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In the Santa Fe province where I live there is a city called Rosario, which I visited  with my host family on Easter weekend for a family gathering. The first day we went to a quinta, a small house in a more rural area. They’re quite common throughout Argentina to rent for a day or so for a gathering.

Road in Rosario, Agentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
The road leading to the quinta our extended family had rented for the day, outside of Rosario.
Rosario, Argentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
Around the side of the quinta. What I found interesting was the tree with all of the red bottle brush flowers in the top middle of the photo, as I didn’t realise they grew outside of New Zealand.

My host sister’s fiesta was with the mother’s side of my host family, but this weekend was with the host father’s extended family. I really love how large and close-knit the families are here in Argentina. We had a more traditional asado there – outside, with an open fire. It was the first time I’d had a rib at an asado, and it was so good!

Traditional asado. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
Unlike the asados I’ve had before, this was done not in an asado oven but outside. The meat isn’t cooked by directly touching the flames but by the cinders, so there was an open fire and the cinders were then pushed underneath the metal grille beside it. The ribs were cooked by hanging off of a metal pole in the shape of a ‘T’ near the fire.
The asador was one of my cousins.
The asador was one of my cousins.
Lunch at the XX with the family
Lunch at the quinta with the family

We stayed at the quinta until past dinner, and by the end I was really tired. I, along with many of my host cousins, took naps throughout the day. Siestas are an amazing part of the culture!

The next day we visited the Argentinian national flag memorial. It was built in 1957, on the anniversary of the death of the man (Manuel Belgrano) who had created and first raised the flag on an island across the bay. The monument is huge, with the tower being 70 metres high.

Flag Memorial Tower in Rosario, Argentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
The National Flag Memorial Tower from the front. Behind me was a massive Argentinian flag. Belgrano created the flag during the Argentinan War of Independence. The blue and white stripes are meant to represent the colours of the sky and sea, and the sun is the sol de mayo. I believe it was a symbol of the war and independence.
National Flag Memorial from a distance in Rosario, Argentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
The National Flag Memorial from a distance.
My host family and I on the steps of the National Flag Memorial.
My host family and I on the steps of the National Flag Memorial.

If you want, you can go inside the tower and take an elevator up to the top, where you can get stunning views of the city. Rosario is noticeably bigger than Santa Fe city, and it was interesting to view from the top of the monument.

Looking down at the National Flag Memorial in Rosario, Argentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
Looking down from the top of the Memorial Tower at the rest of the National Flag Memorial. Inside the propylaeum is a continuously burning flame.
Rosario from the top of the National Flag Memorial tower in Argentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
One of the streets surrounding the National Flag Memorial. Rosario is very apartment-intensive, which is different to my more suburb-like city of Santa Fe.
National Flag Memorial in Rosario, Argentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
The National Flag Memorial Tower from within the propylaeum.
National Flag Memorial Tower in Rosario, Argentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
A final photo of the National Flag Memorial Tower with the Argentinian Flag in the foreground. There are actually two official versions of the Argentinian flag – one with the sol de mayo (the sun) and one without it.

We also looked inside the Iglesia Catedral, where an Easter mass was in progress. Argentina is a predominantly catholic country and Easter is one of the most important holidays of the year. The holiday starts on Thursday, and because of this I didn’t have school on the Thursday or Friday before Easter. I also got to eat some of my first large Easter eggs (much larger than the filled Cadbury eggs that are popular in New Zealand), including a bon o bon Easter egg.

Iglesia Catedral in Rosario, Argentina. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
Inside the Iglesia Catedral during Easter mass. We only stayed for a few songs. I love older churches because of the detail of their art and architecture.

We stayed in Rosario for three nights, and went back to Santa Fe on Monday. It was a really fun weekend.

As I promised several blog posts ago, I have taken some photos of bon o bons with my proper camera:

Bon o bon. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
A Bon o bon in its wrapping.
Bon o bon. Photo copyright ©Sarah Albom 2016
A partially eaten bon o bon. The outside is chocolate, with a thin layer of a crunchy, waffle-like biscuit, and then a filling that I think tastes like a cross between peanut butter and cream.

Read Next: Sarah’s Snapshots – Soy Bean Farm in Rosario Argentina

What do you think of Rosario? Have you ever eaten a bon o bon?

This is part of Sarah’s Argentina Life series. 

 

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Comments

  1. Great post Sarah. I love all your pictures, but somehow I am always drawn to your photos of food – I think the 2 Bon o Bon photos are amazing!

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  3. Sarah I am so glad you got to visit this interesting city and that you seem to be surrounded by so much love. I hope you will take me here one day. These photos are wonderful, and Lexa and I share a favourite.

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  5. Your pictures are superb! I really feel I’m there – and considering the amount of meat and chocolate the Argentinians eat, I would be a very happy camper living there! And naps sound pretty good to me too. lol My fave pic was “The National Flag Memorial Tower from within the propylaeum.” The pic is so perfectly geometric, artistic, and impressive! Thanks for sharing Argentina with us! 🙂

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  8. Hi Sarah and Rhona – what a wonderful selection of photos of your three days – great reminders of so much to see … Wonderful to learn a little too – and now I know why the downing of the Belgrano in the Falklands War means so much to the Argentinians … I didn’t know who Belgrano was! Those Bon o Bons look good … but that Asado looks amazing … I’m glad I’m going out for a roast lunch – at least I’ll satisfy my desire for food – now!

    You’re obviously having a lovely time … wonderful report backs … cheers to one and all – Hilary

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