A letter from Casimiro to Aurelio (his cousin)

Dear Aurelio:

I am so sorry I have not written for a long time, but I have been busy looking for a job and a house during the last weeks. You will be pleased to hear that I have found a job - actually, I am working in a farm, where I have met Emiliano.

The first time we met, he seemed cold and distant - also, I thought he was an angry person- but when we started talking, I realized that my first impression about him was not accurate.

Although Emiliano seems to be shy, he is such a nice man who enjoys working as much as I do; he is cheerful and funny too. Everyday he tells me about his twin boys and how they play when he returns to his house after a long day in the farm. I must confess I am a bit jealous, but I know I will have my own family and I will be as happy as he is. I hope so!

Physically, Emiliano is slim built and tall. He has short dark hair and big brown eyes.
And last, but not least, he has invited me to stay at his house until I find my own one. I will write to you again as soon as i can.  You must come to visit your dear cousin or at least, send me a letter.

My best wishes,

Casimiro


Ps: Please, tell your parents I am okay! I miss you all!

Slideshow...

This is a brief description of my great-grandfather Casimiro's story and some other pictures about my family.

Story of my ancestors

View more presentations from Ceci Contreras

Some photos...

Here's my great-grandfather on the right side of the picture. He is playing the guitar with some friends.
My grandmother was reluctant to give me this picture, but I could convince her. :)

Here's my other great-grandfather Adrian. I don't have any information about him.

And, here's my grandfather Marcelo, when he came from Misiones to Capital Federal. There you can see the Casa Rosada.

Videos to learn some things about Paraguay

Here we can see some pictures of the beautiful country of Paraguay from where my great-grandfather came, the landscape, some other pictures from Asuncion. There you can also listen the music from Paraguay.


And now, some videos about Misiones, Argentina!







In these last videos, you can see the landscape of Misiones (the Iguazu Falls, Saltos del Mocona, Ruinas de San Ignacio, etc), its capitol city Posadas, Obera (The city in which my aunt Lidia and her family lives) and its other cities; also, it shows the flora and fauna of the province, the agriculture.

In the last video, there is a man who travels from Eldorado to Puerto Rico, and it also shows images of the landscape, the forest, the route.

I am so happy to know that Casimiro has lived in such a beautiful place, I have been in Misiones some years ago and I have felt more close to him. I think I'll go there next year. If you have the opportunity to go there, don't miss it! You won't regret it!

From Paraguay to Misiones, Argentina

In both maps we can see that my great-grandfather came from Paraguay (i don't know exactly where he came from) and arrived in Misiones.

My timeline

The story of my great-grand father Casimiro

"I am Casimiro Colman and I am leaving Paraguay because of the War among my own country, Brazil and Argentina. I have decided to go to Argentina - some friends of mine have told me it is a good place to live. It is not an easy decision, but my parents have died several years ago and, as I have no brothers or sisters, I am completely alone.

The wagon is almost leaving, so I must hurry up. The driver says we are going to Argentina - first by wagon, then  in canoe through the Parana River- and after that, I can go wherever I want. While I was speaking to the driver, I saw a pretty young woman who was standing beside him. The woman told me she was going to Misiones, where she had been many years ago; she also said there was a beautiful place known as Iguazu Falls which was full of waterfalls. Finally, I decided to follow the woman; I am delighted with her description of this magical place!

I think that the War will finish soon, then I can return to my country or maybe I fall in love and marry a pretty woman, and stay in Misiones forever. "

I hope you liked the story; is it half true and half fiction, because my grandparents did not want to tell me anything about their parents. Casimiro was a true person, who came from Paraguay and lived in Misiones with his family. One of his daughters, whose name is Isabel, married my grand father Marcelo Gauto, and then both have four children. One of those children is my mother Hilda, and the story will continue...