Argentina: Alta Gracia (Che Guevara)

If you've seen the movie The Motorcycle Diaries or know even a ounce about Latin American revolutionaries, then you've at least heard about el Che. Ernesto "Che" Guevara was born in Rosario, Argentina in 1928 and later moved to the city of Alta Gracia where the air quality was more suitable for a young boy who battled frequent asthma attacks. Alta Gracia is located approximately 40 kilometers outside the city of Cordoba, so recently we decided to pay a visit to Che's childhood house, which has now been converted into a museum. 

The setup includes a glimpse into Che's childhood bedroom, complete with a bed, desk, scooter, and other toys. On his desk were a few books, one of them being Robin Hood. I'm not sure if Che's political ideology actually stemmed from the reading he did as a young boy, or if in retrospect the curators of the museum thought that such a book would be an appropriate addition to his bedroom, you know, to add extra effect. Regardless, Che grew to become a prominent communist leader who used his Marxist ideology in paving the way for anti-imperialism, most notably with his pal Fidel Castro in Cuba.

Young Che, sitting on the front porch of his childhood home.

Plastered on the walls of the next room in his house are many of Che's report cards from primary school all the way through university. From our observations, he received good grades in school and even analyzed literature such as Martin Fierro in his spare time. He finished med school in three years, but later decided that he would rather set out on adventures around the world instead of dedicating his life to being a physician.

Che's motorcycle

He was eventually captured and executed in Bolivia in 1967 where he was helping with the guerrilla movement. His body was later brought to Cuba, which is where he rests today. Despite a short-lived life, his legacy as a rebel lives on, as his face is used as the image of revolution worldwide. My summary of his life here is limited in details, so if you're interested in learning more I suggest picking up a book or watching a documentary about the one and only Che, as there are many to choose from.