Z Pack

Azithromycin!! After seeing a doctor in Palm Springs the first day back and determining I had a sever bronchial infection I took the above medication and now feel like a million bucks! the chicken soup did not hurt either. Now we are into our "get in shape" phase and joining a gym for the next 6 weeks. Walking the dog four times a day won't hurt either. Lilly is quickly realizing there is a new act in her regimen each day. So far so good; she has taken to us pretty well. this is a wonderful place to plan our next venture which is a transatlantic cruise stopping in Bermuda, the Azores, Lisbon, Seville, Granada, and Barcelona. It is very pleasant homework and I recommend it for all. Our trip cost 450 each with a 100 offset for gratuities for a 14 day trip!!! that's cheaper than staying home. Cruises have become much better over the years and now the entertainment is so outstanding you really have something to look forward to each night. the people you meet on the cruises are terrific, and why not...your all on vacation! But we have been extremely fortunate in the people we have met on the last two cruises. So many interesting backgrounds, so many accomplished careers and proud parents and grandparents. It is always great to get another person's point of view on life, travel, etc. so we look forward to the next portion of our journey. We have decided that the nomadic life suits us fine so we have extended the lease of our wonderful tenants who will be back in September for another year!! So if Deanne's fingers hold up you will have plenty to read in the future! In the meantime we will continue to shed light on the fun and the foibles of travel. A new addition to necessary items for the next part of the trip is....Z PACK!!!!!!
Enjoy!!
Mike

Sometimes only your own bed will do

We love this little lodge in the Chilean wine country, but as wonderful as it is, it's not home. Mike's cough that won't quit is hanging on, so we have changed our plans. We are flying home tonight instead of Friday night. Even though we don't really have our own bed for him to crawl into (given that it is rented along with the house until mid May) we have a bed waiting for us in Palm Springs. A mother-in-law's guest bed will just have to do. He misses being able to have chicken soup and hot tea when he wants- things you can't do as easily when you are staying in a remote country lodge. Last night when we explained to the manager here that we were leaving early to have more familiar surrounding for Mike to get well in, she went into the kitchen and asked the chef to whip up some homemade chicken noodle soup for him. He looked like an ecstatic little boy tucking into that wonderful soup. It is the first thing he has eaten in days. He forecasts that once he is home for a day or two nothing will satisfy him as much as a wonderful IN AND OUT burger.

Today is another gorgeous warm sunny day here and we are set to enjoy it as much as we can. We will set out mid-day to make the three hour trek to the Santiago airport. All of the flights from here to the US fly out in the late evening, so we don't take off until just before midnight. We fly all night and arrive in Dallas ten hours later, with the time change at 6:30 AM. Then, one more flight and we're back to Southern California. I know my mother is frantic with last minute house selling and six-week-trip-packing so I am hopeful she will accept our help with things and not be burdened with our early arrival.

I will continue writing in the blog for a bit when we get to Palm Springs and let you know how it is back in the USA. It may get boring reading about us worshipping the washer and dryer, the huge goregeous aisles of the grocery store, the marvelous stacks of books (in English!) at the library and the friendly chit chat in ENGLISH with strangers we meet. If you tune out to reading while we are in California we will understand. Log back in during April though so you can read about the transAtlantic cruise and Northern Spain, our destination after Palm Springs.

Deanne

Not Another Wine Tour!

You have to feel sorry for us...we are negotiating with each other about whether or not we can take on another wine tour. Apparently the Chilean wineries don't really host wine tastings at the wineries like they do in Napa, they arrange tours with tastings that follow. You must book ahead to make sure there is room in the group and an English speaking guide. We have done two Chilean wine tours, one that we arranged in advance after learning the ropes and another that we accidently happened to arrive at the winery just as an English language tour with room was starting out. Due to Mike's illness we didn't go on any in Argentina. In New Zealand we stopped at a few wineries for tastings but not tours. The most recent tour included a horse drawn wagon ride through the vineyards before stopping at the production facitilies for the tour, then a ride back to the tasting room. Charming.

