Visiting my Former English Student and his Family in Neuquen

My Argentine family! Hector, Martha and Tina
Originally uploaded by louise_parmenter.

On Thursday 1 March I arrived in Neuquén and was received with the greatest generosity by Hector (my ex student) and his wife, Martha. They welcomed me into their home immediately and I automatically felt like an new member of the family. Martha and I hit it off immediately, she introduced me to all of her friends.

Hector had invited me to stay in his home to offer me the opportunity to experience real life in the Argentine interior, after having heard my minor laments in Buenos Aires about the all-too-familiar European lifestyle I was experiencing both within my flatshare and in the Capital generally. Here in Neuquén Hector and I continued where we had left off in Buenos Aires with our interesting conversations about culture, history, Argentina, Europe, the oil business, etc.

I spent two wonderful weeks in their beautiful home, a new house in a new neighbourhood, located in a secluded valley within the undulating landscape of the outskirts of this small town, Neuquen. The landscape can be described as red-soiled, rugged, desert-like on the one hand, and on the other as lush with vegetation and various tree types where the enlightened engineering of Cipolletti has allowed the river Rio Negro to be channeled to villages and orchards. (A neighbouring town is named after him and is where I spent many a sunny morning drinking coffee and chatting with Martha and her friends.)

I hope these words sufficiently express my gratitude to Martha, Hector, their daughter Tina, their domestic help Paola and their friends.

GRACIAS POR TODO MARTHA Y HECTOR!!! QUE BUENAS PERSONAS SON!!

Here are the photos.


DISTANCE TRAVELED SINCE USHUAIA: 3,896KM