TUCUMÁN: Navidades

The trip to the northwest region of Argentina was a complete turning point in my stay in this country.

FRIDAY 12/24/10: Christmas Eve in Tucumán

It was a time to celebrate the holidays with the “family” that I’ve formed – consisting of Flor (France), Bruno (Tucumán), Meri (Catalunya), and Javi (Catalunya) – in San Miguel de Tucumán.

Bruno happy to host us in his town

 

La Catedral

Paseo de la Independencia

 

Casa de la Independencia (la declaración se llevó a cabo acá) / Independence House (the declaration was carried out here)

Bruno’s family was kind enough to open their home to us for Christmas Eve and Christmas and to share their family and traditions.  We helped out with the Christmas decorations and enjoyed the wonderful spread (which included sandwiches, salads and various types of meats).

the Christmas table and our decorations

el pesebre / the nativity scene

the chango vino

Bruno y su papá

las panzas

la comida

brindis

I did bring a little treat from Minnesota (thanks to a delivery from the mama).

los postres

At midnight, the neighborhood explodes in fireworks (no license necessary to purchase).

And a morrocho (dark-skinned) Santa Claus even came for a visit.

guitarreada

After all of the family festivities, everyone goes out with their friends, so Bruno and I (the only ones still awake enough) headed to a party with some of his friends to celebrate Christmas Eve the tucumán way.

SATURDAY 12/25/10: Christmas Day in Tucumán

Christmas morning guitarreada

The city of San Miguel de Tucumán has some great colonial architecture in the center.  Tucumán was the city where the declaration of independence was signed and holds great historical significance.

Casa de Gobierno / Government House

Casa de Gobierno by night 

Plaza Independencia

Casa de la Independencia

Paseo de la Independencia

pesebre / nativity scene

 


















La Catedral

Basilica de la Merced

One phenomenon that was new to us was seeing entire families on one mo-ped zipping around town.  I guess it’s like those families that won’t fly in an airplane if they’re not all together – if one goes down, they all go down.  We went for a little walk around the center and as some couldn't handle the sweltering summer heat, so we had to stop in the air conditioned heladería (ice cream shop).

Bruno enjoying his ice cream

Flor trying a bit of Bruno's ice cream...he's not so sure about it

streets of Tucumán

coolin' off in the plaza

Christmas night mass - so many people inside that they overflowed to the sidewalk

bat on the street

Christmas dinner at Costumbres Argentinos