So, now we have heard about the most prstigious winery in the area. Owned by one of the French family that makes Grand Marnier. Beautiful winery up on a hill with supposedly stunning wines. However this place charges $40 US for the tour instead of the typical $10 or so. Our big dilema is to tour or not to tour. After the last one we had decided we were finished. That was before hearing about this winery. Check out there website http://www.closapalta.cl and cast your vote here. Another wine tour or not?

Our lodge is full this weekend for the first time since we have been here. There is a group of about ten Americans here on some organized trip that involved leaving here at 8:30 this morning on bikes for some horrendously long bike ride, followed by showers somewhere, then lunch and a bus trip back. Several planes landed in the landing strip in front of the lodge yesterday, so we suppose they avoided the three hour drive here from Santiago by flying in. We overheard them talking about the river rapids trip they were taking when they get to Mendoza, Argentina. It made us feel like slackers, but happy ones. Sure glad we don't have to do anything today but decide whether or not to do another wine tour some other day in the future.

Resting quite comfortably in Chile,
Deanne

The Party's Over

You know that vacation must be coming to an end when you start to think about all of things you have to do. Mike paid bills today (he does that about once a week using our bank's on-line check paying service) and I exchanged e-mails with my sister about arrangements for our arrival back in California next week. We will be dog sitting for five weeks when we get to Palm Springs while my mother and sister go on a cruise through Asia. They are packing and getting ready and if that wasn't enough, my mother sold the family homestead this month and is closing escrow at the end of this week. She is packing her clothes for the trip and twenty-five years worth of accumulated belongings that are going to the new house where we will be staying. Originally the house was closing after her return and we were going to help pack, but it got moved up and she is doing it as she prepares for the trip.

There are certain things you can't do from the road no matter how helpful friends and family are. Our daughter-in-law, Dana has been opening our mail and sending us notes about our bills which has allowed us to keep up with them on the road. Things that haven't been possible:

1) the car came up for re-registration which requires a Washington exhaust emission test. The car is in Palm Springs awaiting our arrival. It will have expired tabs by the time we get it back up to Seattle for that emissions test. Let's hope we don't get pulled over.

2) the IRS sent a letter saying I goofed on the 2006 return and owe more money. I'm saving that little mess to untangle when we get home. Not to mention the 2007 tax return I get to screw up in the next month.

3) Mike has another trip to the doctor and pharmacy when we get back. We planned touchdowns in the US for every three months in order to refill the heart transplant medicines.

4) Working out is probably possible when you are on a six month round-the-world trip, however in our case it was unlikely. We needed our merciless trainer, Rose around to keep us on track when we lacked self discipline. We need to restart our workouts when we get back.

This morning we woke up with the thought that it is our last Saturday on the road for awhile (assuming that dog sitting in Palm Springs is not really on the road albeit it is not at home). What a Saturday it has been though! Warm and sunny. After breakfast of a fruit plate (sandia/watermelon; peach and something we could not identify) and two fried eggs with dark rich coffee con leche we sat out by the pool and read for awhile. Then we drove into town where a little town fair was going on. We went to three prospective ATMs before we found one that would replenish our meager cash funds. Then we walked around the little booths of crafts and barbequing meat. We had lunch at our little Peruvian restaurant where the entire staff came out to greet us. An hour nap, a little internet, some more pool time and then dinner. Life is good. Even if it is the last Saturday before we leave South America.

Deanne

Final Stop- Valentine's Day in Chile's Wine Country

As we checked out of the Hyatt we were reminded why we didn't stay at such hotels this trip....while wonderful, it was a very expensive two day stay. Our three day stay in the country helped to balance the price, and since we didn't eat anything except crackers and cheese from the supermercado while we were there that was the cheap part of our Argentina stay.

We had a 1:00 flight which went over the Andes to Santiago in half an hour. After clearing customs in Chile for the third time this trip, we rented our car and headed out on the drive to the wine country. The Avis folks helped us with a shortcut to the highway that allowed us to skip downtown Santiago...that was a treat after driving through it so many times on the last trip here.

