Argentina & Bolivia



Dateline: Buenos Aires, and reflections on the rural northwest ...

Jack (October 2003) [Map]

Mike and I visited several historic, traditional towns in the far northwest of Argentina, in the province of Salta, and even had the opportunity to trek into southern Bolivia (Villazón). What we grew to truly appreciate were the cultural legacies left to Latin America by the Spanish, most notably her splendid central squares---something sorely missing from most of America's second ring suburbs today. These central squares were generally adorned by a cathedral, cabildo (municipal building), hotel, and other key administrative or commerical buildings, while the square itself resembled a mini-oasis of palms, other arid climate plants, and a maze of sidewalks, benches, and monuments ... nothing short of a work of art in the heart of the community.


Street Performing Duo, Barrio San Telmo, Buenos Aires

Sunday "Ferria", Western Barrio

Manifestation against the IMF, Salta

Central Square, Cabildo (Municipal Bldg), Salta

Salta's Cathedral

Salta's Basilica

Mike engages instructors before Humahuaca's high school

Traditional Andean Musicians, Humahuaca

Landscape beside Humahuaca's Monument to Patriots

Mountainside "de Siete Colores" and the magical sky behind Humahuaca

Mike and Jack atop Humahuaca's Monument to Patriots

La Quiaca, Argentina--Villazón, Bolivia Border
only about 5,000 kms to Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego)
(See below for press release on recent activities here)

Buenos Aires Reunion (Weekend I)
Cafe Tortoni
Ernie, Mike, Jack, Eunju

Buenos Aires Reunion (Weekend II)
Cafe Parrillada
Eunju & Mike, Jack & Ernie

Tigre Ferry route near the "Estuary"

Salta Panorama at dusk, view towards Andes ...

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Kline [jmkline@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 5:09 PM
To: jackgconrad@earthlink.net

Subject: The bridge to Bolivia

Dateline La Quiaca: Some unemployed workers and sheep and llama raisers blocked that bridge that is near the sign illustrating the unique Argentine system of measuring distance. They had a lengthy list of demands, Vils, starting with a hike in unemployment benefits and compensation for the damage done by some faulty foot-and-mouth vaccine. There's probably a Yank or a Spaniard stuck in La Quiaca for longer than he wanted to be there.


Demonstrators Block Argentina-Bolivia Bridge

2003-10-29 10:53:26 (Xinhua) Dozens of trucks were stopped Tuesday on a border pass between Argentina and Bolivia, where a bridge was blocked by Argentine demonstrators. The demonstrators, who set up a roadblock on Monday, were mainly unemployed people and ranchers, headed by Spanish priest Jesus Olmedo of the La Quiaca church. The Argentine unemployed demanded an increase in the monthly 150-peso (52 US dollars) subsidy by the government, whereas the ranchers protested the death of over 5,000 lambs and llamas, which was caused by expired anti-foot-and-mouth-disease vaccines applied to the animals. The Argentine border police received orders to remain passive in regard to the demonstrators' blocking the Horacio Guzman Bridge which links the Argentine city of La Quiaca and Bolivia's Villazón.

Local police chief Hugo Wirtz said an alternative route is sought for the 40 trucks stopped on the Argentine side and the one dozen trucks awaiting on the Bolivian side.


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