I just saw this great photo of Putin with the President of Argentina, Kristina Fernandez de Kirchner:

ВВ и Кристина

Nice couple, no?

Seriously, I just wanted to share this photo with you because I have a soft spot in my heart for Argentina were I spent the happiest days of my childhood (I still speak Spanish with a funny mix of two accents: Russian, of course, and the accent of Buenos-Aires locally known as cantito porteño).  And though I have not been to Argentina for many years now, I still “carry” Argentina inside me, especially in the music I listen to at home (Piazzolla, of course, but also Sui Generis, Eduardo Falu, Mercedes Sosa, and many many others).  Part of me will always be in Argentina and Argentina will always be a part of me.

I also want to share with you a great recording of a concert of traditional Argentine folk music which brought together some of the best modern artists of that genre.  FYI – Argentina has many sub-cultures, one very specific of Buenos-Aires, another one of the north of the country, yet several other ones of the regions of the Andes mountain ranges.  The roots of these sub-cultures  include, of course, the native Americans, but also music from European immigrants (mostly from Italy, but also from Spain, Jews from Russia, Germans, English, Poles and many other parts of Europe).  What you hear in this concert is the music of the immense Argentinian plains, the “pampas”.  These are mostly very traditional styles (called zamba, chacarera, milonga, chamame, etc.) original to Argentina.  Just ignore the rather useless and completely out of place pseudo-ballet dancing during intro to the concert.  But 5 minutes in, the “real deal” starts!

I hope that you will enjoy this concert!

The Saker