Quilmes...locals and tourists to this lovely city of Buenos Aires may recognize the name of one of the many excellent local beers (which by the way comes in many different tastes). A great brew, which tastes even better when the temperatures here reach 35+ degrees Celsius.
Quilmes is also the name of a satellite city to Buenos Aires. The city is at the edge of the great Rio de la Plata, whose tributaries such as the Parana River up north have been flooding the country side lately, making thousands of people homeless.
As a result of the flooding, several meters above normal river levels, unusual things start to float downhill...
Quilmes, being one of the downhill locations, has a new claim to fame now: large 'camalotes' (rafts/beds of aquatic vegetation) arrive bobbing on the river waves and covering their surface with thick acres and acres of carpets of lush greenery.
As one may imagine, these things are a microcosm by themselves, housing frogs, snails, snakes, water rats and mosquito nurseries. In addition, they provides the only 'terra sort of firma' for other stranded small mammals trying to safe themselves from drowning.
Here we are, Quilmes Plata River beaches have disappeared under water (polluted heavily in its own right) and camalotes have reached the height of the downtown malecon (river walk way). Apart from the usual debris of every imaginable kind of 'basura' we now have an invasion of viboras y culebras (snakes and vipers) who wiggle their way into the streets and sidewalks of Quilmes. Unfortunately the bites of some of the creatures (who are not native to these southern latitudes, but normally live in Amazon type jungle habitat) are poisonous. TV programs warn, illustrated with detailed descriptions of the poisonous invaders, and beg the population - stay away.
The beaches are closed, municipal workers started to clean up with buckets, coke bottles, snake 'pinchers', plastic bins, broom sticks..(.all work overtime) the undesirables of the wild life kind.
However, families taking their kids swarm down to the 'beaches' to participate in the entertainment, totally ignoring warnings about poisonous, potentially fatal bites. In the words of one unconcerned mother, whose young boy was dangling a 'vibora' in front of her: nothing will happen. Admirable fatalism....dogs start chasing the new toys, and terrified 'nutria' try to escape to the further reaches of their temporary floating homes.
Less visible, but just as dangerous, mosquitos carrying dengue fever travel first class in these plant rafts.Quilmes now reports more than 15 confirmed infections. It's a jungle out there....
Super sized snail....(the one on the right)
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| A small snake which travelled a couple of thousand kilometers in its 'camalote' |
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| Squirrels trying to keep their little feet dry.... |
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| The Argentinian Navy (part of it) in a bed of vegetation... |
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| And tomorrow.....I am off to Uruguay with the local Buquebus (ferry). Their docks are surrounded by 'camalotes' as well. I just hope the snakes don't see the ferries as a pleasant alternative to their watery homes. |
