Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
261
as well known as a shy school bo y with asthma known as Che.
Museo Casa de Ernesto
Che Guevara
, Villa Nydia, Avellaneda 501 (
&
354/742-8579
or 0810-555-2582;
museocheguevara@altagracia.gov.ar), is a suburban home wher e the legendar y r evolu-
tionary spent much of his childhood. There you can see some of his personal possessions
and correspondence—some addressed to his old buddy-in-arms, Fidel Castro. Admission
is 90¢ (60p) and it is open M onday 2 to 7pm and Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 8pm. For
a good 5km (3-mile) walk, make for the J esuit ruins of
Los Paredones,
past the poetic
Park García Lorca. The walk includes a view of the
Gruta de Lourdes,
a shrine popular
with pilgrims in F ebruary, and a r eplica of the famous F rench grotto. There is a large
reservoir known as
Los Molinos
37km (23 miles) south of town. It is popular for water-
sports and angling for trout and
pejerrey.
OUTSIDE TOWN
One of the pr ovince's biggest festiv als is the O ktoberfest in
Villa G eneral Belgrano,
52km (32 miles) south of Alta G racia and 88km (55 miles) fr om the capital. This Ger-
man settlement's population was boosted b y interned sailors fr om the Graf Spee in the
war years. A quiet, leafy resort town most of the time, it comes alive the first half of every
October with a beer jambor ee spiced up with a gener ous helping of genuine G erman
sausage. For more information, try the village
tourist office,
Av. Roca 168 (
&
354/646-
1215;
www.vgb.gov.ar), open daily from 8:30am to 8:30pm.
WHERE TO STAY
During high season—in summer , J uly, and Easter—r ooms fill up and prices jump
accordingly.
Hostal Hispania,
Vélez Sarsfield 57, Alta G racia (
&
354/742-6555;
$35/
£24 double), is an old r esidence with large, comfortable rooms and a fine v eranda over-
looking the sierras. The Spanish owners serve delicious tapas. For something more mod-
ern and plush, tr y
Solares del Alto H otel,
Bd. Pellegrini 797, Alta G racia (
&
354/
742-9086;
www.solaresdelalto.com; $80/£54 double, including br eakfast, heated pool,
gym facilities, and Internet).
El Potrerillo de Larreta,
Los Paredones, Km 3, Alta Gracia
(
&
354/743-9033
or 743-9034; www.potrerillodelarreta.com; $120/£81 double), is a
plush countr y club with beautiful wood-paneled bedr ooms and a r olling gr een golf
course. Farther south, in Villa General Belgrano, you'll find a charming Swiss-style hotel:
Berna H otel,
Vélez S arsfield 86 (
&
354/646-1097;
www .bernahotel.com.ar; fr om
$68/£46 double), is an attractive, efficient hotel with a large gar den and pool.
9
WHERE TO DINE
Hispania,
Urquiza 90, Alta G racia (
&
354/742-6772
), serves delicious paella, washed
down with sangria. Highly recommended for dessert is the
crema catalana.
Another res-
taurant with an international menu,
Morena,
Av. Sarmiento 413, Alta Gracia (
&
354/
742-6365
), is in a lo vely old house.
Brunnen,
Av. R oca 73, Villa G eneral B elgrano
(
&
354/646-1832
), serves German fare and brews a very decent house beer. Visitors can
tour the micr obrewery out back.
Choperia Blumen,
Av. Roca 356, Villa General Bel-
grano (
&
354/646-2568
), is another good sour ce for r eliable German food and draft
beer.
