Golfing in Alta Gracia

 Ahora que Fidel Castro se ha retirado, tal vez  puede encontrar el tiempo para practicar su juego de golf.

En 1962, el Sr. Castro perdió un partido de golf con Ernesto "Che" Guevara, quien había sido caddie en su ciudad natal de Argentina antes de convertirse en un icono Revolucionario. La derrota de Castro pudo haber tenido consecuencias desastrosas para el deporte. Había un campo de golf de La Habana que se convirtió en una escuela militar, otro en una escuela de arte. Un periodista que escribió sobre la derrota  frente a ¨Che¨, del barbudo Comandante de Cuba, que era un notorio perdedor, fue despedido al día siguiente.

Ahora, altos funcionarios de la isla quieren convertir el paraíso comunista de Castro en un punto de acceso para este deporte decididamente capitalista, para generar dinero en efectivo por sus problemas de liquidez la economía. El año pasado, el ministro de Cuba de turismo, Manuel Marrero, anunció planes para construir hasta 10 campos de golf para atraer turistas de alto nivel.

 Mientras, yo conozco una ciudad donde Ernesto¨Che¨ Guevara  jugaba al golf y donde hay buenos restaurantes , hoteleria,

y amplias canchas de golf, uno en particular que esta nominado en el ¨TOP¨ 10 canchas de golf en Argentina.

Alta Gracia... solo 30 minutos de Cordoba 

Now that Fidel Castro has retired, perhaps he can find the time to work on his golf game.

In 1962, Mr. Castro lost a round of golf to Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who had been a caddy in his Argentine hometown before he became a revolutionary icon. Mr. Castro's defeat may have had disastrous consequences for the sport as he  later had one Havana golf course turned into a military school and another into an art school. A journalist who wrote about the defeat of Cuba's bearded Comandante, who was known as a notoriously bad loser, was fired the next day.

Now, top officials on the island want to turn Mr. Castro's Communist paradise into a hotspot for this decidedly capitalist sport, to generate hard cash for its cash-strapped economy. Last year, Cuba's minister of tourism, Manuel Marrero, announced plans to build as many as 10 golf courses to lure upscale tourists.

Meanwhile, I can recommend a city to visit where Ernesto¨Che¨Guevara played golf,  where restaurants and hotels are good and it is home to several golf courses, one in particular that has been nominated as one of Argentina´s top 10 golf courses in the country.  

Alta Gracia… only 30 minutes from Cordoba, Argentina´s second largest city.

Descubres la ciudad de Alta Gracia en bicicleta.

Como una cortesía para nuestros huéspedes, 279 Boutique Bed+Breakfast ofrece 2 bicicletas de montaña para explorar la hermosa arquitectura colonial y zonas verdes en la ciudad de Alta Gracia.
No te olvides de tus zapatillas de deporte!
As a courtesy to our guests, 279 Boutique Bed+Breakfast offers 2 mountain bicycles to explore the beautiful colonial architecture and green parks in the city of Alta Gracia. 
Don't forget your sneakers !!

The Ernesto Che Guevara Museum's new Entrance Fee.

    A few weeks ago, I received the new entrance fee list for all the museum's in Alta Gracia. I was shocked to see that the Che Guevara Museum increased it's entrance fee from 5 pesos to a staggering 75 pesos for foreigners , after all, let's face it, the Ernesto "Che" Guevara Museum in Alta Gracia is not the Metropolitan Museum in New York City nor the Louvre Museum in Paris. The Che Guevara Museum is a small museum located in one of several houses in  the city of Alta Gracia where el "Che" and his family supposedly lived for a brief 6 months during his childhood.

Aside from several beautifully displayed photos depicting Che Guevara's childhood in different rooms of the house, and a few replicas  including the motorcycle that he used to travel through South America with his close friend Alberto Granados, there isn't much substance in this museum, certainly not enough to command 75 pesos. Of course if you are a Che Guevara  die hard follower , 75 pesos is a mere bagatelle.
Several  European and American clients who have stayed at 279 Boutique Bed+Breakfast  refused to pay the entrance fee but not because they could not afford it, but mostly on principal.

 If this new fee is a deterrent, luckily, Alta Gracia's other museums, The Manuel de Falla Museum, The Gabriel Dubois Museum and our Jesuit Estancia/Museo which is a Unesco site , are certainly more affordable, interesting and worth a visit.

