their best and ready to compete for prizes and a show of honor.

The first event of the afternoon is “La Lanca”, a sort of modern day version of jousting. The competing gaucho runs his horse at full gallop with one hand on the reins and the other hand holding a lance in air and aiming for a barely visible target, a small ring that dangles from an extended pole. Talk about coordination, precision and focus! This is really a very impressive event to witness. These gauchos have trained since a young age and have reached a level of coordination that surpasses anything that you can imagine. The events continue with little bucking ponies which at first, seem like innocent miniature creatures , that is until the young gauchos  bravely mount them and are released into a frenzy of uncontrollable bucking .

As I watch this event, I am convinced that this is the  “Rite of Passage” for these young Argentine gauchos to prove their manhood. As they fly off these ponies and hit the hard ground, they quickly get up, brush themselves off and as tradition goes,  after wards, they  mount a larger horse while handed the Argentine Flag to proudly wave  as they circle the arena of spectators. And on goes the events with bucking mules and bucking horses to follow.

Of course what is a gaucho fiesta without the traditional Choripan sandwich (sausage), locro (corn stew) and the  famous Argentine empanadas , all this, while being accompanied by an extra large plastic cup of Quilmes beer as the announcer is heard in the background reciting Gaucho poetry while the participants are being prepped for their moment of glory.

If you are lucky enough to witness one of these events, you will go back home with memories of a true representation of Argentina’s culture and heritage .