31 Oct 2009 - Week 13 - Buenos Aires & Welsh Patagonia

After the relaxing days in Uruguay it was back to the hustle and bustle of BA for three days. 

The main reason for coming back was to watch the Super Classico - one of the world's most famous derby games played between River Plate and Boca Juniors. 

I was so lucky to be in BA for the game and luckier still to get a ticket it.  The match itself was not  a classic - a 1-1 draw, but the atmosphere was electric.

There were flares, ticket tape, drums,  massive banners and non stop singing form both sets of supporters.  It was an amazing spectacle to watch!

 After BA I headed down to Puerto Madryn, as the name suggests, a town named after a Welsh man - Love Parry, Lord of Madryn.   

This is where the first Welsh settlers arrived on 28 July 1865.  See what you can find out about the Welsh settlers in Argentina and their reasons for coming here!  I found the history of it very fascinating.

I had come here to go whale watching, so I booked myself on a trip.  I was not disappointed, the whale watching was amazing.  The whales were only metres from  the boat and I managed to get a few good snaps.  The whales come here to breed, protected by the bays that make the place a calm area for the mothers to bring up their calfs. 

I also got to see penguins, elephant seals and seals on the trip - a very successful wildlife watching day!

Next stop was Gaiman, a town where some of the Welsh settlers made their permanent home.  

It was very starnge to be in a place thousands of miles from Wales and hear Welsh being spoken.  I went to a Welsh tea house and had a delicous cup of tea with some Welsh cakes and bara brith! 

I was lucky enough in my timing to also watch the Gorsedd ceremony held here every year.  It was very similar to our one in school, and they also had a Dawns yr Flodau and the National anthem!

After Gaiman I was lucky enough to be invited to a Primary school in Trelew - Yr Ysgol Hendre.   

Like us, they learn Welsh as a second language, their first one being Spanish. 

So I found myself involved in a Welsh lesson, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  They were learning what they liked to do - Dw i'n hoffi ..........!  

The children were great and they have written some letters in Welsh that I hope some of you will reply to and which we will send back to them.

Before my night bus I went along to the annual Eistedfodd held in Trelew. Like the one in Wales they have lots of competitions for singing, dancing, poetry and music. 

Trelew is named after one of the first Welsh settlers - 'Tre' welsh for town and 'Lew' after Lewis Jones.

So I enjoyed a night of Welsh culture, sitting amongst an audience of many other Welsh people who had travelled here to watch the Eistedfodd. 

Among these travellers, I met a couple who live in Llanliewen Road who know Mr. Day and Mr. Mead. I also met Rhys Bubear Thomas's great Uncle - so the world is a very small place indeed!