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Published: February 19th 2023
All-Day Shore Excursion – Gaucho Life on The Pampas
Near the Soccer Stadium, There Was What Appeared to Be a Homeless Camp and an Adjacent Impromptu MercadoFirst, since I have opted to participate in three shore excursions in Buenos Aires, I have decided to compose two blogs to reduce the number of pictures and the amount of verbiage in each blog and to make them more a little more “user friendly” for my readers. It was a short, overnight sail upstream on Río de la Plata from
Montevideo, Uruguay to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sunday, February 12, 2023 would be our first of three days in the capital of Argentina. "Buenos Aires" can be translated as "fair winds" or "good airs," but the former was the intent of the 16th century founders (I am told in the literature) when the city’s name is placed in the context of the original name, "Real de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre." The Buenos Aires metropolitan area is known for its eclectic European architecture and rich cultural life and is home to multiple ethnic and religious groups. Since the 19th century, Argentina in general, and Buenos Aires specifically, has been a major recipient of millions of immigrants from all over the world. Thus, Buenos Aires metro, with a population of around 15.6 million people, is considered one of the most
All-Day Shore Excursion – Gaucho Life on The Pampas
We Passed a Handful of Interesting Buildings on the Way to the Controlled Access Highway diverse cities in the Americas.
Intrigue accompanied the terms pampas and gauchos when I learned of them in grade school geography, so who would be more inclined to sign up for the 8-hour shore excursion entitled
Gaucho Life on The Pampas than Uncle Larry. From the Holland America web site, "The Pampas is a sea of green grass that covers fully one-fourth of Argentina and is the home of the legendary gaucho. Prairies extend beyond the horizon, dotted with thousands of head of cattle, which are the source of Argentine asados (roasts) -- arguably the best meat in the world. Today you will visit an estancia (estate) in the countryside, approximately 1.5 hours from Buenos Aires. The estancia is a beautiful country residence and old ranch, where you are welcomed with a typical snack of empanadas. You can stroll around the farm, take a horse and carriage ride, or watch the gauchos preparing your barbecue lunch (consisting of renowned Argentine beef steaks), salads and desserts. Lunch includes red wine, beer, mineral water, soft drinks and coffee. A delightful folkloric show entertains you, including dancing and singing, representing life on the pampas. Hear the thunder of hooves as the gauchos
demonstrate their skills in the saddle with spectacular races and precision throwing of the boleador. Notes: Wear comfortable walking shoes. Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable sunscreen. Bring bottled water. Bring insect repellent. The ranch outdoor programs, such as the horse show, races and gaucho skills demonstration, are subject to weather and terrain conditions. In case of rain during or before the visit, this part of the program may be canceled without notice. Horseback riding is available; waiver must be signed, and medical conditions disclosed. Some areas of the estancia may not be exclusive to Holland America Line guests. Expect traffic delays in the port area due to an ongoing construction project. Delays may extend tour duration by up to one hour. Your driver will do his/her best to minimize the inconvenience; your patience is appreciated.”
The driver took what seemed to be a slightly meandering route past some landmarks to get to the controlled access highway that brought us to the pampas. We immediately were greeted by a hostess in traditional cultural attire who offered, what else, empanadas. They were excellent
All-Day Shore Excursion – Gaucho Life on The Pampas
The Floralis Generica (The Flower of Buenos Aires) Is Made of Steel and Aluminum – the best I’ve had so far on the cruise. As we nibbled on the treat, our tour guide explained the layout of the ranch and the location of the various amenities, most importantly, los baños. The gaucho skills demonstration was second on the agenda. The seating area was mostly shaded, and the demonstration was entertaining for many. Personally, rodeos are more suited to my liking, but ten years in New Mexico spoiled me rotten! Next on my itinerary was the wagon ride. I was given a genuine reality check to appreciate the hardships endured by the pioneers of yore. After a ride of 3-4 minutes, I can only imagine riding in a wagon all day and then, as I was about to fall asleep, saying to myself, “Oh, boy. We get to do that again tomorrow.” My last visit was to the main ranch house, or the hacienda. The museum is appropriately furnished to reflect the way of life in the day. Nicely done.
Our final stop was the dining hall where phenomenal Argentine beef was served as the entrée. The server brought out a platter with slices of tenderloin. When I asked for a slice “mucho rojo,”
All-Day Shore Excursion – Gaucho Life on The Pampas
The Well-Trained Horses Came Over to Greet the Audience he replied, “Un momento.” After emptying the platter, he departed only to return in a couple of minutes with a generous single slice, perfectly done as medium rare. The meat was “melt-in-your-mouth” tender and deliciously flavored. Chicken was also available for all as a second main course, but I passed and savored the lingering taste of the beef. The wine bottles on the table were never empty for long, and all varieties of soft drinks and water were available. During lunch, a pair of musicians offered entertainment and were followed by a couple that showed us, what else, the tango. I had the good fortune of taking a seat next to a couple who have now lived in Canada for some 30+ years but are originally from a part of the former Yugoslavia that is now Croatia. During pauses over the 1-1/2 to 2 hours, we talked about everything imaginable from dual citizenship to the obstacles they faced as new immigrants to the issues leading to the dismantling of Yugoslavia. That education that was not included in the price of admission. I hope to continue our conversation aboard ship someday.
Oh, yes. To answer the opening question. I’m sure
some gauchos tango, but the mix of the gauchos and tango on this shore excursion was perfectly balanced to give us a learning experience, some entertainment and fantastic food. A great day in Las Pampas, and all the other passengers I spoke to agreed that we got our money’s worth!
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