Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
365
costs about $3 (£2). A remise from Trelew to Gaiman should cost around $12 (£8.20). If
you are driving, take Ruta 25 west from Trelew.
WHAT TO SEE & DO
The Welsh museum, Museo Histórico Regional Gales, at the corner of Riv adavia and
Sarmiento streets (no phone), is an interesting place to get the lowdown on the town and
its origins. The Welsh immigrants built the Chubut railway, and the museum is housed
in the old railway station. It contains some interesting documents and relics from the late
1800s and early 1900s. Admission is $1 (70p).
If you are keen on continuing to explore the Welsh scene, take a side trip to the nearby
village of Dolavan, 18km (11 miles) w est of G aiman via RN 25. I t's an authentic
little farming village, with wooden water wheels and a historic to wn center with old
brick buildings, including the old mill kno wn here as the Molino Harinero, Maipú 61
( & 2965/492290 ). Built in 1880, it still operates, has a small cafe ser ving hearty sand-
wiches, and opens sporadically for guided tours. The little brick chapel, built in 1917, is
typical of the Welsh ar chitecture that blends so naturally with the envir onment. I t's
one of a handful of similar constr uctions that dot the countr yside of the Chubut Riv er
valley.
WHERE TO STAY
Many of the small teahouses (see abo ve) have a room or two available for rent. They are
generally spanking clean. Try the friendly Hostería Gwesty Tywi, Jones 342 ( & 2965/
491292; from $45/£30 double). The most charming place to stay near G aiman is the
rural Posada los M imbres, Chacra 211, G aiman ( & 2965/491299; www.posadalos
mimbres.com.ar), which is housed on a sprawling farm 6km (4 miles) from town. There
is an old house, built more than 100 years ago, and a new one that is much brighter; both
have three doubles that cost $228 (£154) with br eakfast included.
12
High Tea in Gaiman
Most visitors come to Gaiman to have real Welsh tea, a tradition that was built
on the difficult life of the early settlers, who came home in the afternoons and
found solace in a cup of warm br ew sent specially t o these outposts fr om the
United Kingdom. The tradition lives on, and it's now shared with the public: The
late Princess Diana herself enjoyed tea here in 1995, when she made an official
visit. The chair she sat on is displa yed inside a lo vely house that has bec ome
one of the best t eahouses in G aiman: Ty Te Caerdydd, Finca 202 ( & 2965/
491510 ), ser ves Welsh t ea c omplete with sandwiches , sc ones, homemade
jams, cakes, and lemon pie every day from 2 to 8pm. The cost is $8 (£5.40) per
person. Ty Nain, Yrigoyen 283 ( & 2965/491126 ), will fill y ou up with torta
galesa (Welsh cake) and a bott omless pot of t ea, also for $8 (£5.40).The lovely
1890 home is sparkling clean and has a small museum of Welsh-Argentine his-
tory out back. Note that the Gaiman tea experience is popular with bus t ours;
if you are on your own, look for a spot that doesn't have a bus parked out front
if you want some personal attention.
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search