Esquel and Trevelin - Welsh Patagonia!

My first night in Esquel

Jeremy Wood picked me up from the bus station. He arrives in his 4x4 car, with Welsh Patagonia doning the sides. Jeremy takes me to the hostel, but only to drop off my bags as he then gives me a short tour (by car) of Esquel, calls on Eluned who is on a year placement from Wales, but she isnt in, so then leaves me in town for a couple of hours before picking me up again to take me to a Badminton exhibition! So I venture to a Badminton exhibition.... not for the badminton, but it was quite spectacular to see pros at work, but to meet Clare Whitehouse a welsh national who now lives in Trevelin and is the welsh language education coordinator here. Clare contacts Eluned, who is actually heading out for dinner with a colleague... so within moments (and after failed attempts of trying to get my phone to work), I make a dash to the hostel to then head for Eluned´s house and go for dinner with Gladys ( a welsh speaker) and her husband (who doesnt speak welsh, only spanish!). A bit of a mad start to my arrival in Esquel!

Eluned and myself were treated to a lovely meal at an Italian restaurant. An authentic restaurant where the owner had umpteen types of wooden puzzles for the customers, so we had a try at a few, with some success too! After dinner, we went to another restaurant/cafe bar and had coffee. It was about 1am and I realised there were young children out eating with parents! Still cant get over the late eating in south america.

I get dropped off back at the hostel by Gladys and her husband and thats my first few hours in Esquel!

Eluned & Menter Patagonia

Over the couple of weeks I spent in Esquel and Trevelin I met up with Eluned, from Llanddarog, who arrived about a month earlier and is staying in Patagonia until December working as a teacher and also for Menter Patagonia. A lovely lady who shared similar interests to me, so we often had a good ´clonc´ (chat). It was great on my part to have such good company who was also a welsh speaker, who also allowed me to take part in some of the events she organised as well as sit in at a welsh lesson. Eluned asked for my assitance for a Saturday night event, the Eisteddfod Dwl (a crazy event/cómpetition night), whereby I was to be a judge! I obliged, though had hoped not to have done it solo, but it turned out I did it on my own. Details of the events and of the Fenter can be found at: http://www.menterpatagonia.org/cymraeg/newyddion.php

Ysgolion Cymreig yr Andes (The Andes Welsh Schools) - Esquel & Trevelin

Eluned took me to both schools (whilst she lived next door to one, which is primarily a community centre). Classes would be held most afternoons and evenings, with students ranging from children to adults, some beginners and some who were very well acquainted with the welsh language. Both schools are also set alongside the welsh chapels at the towns, though the chapel at Trevelin was under renovation. Talking of renovation, it reminds me of the big hole outside the Esquel centre. Builders were doing something and placing a great big tank in a hole, whilst they also churned up the pavement... thus getting to the school some days was an obstacle! Whilst they also managed to break both a water pipe and the electricity that supplied Eluned´house!!

Eisteddfod Dwl

One Saturday night, Eluned arranged an Eisteddfod Dwl at the Esquel centre. A night of crazy competitions between two teams. They involved reciting a piece of poetry as a 100yr old person, a shy child, eating tuna mixed with jelly, story and mime, a welsh haka as well as a dance off to some welsh rock music! The event was followed by a feast prepared by those in attendance, empanadas, pizza, cake and not forgetting the red wine of course! I thoroughly enjoyed the night and was so inspired by the willingness of the people to have a go, both the young and not so young! The young lads and their break dancing was amazing... so my task as a judge was a difficult one! Twm Twm in the end made great progress and took the 1st prize!

Easter Celebrations

Eluned had organised one evening to make chocolate easter egg nests at the after school club (chocolate crispy cakes). The kids thoroughly enjoyed it, though there was a lot of corn flakes on the floor by the end. Whilst waiting for the cakes to dry, we had a little play out side on the field, volleyball and skittles!

Eluned also organised an Easter event one evening for the family. The night consisted of an easter egg hunt, after having made paper baskets, a pin the tail on the rabbit game (whereby the adults did appallingly and some of us were led astray by the kids!!). An egg and spoon race was had, but they play this race differently in Argentina... the spoons are held in the mouth.. not the hand! A few fallen eggs meant quite a bit of eggshell on the wooden floors! The evening ended with pizza and home cakes, before we headed home.

It was at the Easter event I met Alwen Green, a welsh patagonian, who had superb welsh. The name rang a bell as I had been given some contacts by John Adams Lewis from Cardigan, given Aberteifi is twinned with Trevelin. However the only part of the name I could remember was that I emailed an ´M Green´. She thought that might be her sister Mary. Anyhow, the next day, Alwen invited me for a little tour of the family farm and gain a little knowledge of the family history.

After the Easter event (rather than going straight home), Clare suggests Eluned, Clare and myself head for a little drink.... and maybe something to eat (as there are no pubs in Trevelin, just restaurants!). En route, as we are travelling around the roundabout, Clare recognises a car and slows down and speaks with them. They are again part of the Green family in Trevelin. When Clare does pull up at a restaurant, she gets a phone call... from the occupants of that car and they suggest we meet them at another resturant! So we did... and this is when I met Charlie and Margarita Green... and it turns out Margarita was the M Green I emailed, though she had not received it as I was given an old email address! A little later, their son Gery also joined us for a meal. Mind you, I didnt eat, Id had enough pizza and cake, plus it was now quite late!! I was offered dessert.... the selection was very tempting, but I passed on that too!!

I will leave my not so little entry for now and return again with a little bit more about the following:-

• The Patagonian Welsh people
• Welsh people in Patagonia
• Vincente Evans, The Green Family
• Asado
• Welsh Teas - Nain Maggie (Trevelin) & Blasus (Esquel)
• La Trochita - The Old Patagonian Express Train
• Trevelin Fair
• Trevelin Horse Show
• Planeta Hostel - Esquel
• Casa Verde - Trevelin
• The National Park