01/08/2009

Welsh Patagonians in Aberystwyth

Vincente, a Welsh-speaking Patagonian, is seen here playing informally last night at the Morlan Centre in Aberystwyth. A former gaucho (Argentinian cowboy), Vincente is over in Wales to perform at the National Eisteddfod, being held this week in Bala. The event at the Morlan was held to promote Aberystwyth's new twinning with Esquel in Patagonia following the visit there of a delegation from the town earlier this year.

The distance involved will mean that contact betwen the two towns is less than with Aberystwyth's other twin towns of St Brieuc in Brittany and Kronberg in Germany. But the fascination of meeting people who are bilingual in Welsh and Spanish with little English plus the other attractions of the region will ensure that the initial twinning is built on. A group from Esquel, a university town of 30,000 people, are planning to visit Aberystywyth next year with a return trip to South America planned for 2011.

Anyone interested in making their own links or wanting to know more can contact Aberystwyth Town Council at council@aberystwyth.gov.uk

Thanks to Laurie Wright for the picture.

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