Stuck.

I took this photo while on a weekend trip in the region of Salta in Argentina. Salta is close to the border with Bolivia, and is best known for its mountain range and salt flats. While on a day tour we stopped in this mountain-top town to taste an Argentine delicacy--llama. The remarkable element about this town was just how dated it was; this town had barely any cars, definitely no modern treats that we were all accustomed to, and was stricken with poverty; and yet the people were friendly, curious, and happy. This photo shows the desolation of the town as well as the run-down appearance characteristic to most parts of South America outside of the capitals and major cities. It also showcases the beautiful mountain range in the very background, though it doesn't seem so mighty given the snippet shown. The houses and windows seem rudimentary, hand-made, and old. What personally captures me about this image is the sign on the closest building on the left side; it reads "Peronismo Federal," which represents the popular ideology of the late Argentine president Juan Peron from the 1950s. This ideology swept the nation and is extremely complex and difficult to explain to anyone who hasn't spent a great deal of time in Argentina. I myself don't entirely understand the concept after having spent 6 months in the country. Signs that read similar messages can be found all over the country, even 60 years after the time of the president. These sorts of messages represent Argentina as a whole for me, and continually remind me of the struggles that the people faced in the years following Peron as well as the beautiful culture that emerged as a result. Nicole Wilke