Córdoba

We´ve been in Córdoba for the last few days, adjusting to the shock of being in the second largest city in Argentina. It has a bunch of Universities and is very cosmopolitan and is still an adjustment after Peru and Bolivia. The city is bustling and attractive, with lost of amazing structures left from the Jesuits, including a cool crypt that was only uncovered when Telecom were digging under the city a few years back.

The thing that has made the largest impression so far (apart from the ever-amazing wine) is a memorial building to "The Disappeared", right in the center of the city. Now run by an energetic non-profit, the building has been kept in the state that it was used when it was a detention center ("D2") during the years of military dictatorship in Argentina. 30,000 people were "disappeared" (arrested and secretly executed without trial) between 1976-83 and we spoke to a man at the memorial center who had spent 11 years in various prisons for speaking out against the regime. It was so moving to hear of the dark history from his own mouth and see how passionate he was about not letting the country forget its past.

We also finally started getting our body clocks adjusted to Argentinian time and went out after a late dinner to catch a Milonga, a tango venue where anyone can come and take to the floor to tango. Of course, we watched from behind our wine glasses and marveled at the beautiful dancing. We´re looking forward to catching some more tango as we head toward Buenos Aires tomorrow night.