We got to the Inn at about 4:45 where the kind staff made us feel like long lost frineds. It is 5:30 and we are enjoying our free internet out on the back deck. It is probably about 80 depgrees and clear and beautiful. With the exception of Rio, we have had exceptionally beautiful weather. It is good to be back at this wonderful part of Chile that we enjoyed so much on the last visit.

We have CNN again. Mike is a happy political junkie once again.

Deanne

Don't cry for me Argentina

Today is our final day in Argentina. We have loved Argentina and the people we have met. Unforutnately we did not get to explore Mendoza like we would have liked due to the bug that laid Mike up, but we have definately put a return trip on our list of things to accomplish in the future. This is a beautiful place and the prices are so reasonable that another trip to Argentina is a sure thing. We want to take Spanish classes at home to imrpove our ability to communciate with these friendly people. As in Europe, the children are all learning to speak English in the schools, but it would be nice to try and meet people in their own language.

Tomorrow we take off for Chile. When we planned this trip months ago we could only get a roundtrip ticket into and out of Santiago, Chile with our frequent flyer points. So, we started and end our South American trip in Chile. Although there are lots of places that remain to be seen in Chile, we so enjoyed the Central Valley wine country that we have booked our final week in the same place we stayed a week in January. I think the manager of the place was surprised to have us back so soon, but it seemed to be a happy surprise.

After that week we are off to Palm Springs until April 11 for our house/dogsitting adventure. It will be nice to be in the US for awhile to take care of the things we have not been able to do while we have been gone...doctor's visits, pharmacy, car emissions testing, tax returns, etc.

We are off to take a walk. Later,
Deanne

Mixing Politics and Rest

Everyone who knows Mike knows how much he loves politics. If ever there was a time for him to be down with a cold/flu, it is during elections when he can stay tuned to the election results. This only works if there is CNN or an equivalent available. Our country hacienda had CNN, so for the three days we were there recuperating from the bug that got him, he watched election returns. I am amazed at the number of television hours that can be dedicated to election returns and the analysis provided by various pundits. We watched it all, and there is no greater expert on the elections after imposed television watching than Mike.

Today we took a remi (like a taxi) to downtown Mendoza and checked back into the Hyatt. For the first time in several days, Mike felt hungry so we had a nice lunch. The last few days we have been eating bread, cheese and almonds washed down with bottled water and Sprite Zero, which represented the best I could find in the Supermercado in town. As much as we enjoyed our picnic dinners in Europe, there was nothing like it to be found in this little town.

The prices in Argentina are so reasonable. We were in the cab for about twenty minutes or so and the fare was $20 Argentina pesos, or $7 US. Lunch at the Hyatt with ridiculous hotel pricing for two three course meals (appetizer, grilled steak, dessert, wine and bottled water) was $50 US. My grocery shopping trips were always less than ten dollars for half a dozen bottled drinks and our sick house rations.

The weather is beautiful- warm but not hot. We spent awhile out by the pool just relaxing while our room was being made up.

Today is Potomic Super Tuesday and we just found out there is no English version of CNN here. We will have to use the internet to track election results.

Later, Deanne

Quiet day in an "exclusive" suburb

Mike was wiped out today from the cold and not sleeping last night so we changed plans. Instead of taking a wine tour we grabbed a "remi" or rented car and driver for the twentyfive minute drive out of Mendoza to the exclusive suburb of Chaca de Coria. As we turned off the highway we could see the huge, American style homes. Most were two story homes with tiled roofs and tiny yards guarded by six foot wrought iron fences. If work ever drives up for Eric in LA there is a place for him in Argentina making fences and window guards for the wealthy. It may feel safe but it sure seems like the locals are protecting something. Our posada is a five room estate behind a tall stucco fence (with a wrought iron gate that opens after speaking into the box). Inside the gate is the host family's home, a swimming pool, a four car garage and the posada, with shared living areas such as a living room, tv room and kitchen. It is beautiful. Carlos and his wife made us feel at home even though we arrived two hours before check-in time (we had to go somewhere after check out time at our hotel and Mike was too sick for lunch out). Mike sat in the living room for an hour and a half until the room was ready while I walked the five or six blocks into town to the Super Mercado - a three aisle grocery store. I bought some Sprite for the convalesing husband and some almonds and raisins to sustain us through the missed lunch. Our room is pleasant and air conditioned although it has been cool enough to turn it off. I laid outside in a hammock under some trees for an hour reading until raindrops forced me inside.