Visit our Facebook page at  : 279 Boutique Bed+Breakfast
and let us know your opinion.

Happy New Year!! Feliz Año Nuevo!!

Happy Holidays !

  
  ¡Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo a partir de 279 Boutique Bed + Breakfast. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from   279 Boutique Bed+Breakfast.  279ブティックベッドからメリークリスマスとハッピーニューイヤー+朝食。Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr von 279 Boutique Bed + Breakfast. Buon Natale e un Felice Anno Nuovo da 279 Boutique Bed + Breakfast. Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Έτος από Bed Boutique 279 + πρωινό. Feliz Natal e um Feliz Ano Novo de 279 Boutique Bed + Breakfast. Merry Christmas na Heri ya Mwaka Mpya kutoka 279 Boutique Bed+ Breakfast .मेरी क्रिसमस और एक नया साल मुबारक + 279 बुटीक बिस्तर से नाश्ता.Wesołych Świąt i Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku od 279 Boutique + śniadanie. Joyeux Noël et une Bon Année à partir de 279 Boutique Bed+Breakfast

Happy Holidays from : 

 279 Boutique Bed +Breakfast 
            Lareo + Indiana Jones + Srinivas

An invitation for Cesar Millan, "The Dog Whisperer" to train a Cordobes dog

Here we go again. Another dog bite. Can you believe this is my second dog bite? That makes two bullets that I have taken  for my dog.

 Although in both cases, I would like to be clear and state my dog’s innocence.

The following names of these  teeth grinding  assailants, have been modified to a last name initial  to protect the owner's integrity.

Case#1

Attacker’s name: Rufus G.

Breed: German Sheppard

Sex: Male

Proximity of wound: surrounding area of right knee cap

Wound Healing time: Forever

Attacker’s owner:  Victim's friend’s dog

Victim’s side of the story:

 Victim was leaving friends home after an afternoon chat. Escorting victim out  of the front door of  house, friend forgets to close the door entirely. (Hello..oo , First red flag.)

As the victim walked over to untie her dog against the side of her friends house, the assailant,  Rufus G ,  pushed his nose against the front door and glided in between the front door and it’s frame escaping.  As Rufus G approached the victim’s dog ,  Indiana Jones, a flying fur frenzy of aggression took place. The victim being right smack in the middle,  was knocked down by assailant Rufus G. and in a slow motion, (visual) Chariot of Fire moment, the mandibulas of

Rufus G.,  took a bite perforating the victims favorite low rider  wool pants purchased at “Barneys” of New York, (not that this piece of information is important to this deposition, but still, a painful retail lost), and inserted it’s teeth into the victim’s knee area causing  damage .

End of story.

 

Case #2

Attacker’s name: Clara C.

Accessory to crime: Sophie C.

Breed: little four legged aggressive yapping hot dog and Cocker Spaniel

Sex: both females

Proximity of wound: underneath  right side calve , several inches above left side of ankle area.

Wound healing time: Don’t ask. It’s only day 7.

Attacker’s owner: One of my across the street neighbor’s (not saying which one)

Victim’s side of the story:

 While walking  her dog, Indiana Jones ,  victim's neighbor in typical Argentine oblivion*, was pulling out of her driveway with the gates wide open, (Duh! First red flag) when her two dogs, one Clara C .and Sophie C.(cocker spaniel)  grabbed an opportunity of  freedom from their usual fenced in prison bars and escaped to the street ( Really ?!! , Duh  #2) and like two bats out of hell, pounced on the victims dog.  Victim immediately let go of the leash to distance herself from this violent ménage et toi . As victim stepped back, victim's dog Indiana Jones and Sophie C. continued their dominating dispute.

 Meanwhile, ,  Clara C. remained behind with the victim and for no good reason other than to make the victims life miserable, took a chunk of the victims Cuban /American leg meat for a quick snack.

End of story.

My spritual seeking question is:

Where is the “Dog Whisperer” when you need him?

I openly challenge  the dog guru himself, the maestro of dog trainers,the honorable Cesar  Millan to train a Cordobes dog. Of course, with complimentary accommodations at 279 Boutique Bed+Breakfast. How about it Cesar?!!!

*you mean , other people besides me exist?

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 .