Sunday, June 24, 2012

Moments of despair

Yesterday was hour first trip to our new land since we bought it and as we walked around, every space had something to tell us. You see, nature has been the only living thing there for many years and all we have to do is just follow the patterns created.


First, I said hello to our incredible neighbors , El Cordon del Plata, a chain of mountains that surrounds us to the west that depicts the most incredible view as the white from the snow increases in the advance of the winter. I had never had such a living art gallery like the one we have in this place.


We then walked to the end of the property where the creek goes by with a wonderful flow that creates  nice music to your ears.


Now, there is an adventure related to this area that I have not mentioned and I should as what happened change the land and the way we viewed the place.
A couple of hours before signing the papers in the lawyers office, we decided to go to the property as Peter wanted to measure the small construction existing there. 
We parked our car in the street and proceeded to go over the water channel for irrigation that goes in front of the property , walking over some old wooden beams that barely hold on. We then walked trough the poplar tree plantation  that runs from the front of the property a couple hundred meters back to the little house and as we arrived we noticed tractor tracks that went to the creek. 





By now the  feeling that something was really wrong started growing  in us taking over how fast we moved  to the point that we found ourselves running to find out our worst fears,  the beautiful magical  ecosystem created by the creek, had been  destroyed by a huge bulldozer that in order to clean and improved the flow of water that goes by to the properties  that use the water for irrigation, had deepen the channel. Now instead of walking to the creek as before  we look from above at the water bellow going by  much faster than before since it went from a lovely creek protected by trees to and small river that we can't walk to it at less we build some stairs that can takes as there about ten feet down a steep muddy embankment
After our first stupor we looked around and saw the amount of trees that had been cut down and tears started flowing down my face as our lovely space had been transformed into something completely  different. Desperate we started climbing trunks that were in our way to the bulldozer trough big mountains of mud and branches in our effort to stop what was being done. Half way into the neighbors property and after we had fallen down a few times, we realized that there was no way we could make it to the operator and his destroyer machine that kept taking over the space with its horrible sound.


I told Peter that we had to stop and call the real estate agent, so we did. He promptly called the owner, who knew nothing of what was going on. In about twenty minutes they were in the property, I had already thoughts of backing off the deal as I waited for them to show up. When they arrived and walked towards the area and saw what had happened, the owner explained that in twenty years that he had the property, this has never happened despite the fact that many farm owners that depend on the water carried by the creek to irrigate their properties had asked to be dug and clean many times.
He said that what had been done was a very expensive job of cleaning the area and that even though it destroyed the beauty of the place, it has help the community and since no one was living in the property to tell them  not to cut so much in the way of the bulldozer, they just did what they had to be able to drive trough an area impossible to even walk across.
They really tried to comfort us with all kind of explanations of why it was really good what had happened, they even talked to the machinist that works for the irrigation department and was their friend, as they all know each other for many years of  living in the area. He apologized for the destruction that had to be done and explained how he felt bad about knocking down trees to make his way into a place that used to be part of his favorite childhoods  fishing spot.


We finally let good of our feelings of despair into an understanding of the greater good that had been done and went to the town to sign the papers. I was happy to let go of the big bundle  of  money that is needed for cash purchases of property in Argentina, I been carrying over my shoulders in a computer bag I had trough out the whole ordeal. 


Here are some pictures of before and after:







This is the road they made to make it to the creek also before and after. I must said that this pictures were taken with a few weeks difference when they were still leaves in the trees to being completely bared. 







Now going back to the beginning sentence of this new blog regarding visiting our property a week after the purchased, I must said that we are deeply in love with this place and the destroyed area is going to be rejuvenated and we have great plans for it and the inspiration I mentioned  just keeps flowing and I will get into the next blog.

Monday, June 18, 2012

TUNUYAN


                                                    TUNUYAN

I decided that I will not do the same thing that I did with the farm that we have now for two years and will write with this new property all the experiences and adventures that Peter and I undoubtedly get involved every time we go out driving looking for places.

This incredible space we got in the middle of a really rich area in many respects, a lot of water resources, great view of the mountains, a lot of foreign capitals have created great wineries and the place is booming, real estate prices are much higher here than the rest of the province.

Well, I could say more but I just wanted to give you a background info so you have an idea of the town.

After a long time of looking and driving around  I found in the internet after we finally decided where to live
this incredible place with very old walnut trees, some apple trees, a source of mineral water in the property and a creek at the end with crystalline water equal to the best bottle water in this country, a view to the Andes that is majestic! in a town called Colony of the Roses, very lavish in the spring and summer.
Driving trough the streets covered with trees is so beautiful !

Peter has been eagerly reading about so many subjects and you tube videos related to permaculture and natural pools, hydroponics, eco building, permaculture and other things, to many to mention here.
He is also producing designs and drawings in preparation for all this.

In the other hand, him and I are at a point in our lives that all we care is aesthetics, cosmic consciousness, living out doors, doing art, picking up where we left 30 years ago. Is interesting that this is the first time that his and my desires align.
Life is happy again, we feel like kids having our next adventure but this time more in sink with ourselves.

The two years all ready spent here have being like an opening into the school of life, that we both felt that we were discontented from, in here it hits you in the face, pictures in here come alive and by going trough them you arrived at the end with an incredible sense that you had one of the greatest experiences of your life and at the end it help you to regain who you are. Don't ask me how it works but as you get put in many new situations you learn where you are at and by observing yourself  you start letting go of old egos or I's to a greater feeling of self.

We have meet really incredible people from all walks of life and being a finca owner and a business woman. yeah finally a business woman since I have to deal with all kind of characters that come to buy hay bails, I'm also the Spanish voice of the duo; had made as richer.Also because of what we got involved we are able to meet and have fun with a lot of young people that other wise  wouldn't have happened , we love young people, they are the best!

Peter is  in a very productive time of his life and have a great create going that he hopes it would never stop. He is also having  a good time unifying architectural styles with different materials and techniques with the Argentine heartht/eco/permaculture movement of which we feel we are participating.






A good friend asked me , who or what is Tunuyan and here is a description of the area that I copy from the internet:


Tunuyan

It is located 80 km from the city of Mendoza at an altitude of 874 meters above sea level, has an area of 3317 and an estimated population of 40,436 inhabitants.

The landscape and nature provide us with all the excitement. Valleys, hills, mountains and streams crossed by the River Tunuyan combine magically providing an ideal place for all kinds of activities.


Area of crops, primarily apples, which has given him a reputation for excellent quality of these. In this emerging major agricultural producer of juices, ciders and essences.

Attractive festivities and events take place here such as: The Festival of the Rose, Fiesta Provincial Cherry, Arriero Festival, Triathlon Tunuyan, folkloric events, Noche de Cuyo, Pre Tonada and undoubtedly more ; s renowned Festival is the tune, which brings together artists from around the country, the cuisine is typically excellent.

We can make a stroll through historic sites such as El Manzano Monument or Resignation of General San Martín.

Among the deals that gives us the area you can visit wineries, sawmills, packaging, cold fruit, fields of vines, olive trees, vegetables, fruit of the local economy. Also the mineral water plant is a tour that we recommend.

In the town and its surroundings are all you need, whatever your interest, has a large shopping center, first class hotels, restaurants, cabins and services for farm tourism to adventure tourism.