Pampero!

La comunidad de habla hispana esta básicamente desparramada por todo el mundo y tenemos, en general, diferentes costumbres, comidas, acentos, condiciones climáticas, etc. Hoy voy a hablar un poco sobre lo que me toca a mí en este rincón del planeta donde vivo: La llanura Pampeana, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Spanish speaking community is basically scattered geographically around the globe, and we have, in general, different customs, foods, accents, climatic conditions, etc. Today I am going to speak a little about what it is like in the corner of the planet where I live: The Pampas Plains, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"¡Pampero!" Todos por aquí saben lo que este grito significa: Correr como un endemoniado a un lugar seguro y resguardado. La primer cosa que lo delata es una calma chicha donde pareciera que el tiempo se paralizó. La segunda es el famoso “cigarro” en el cielo. El cigarro es una nube gigantesca y negra, en forma de cilindro que viaja con rapidez. Solo hay unos segundos para prepararse de lo que se aproxima. El Pampero es el nombre de un tipo de viento muy Argentino. Un viento feroz y repentino, capaz de levantar techos y tirar arboles gigantescos. Este viento viaja sin freno de sur a norte por la extensa llanura Argentina conocida como la Llanura Pampeana incrementando su velocidad. De allí viene su nombre: Pampero.

"Pampero!" Everyone around here would know what this shout signifies: Run like hell to a safe and protected shelter. The very first sign of its coming is a deafening calm where time seems to have been frozen. The second is the famous "cigar" in the sky. The cigar is a black and gigantic cloud, in the shape of cylinder that travels quickly. There are just a few seconds to prepare for what is approaching. Pampero is the name of this very typical Argentine storm. This wind is sudden and ferocious and capable of lifting roof tops and bringing down gigantic trees. This wind travels from south to north through the extensive grasslands of Argentina raising its speed due to the vastness of the land. These plains are known as the pampas, thus the name Pampero, which means “of the pampas”.

Se mencionó un viento violento en crónicas de las primeras expediciones que realizaron los españoles al Rio de la Plata, cuando las Pampas no se habían descubierto, y se sabe que estaban refiriéndose a nuestro viento Pampero. Este viento siempre fue conocido por tener un fuerte espíritu, a veces comparándolo con sus pobladores, y hoy en día es protagonista de más de una historia o leyenda.

A violent wind was mentioned in chronicles of the first expeditions that the Spaniards carried out to the Rio de la Plata, when the prairies had not yet been discovered. Today we know that they were referring to our Pampero winds. This wind has always been known to have a strong spirit, and at times it has been compared to its inhabitants. Nowadays is the protagonist of several stories and legends.

Esta es la letra y el motivo de este tema que he escogido. Un Tango: música y baile también muy Argentino, inspirada en este viento:

Pampero

Soplo de nuestro espíritu indomable,
viento bagual, aliento de salud,
alma de nuestra tierra inigualable,
¡respiración de América del Sud!

Grito de la llanura que reclama
su fiera y orgullosa soledad,
sos viento de una estirpe que proclama
la altivez de su ruda libertad.

¡Pampero!
¡Viento macho y altanero
que le enseñaste al gaucho
golpeándole en la cara
a levantarse el ala del sombrero!

¡Pampero!
¡Viento indómito y mañero,
de ti aprendió la raza
a corcovear furiosa
cuando quiso montarla un extranjero!


Pampero!

Life of our untamable spirit,
Furious wind, breath of health,
Soul of our unmatched land,
Respiration of South America!

The shout of the plains
which demands its wild and proud solitude,
you are wind of a lineage that proclaims
the pride of its rugged liberty.

Pampero! Proud and rough wind
you taught the gaucho
striking him in the face
to lift the flap of his hat!

Pampero! Restless and untamed wind,
From you the race has learned
to buck furiously
when attempted to be mounted by a foreigner!

Music: Osvaldo Fresedo
Lyrics: Edmundo Bianchi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIUaeqCDGgw

Cigarro sobre el Rio de la Plata. Creo que este debe ser el peor lugar para ver este fenomeno: Un velero! (foto tomada por un primo mio, el navegante)
"Cigar" over the "Rio de la Plata". Possibly the worst place to see this phenomenon: A sailboat! (picture taken by my cousin, the sailor)

Pampero! Como me hiciste llorar cuando me volteaste mi querido sauce de mas de 100 años!
Pamero! You made me cry when you brought down my beloved 100 year-old willow tree!

Mi jardin despues del Pampero

My garden after the Pampero struck.

Para ver mas fotos, visita mi flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cynthiadelgiudice/
Check out my flickr account to see more photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cynthiadelgiudice/

Gracias por la visita, y mantente asalvo!
Thanks for reading, and keep safe!

http://cynthiadelgiudice.etsy.com

Canyengue Demo

Canyengue Demo
Originally uploaded by Cynthia Del Giudice

No need to say much about this...no words can describe watching this with your own eyes. This was a demonstration at a local gathering where they also gave us a crash course on Canyengue Tango.

This style of tango originated in Buenos Aires in the 1920s and 30s. It is danced with a close embrace with knees slightly bent and if you look closely, the hips are joint as opposed to the milonga style, where the joint is more in the upper torso with a slightly leaning posture towards each dancer.

I must add that all this is always improvised by the dancer (not choreographed). The woman has to be very sensitive and intuitive to follow the man closely. It is a communication, and requires intense concentration...on my part at least!

Drought, Climate change and Globalization

Dead fish . dry lake
Originally uploaded by Cynthia Del Giudice

This is not in Death Valley, or drought stricken West Africa. I took this picture this afternoon at my local lake located in the bountiful Argentine Pampas. This is the result of a severe and unusual drought due to globalization, climate change, deforestation, and irresponsible farming practices...soy beans...oh, don't even get me started...

I am part of an N.G.O. We took advantage of this sad situation to clean up the trash inside the lagoon.

Armadillo

There are many things that inspire me, but mostly my environment. I live in the country in the Argentine Pampas, which is flat grasslands, with wildlife and non wildlife animals. I came across this armadillo near an abandoned farmhouse. It turned out to be a pretty friendly creature. It let me get close enough to photograph, and even came close to smell my boots at one point. The next time I saw it I got a chance to touch it too. I love the little nose, hairs, and texture of this little creature.