Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Thursday 14th - Collected car in BA around noon and drove to Parana on the bank of the Parana River. Stayed in the Gran Hotel Parana; not so grand and orientated to business customers. After a walk by the river we ate at Ristorante Giovani but we had to wait ages as it was Valentines night! Very tasteless steak; probably a first for Argentina.
Friday 15th Long drive to Corrientes, again we had to stay at a business hotel. On the way we stopped off at Santa Elena to see the meat processing factory and chilling facility where Williss father often visited for his work many years ago. We ate at good restaurant, Enofilos, good wine and better steak.
Saturday 16th Looked at Corrientes murals [they are trying to make these a city theme] before leaving for the wonderful Estancia Santa Cecilia. On the way we tried to visit Yacyreta Dam/Hydroelectric scheme which is a joint Argentina and Paraguay project. We had not realised in order to see the dam we needed to book in on a guided tour and they were all full. The estancia is run by the owner Sylvia who is an excellent hostess. Her sons run the business and the historic estancia has been in the family for several generations. We were greeted with iced green tea; Gillian and David then went for a horse ride and Willis had a swim and sunbathe. Evening meal was in the open air in the garden; moon and stars, great food and wine. Sleep well except for the cries of anguish from the calves which had just been separated from their mothers.
Sunday 17th So nice at the estancia we agreed to spend the whole day there. Two hour horse ride in the morning around the estancia and down to the Parana River with Paraguay on the opposite bank. Great ride except Davids horse began to flag 20 mins before arriving back and needed the combined encouragement [whips] of David and the Gaucho to get him back to base. Cool swim before a salad and fruit lunch with beer and wine [a little]. Gillian and David made a late afternoon visit with Sylvia [our hostess] to an animal rescue and research centre. We were introduced to Ronaldo the scientist in charge and saw jaguar, puma, ocelot, monkeys, birds, etc. They have either been confiscated from smugglers or brought in injured. They will be released into the wild after rehabilitation; the exception is the jaguar who have to be kept permanently as they have learnt to attack farm animals and would be killed by the farmers on their release. Ronaldo also showed us his lab and a collection of armadillo shells and finally a fish farm which is a government attempt to restock the river because of damage done by hydroelectric schemes. Final swim in the evening and another delicious evening meal.
- comments