Andrés Eloy Blanco Meaño (Cumaná, August 6 1896- Mexico City, May 21 1955) was one of the most reknown and talented politicians, or, as he defined himself, "a man of letters loaned to politics". He is probably the most easily recognized son of this city, and yet, at the same time, the least honored when it comes to respecting and perpetuating his legacy.
The house where Andrés Eloy (as he is known by most) lived as a child is one of the best preserved remnants of the colonial district. However, recently it was robbed a couple of times (even though it is located next to the governor's mansion, which means, in a heavily guarded area, but that's another story for another post).
My daughter Anna is visiting and it so happened that she had never been inside the house. I had taken it for granted because usually most kids visit this house as part of the schools' field trips (the city does not have many historical places turned museums). We were running other errands, but I decided to make a parenthesis so that Anna could have that experience. It was a great decision.
A new local university located nearby is working on a project to revitalize the house. There is more activity here now, more youth visiting, which is good.
We were very lucky to have a great tour guide; a very young man, just out of High School, which gave me some hope in the role of young cumaneses in the future of the city.
The tour started in the living room. This furniture is not the original. They were renovated, but they could not replicate the original fabric. The piano, even though is still working, cannot be touched. It belonged to the Blanco family and is one of the most precious pieces in the collection of objects.
Many of the objects displayed in the house were brought to Cumaná from Mexico by a relative. The poet lived most of his exile and died there.
This closet has not be opened in years. They fear it may break. It is a more-than-a-hundred-year-old original piece.
This is the bed of Andrés Eloy's parents. The upper part is missing.
This is the bed used by the poet during the years he lived in the house. In this bed, it is said his favorite brother died. He was the brother who introduced him to his future wife.
Pictures of most of the poet's family on the wall. The walls are quite damage by humidity.
Not sure if there is a renovation project to preserve them.
Here is a place for praying. His was a very devoted Catholic family. Children were brought here to pray before going to bed.
An original water basin.
A closer look at the family tree.
Here, a fascinating desk build by the poet himself. In his free time he liked to work on carpentry. This was inspired by the mexican piramids.
Anna taking a closer look of some details.
Here a couple of wood scultures given to the poet by friends
The poet and his family. Two of his children are still alive. One lives in the US, the other in Mexico.
The family kitchen
Well-preserved kitchenware give us an idea of how hard cooking was back then.
A mortar, called pilón here. Not an original piece, but the design has not changed in centuries.
This piece was known to me. Even back in the 70s we used home-made brooms to sweep the house.
This one was an impressive utensil. A water filter. Water was poured on the upper rock basin and decanted drop by drop to the clay jar below.
The family dining table. There were some original silverware on the walls.
The library, now as part of the dining room. Most of the old family books are lost or elsewhere. The shelves have been filled with texts donated by different people.
Andrés Eloy writing. It is said he worte it himself on the wall years later when he came just as a visitor. The text has been rewritten over the years to refresh the faded ink.
It reads: More than a politician I am a man of letters, a poet loaned by poetry to politics, in the name of intellectual responsibility.
There are tons of interesting pictures on the wall with even more interesting stories. One of the pictures show women voting in 1947, a legal achievement put forward by Andrés Eloy Blanco.
The simplicity of the passports of old.
A panoramic view of the house with the historic vine in the middle (not the original tree), inmortalized by Andrés Eloy in his poem Las uvas del tiempo (the grapes of time).
All in all, it was a great experience. Now Anna can say she learned more about our most famous poet (and will remember that infor better than anything she might have been taught at school).
We ended our walk downtown and I got her some sunglasses she wanted badly.
Thanks for stopping by
Este post es bonito de principio a fin. A mí me alegra que aún esa casa/museo este operativa. Más me alegra ver a ese joven haciendo de guía allí. Excelente experiencia para Ana. Esta canción fue inspirada en una de sus poemas, por si alguien reconoce la canción
Saludos
Gracias.
Si, para mí fue una sorpresa muy agradable. Hubiera querido tener dinero para contribuirles significativamente. Se que trabajan con las uñas, y esa labor de ese jovencito merece ser recompensada.
Ojalá se consoliden los proyectos que se han mencionado para con la casa,ahora que la universidad Santa Rosa (creo que así se llama) está en alianza con la casa.
Saludos
Espero todo marche bien por allá
Te iba a preguntar por esa universidad. Supongo que es privada ( el socialismo revolucionario bolivariano nació para matar lo público.¿quienes están detrás de ese proyecto?
Si, es privada. Tengo que averiguar más detalles.
No critico lo privado, ojo. Solo critico la manera de cómo las cosas se hacen privadas en este tipo se sistemas. Una vez arruinadas las instituciones, se venden a precio de gallina flaca y los dueños son aquellos que colaboraron en la destrucción.Los nuevos oligarcas. Saludos.
It is important to learn about those who went before us. Also good to see how they lived. I'm sure Anna will always remember this educational day she spent with you. And she looks cool in her new shades! 😎
Haha. She sure does. She was very happy, even though she can't see much with them. She inherited my miopía
Thanks, @kenny-crane
It's always nice to have you
Nice 👍👍👍. I visited his house just one time. Heizon took me once because I had never been there.
Hi there.
Most people haven't. That's how low profile historic places go around here.
Hello 🤗... Also, I have never been in Cumana's Castle.
No way! You have to. That's probably among the two or three things worth visiting here 😁
Yeah, way!! 😂 I never had the chance to go or someone to take me there. Hahahaha
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