This town seems more prosperous than similiar sized towns in Chile. There is a modern mini-mall with about ten clothing boutiques selling things to tourists like leather coats. As you walk around you have to be on your guard all the time to watch for broken bits in the sidewalks. In 1985 there was a massive earthquake in Mendoza of 6.0 that wiped out lots of buildings and wrecked havoc on the sidewalks. It requires that you walk carefully.

It is dinner time (8:30) so I am off to serve crackers and 7Up to the invalid. Tommorrow hopefully his big deep chest coughs will be gone.

Bye, Deanne

Is it starve a cold and feed a fever or vice versa?

Mike slept all day yesterday, and of course that meant he was up all night coughing. We decided to cancel our chauffer driven wine tasting trip which we had arranged through the concierege. One of the hotel drivers was to take us to two wineries then drop us off at our next hotel. Mike just isn't up to it. We got up and packed this morning, then he went back to a prone position to rest up for our noon check out. He drank some tea but has no appetite....we are trying the starve a cold routine.

I will write again this afternoon assuming the advertsied wifi is functional.

Deanne

Mike's turn to take ill

No, Montezuma did not wreck revenge on Mike. It is just a cold that has taken hold of Mike today. He is taking it easy. We went for a short walk this morning near our hotel. Mendoza is a beautiful city. The ancient Incas had established a system of canals here to bring water from the Andes to the desert. The same canals line the streets today watering the beautiful aspens along the streets. The trees here are beautiful. I walked up to the Parque de San Martin this afternoon and walked around a long, skinny man-made lake. Although the lake wasn't anything to brag about the park grounds were gorgeous and the trees magnificent. I met a couple of mountain climbers from Ireland. They had just finished their climb of the famous mountain.

We had an interesting episode last night after dinner. We returned from our dinner, went to the lobby for e-mail, then returned to our room about midnight to go to bed. I put the do not disturb sign in the front door, changed into a tee shirt for sleeping, then brushed my teeth. Mike was in the bedroom and I was brushing my teeth when the lights went out in both rooms. It was VERY DARK. I opened the blinds in the bathroom and saw lights in rooms across the plaza, so it was obvious we were in the dark but no one else was. Mike could see better than I could, so he directed me to the desk where our flashlight was sitting, and through a serious of instructions, "higher, farther, straight ahead, keep going..." I found the flashlight but couldn't figure out how to turn it on. I finally found him and passed it to him so he could turn it on and find the phone. Which was dead of course. So, using the flashlight I got dressed again to go down to the desk and ask about our lights. Just as I opened our door out into the lighted hallway it dawned on me what happened. We had one of those energy saving devices in the room that require you to put your key in the slot at the door to turn on the room's power. We had never needed to use it because the do not disturb sign was plugged into it instead of a key, keeping the power on. Once I took the do not disturb sign out of the slot we had about five more minutes of power before it went off. I am sure glad I figured it out before I got to the front desk and demanded to know what had happened to our power. Talk about feeling foolish.

Tomorrow we take off for the countryside. Apparently our next ledge is only about half an hour outside of town.

Great food and wine in Mendoza

We are back from dinner. A two hour affair that began with a one block walk from our hotel to Francesco's, a wonderful Italian restaurant. The sommelier tried to steer us to a wonderful bottle of local malbec priced at $275 (pesos, or about $85US) but we figured our palate was not sophisticated enough for the difference between a $30 bottle and an $85, so we downgraded the selection. I guess when the concierge of the nicest hotel in town calls to make your reservation and you are seated in the front table facing the gardens they expect you can afford the expensive wines.

We each had delicious pasta dinners, but the appetizers were the rave. Mike had a shrimp brochette that he loved. My caprese salad came with an eggplant side dish that was fabulous. After we finished eating our waiter took us on a tour of the wine cellar (where two photos of our chef shaking hands with the pope are prominently displayed) and the huge gardens. On our way out the door we passed a young couple walking in the front door. They overheard us talking to each other and made mention of the fact that we were speaking English. That started the inevitable, "where are you from?". It turns out that we are all from Seattle. They are on a two week vacation in Argentina and jealous of our much longer trip.

