Córdoba Off The Beaten Path

Alta Gracia is a pretty little town, rather close to Cordoba. It is perfect for a day-trip from Cordoba.

From here, you can more or less see some lovely mountain ranges in the distance and you can visit Museo Che Guevara.

El Comandante Ernesto 'Che' Guevara spent his childhood here in Alta Gracia and the museum was the house rented by his parents during his childhood.

There is a small collection of photos and some items around the house. 2 short movies about 'Che' are shown - one of his childhood and one of this last days in Bolivia before he was killed.

The one of his childhood was particularly interesting to me, as musings from his old childhood friends, his cook, his teachers showed how contemplative, sensitive and generous Ernestito (as he was known then) was as a child. He did not just read books, they said, he devoured them. And whenever he had anything, he always shared with his friends and family. He never hurt anyone, not even birds and animals. Even as a little ‘un, he had the charisma and leadership that he displayed later, as he was the leader of a neighbourhood gang.

There are more photos of his usual guerilla self, smoking a cigar, standing amongst soldiers in the middle of the jungle, grinning away and one of him with nearly all his children.

In a way, to me, ‘Che’ is no longer just a legend with the famous frozen image of that mid-distance heroic gaze, topped with a beret, etched on the side of a building in Havana, Cuba, on the 3-Cuban peso coin, and on countless T-shirts and badges. This museum showed how human he was. This museum showed how human he was.

3 more images

Che Guevara was born in Argentina,....., but due to a Astma desease his parents moved to Alta Gracia and he lived here for about 10 years
This small museum shows how Che and his family lived here. Furniture and sanitary facilities, books, clothes and the cycles of Ché crossing parts of South America with his best friend
Not that long ago - 3 or 4 months ago Fidel Castro from Cuba and Chavez, President of Venezuela visited this Museum, as .....

2 more images

From Cordoba to Alta Gracia, visiting :
- The enstancias del Jesuits, an interesting place of the former "Textile Farms" founded by the
Jesuits in the 17th century
- Iglesio La Merced : nice and typical colonial architecture, the altar is made of ceder wood from Paraguay
- El Obraje

Many people from Argentina head towards Villa Carlos Paz (1 hour ride from Cordoba City) during their holidays. Therefore it's a quite crowded place at the Lago San Roque. If you want to take a swim in a more idyllic place, take the bus to Cuesta Blanca (45 minutes from the terminal in Carlos Paz). You'll get off at a small bridge. There you'll find a sandy beach and a tiny river with clear water. Perfect for taking a sunbath or a swim. On a sunny day there will be local people, but still it won't be as crowded as Carlos Paz.
Directions: From Córdoba Ciudad go to Carlos Paz (1 hr. drive from the terminal), then 45 Minutes bus ride from the bus terminal at Villa Carlos Paz is Cuesta Blanca.

If you understand Spanish, find about independent theater in the local newspaper (La voz del Interior) and go see young people doing what they like most. There are around 20 places in the city where you can see independent theater groups. ´Independent´ means they do it for fun -they charge very little (around 5-10 pesos) and some of them are quite good.

La Cumbrecita, a very small town - only 90 people living there!, some km from Villa General Belgrano.
Yummie yummie! Apfel Strudel, Sacher Torte and another great cakes. This town will remind you Austria!
Don´t miss the little chapel, the cementery and the Fountain. To arrive there by car, once at La Cumbrecita you will need to leave the car and Walk!
Suggested lodging, Las Verbenas .

www.lacumbrecita.info

German city in Argentina.........