ALTA
GRACIA: Fidel and Hugo went on a pilgrimage on Saturday to Che's house. In an
emotional journey, Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan ally Hugo Chavez
toured the Argentine boyhood home of Castro's fallen comrade and legendary
guerrilla, Ernesto Che Guevara. It was a first visit for
both.
"Fidel! Fidel!" and
"Hugo! Hugo!" the crowd of 2,000 chanted as the 79-year-old Castro, wearing his
trademark green military fatigues, got out of his limousine. Chavez was right by
Castro's side as they entered the house amid a crush of security
agents.
While Castro made no
public comment, he smiled broadly and shook hands with supporters in the crowd.
Chavez told reporters the two were delighted by their tour: "Fidel invited me to
come and get to know the house. For me, it's a real honour being
here."
"We feel it! We feel it!
Guevara is right with us!" the crowd shouted. Castro, 79, first visited
Argentina in 1959 after the Cuban revolution and returned this week to attend a
summit that inducted Venezuela into the Mercosur trade bloc.
Guevara spent much of his
childhood in central Argentina, where his family hoped a mild climate would ease
the boy's asthma.