CONCEIVED AS SUPPLY CENTERS IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THESE VENUES SOON BECAME SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR GAUCHO-MAKING. TIME PASSED, BUT THE CUSTOMS AND LEGENDS REMAIN IN FORCE WITHIN ITS WALLS. & NBSP;
IN THAT STRAIGHT LINE THAT THE PAMPA DRAWS TO DELIMIT THE SKY FROM THE EARTH, BUILDINGS AS OLD AS THE HOMELAND EMERGE ON THE HORIZON. ANCHORED IN A TIME THAT SPEAKS IN THE PAST, THE GROCERY STORES ARE STILL SCATTERED IN THE BUENOS AIRES CAMPAIGN AS WITNESSES TO THE HEART OF EACH TOWN. MIX OF TAVERN AND WAREHOUSE, THE ONES THAT SURVIVE MAINTAIN THE IDIOSYNCRASY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE TASTE FOR CONVERSATION AND THE WELL ARRANGED GLASSES FOR THE CANE. & NBSP;
ALTHOUGH ABOUT TWENTY ESTABLISHMENTS REMAIN, IN THE 19TH CENTURY THERE WERE 350. THE GROCERY STORES NOT ONLY FUNCTIONED AS GENERAL STORES WITH WHITE DRINKS FOR SALE, THEY WERE ALSO THE VENUE FOR CHATTING, PAYADA, TRICK GAMES AND EVEN SPACE TO CHALLENGE EACH OTHER TO DEATH. CERTAINLY, AT THAT TIME THE ARGENTINE COUNTRYSIDE WAS NOT A PLACE FOR THE WEAK, AND QUARRELS BETWEEN GAUCHOS WERE SO COMMON THAT YOU CAN STILL SEE THE BARS ON THE COUNTERS TO PROTECT THE PULPERO. & NBSP;
WITH THEIR PHYSIOGNOMY INTACT, THESE RURAL TEMPLES CONTINUE TO BE THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY ROUTINE. THE SHELVES FULL OF PRODUCTS OF YESTERYEAR, THE POSTERS ANNOUNCING THE BAN ON ENTERING "ARMED AND WEARING A HAT" AND THE CENTURIES-OLD CASH REGISTERS SPEAK OF A LIVING HERITAGE. FIGHTS BETWEEN CIVILIANS NO LONGER EXIST, BUT WHEN ENTERING NAVARRO'S PULPERÍAS,
SAN ANTONIO DE ARECO , BARADERO OR MERCEDES, YOU CAN RELIVE THE STORIES OF DON SEGUNDO SOMBRA, THE GAUCHO JUAN MOREIRA AND, WHY NOT, EVEN MARTÍN FIERRO HIMSELF. & NBSP;