Apparently internet only costs about 30 cents an hour in the internet cafes here, but we have no idea what we are paying at this hotel. They hand us a 2 hour password upon request and ascertaining our room number, but we don't know what we are paying. The wireless doesn't work in our room on the fifth floor so we are sitting out in the lobby working on this. It is 10:45 PM and the restaurant at the other side of the lobby is doing a hopping business so the lobby is filled with the noise of dinner conversations with a faint sound of Kenny G in the background.

Our hotel has a spa so we each had a Thai massage this afternoon. This was a first time experience, but we have both vowed that it won't be the last. Unlike a traditional Swedish massage, during this massage the therapist climbs up on the massage table to get a better angle. It works. The knots in both of our backs (the stress of carrying suitcases and making airplane schedules is horrendous!) were grateful for the rigorous work-out these therapists gave them. When we were all done we were amazed to find that two hour long massages were $100 combined. That is about half the price of massages at home.

At the airport today in Santiago, on our way to Mendoza, Mike struck up a conversation with an American from Pennsylvania while I was shopping in the duty free (for a new paperback book to read). This guy was approximately Mike's age, with long gray hair and a wiry, fit body. He was on his way to Mendoza to climb a 7000 meter (23,000 ft) mountain in the nearby Andes (we can see them from the windows of the hotel). He was surrounded by beat up canvas packs that he says have been on lots of previous climbs with him. He told us that he makes his living caddying at the nearby golf course in the summer and building rock climbing walls in the winter. We had a nice conversation and walked away thinking that he was an unusual fellow traveler that we would be unlikely to meet again given our temporary status at the upscale hotel in town. When we followed the hotel's driver to the car after he met us in the airport lobby as we cleared customs, our buddy was no where to be seen. So, we were surprised when we say him later this afternoon working on a computer in the lobby of the hotel. He said he likes to splurge on his climbing trips.

I apologize for all of the typos in the last several write-ups. Spell check does not work when you log in from other countries. Sorry.

I hope you are enjoying the stories as much as we are enjoying being here.

So long,
Deanne

Don Your Green

We have been hearing some of you say that you are green with envy that we are able to take a nine month round the world trip like this. For those of you that can't stand the envy...don't read on. But for those who figure we deserve some great moments to balance out the crummy places like our over-priced rathole in Copacobana Beach, Rio de Janiero where it rained the entire time we were there...this is for you.

We flew into Mendoza, Argentina this morning and we are in heaven. We couldn't get a budget hotel for the first two nights. Everyting was sold out so we HAD to book two nights at the Park Hyatt at $213 per night- about $50 more per night than our budget. But what a splurge it is. I am sitting in the lobby using the free wifi while Mike had a massage ($60 for an hour). When he is done we trade places. We have dinner reservations at one of the great places in town. With a bottle of wine dinner is usually $50 here. It is heaven.

We spend two nights here then we move to a lodge at a winery where we have a room for $150 per night. Then two nights at the next place for #120 per night. How can you miss? We have a comfortable bed with a down duvet, a marble clad bathroom (currently covered with a winding clotheslines and everything we brought with us hanging drip drying), and a minibar with affordable prices!

Aunt Donna told me we would love Argentina and she was right. The people are great. Many speak English and those that don't are very tolerant of our horrible Spanglish. The prices are the lowest of any of the countries we have been to so far, but the cities are not nearly as run down.

I will take photos tomorrow and let you see what we mean. Until then, eat your hearts out (said with the greatest amount of love).

Deanne

South America from the Photos

While we are on the ship we had no reasonably priced access to the internet so we laid off for awhile. Now that we have it again I have caught up on the photos. It is time to tell a little about the stories behind these photos. Starting with the beginning of the cruise on January 10, our first stop was Puerto Montt.

Puerto Montt: This coastal town is about two thirds of the way down from the northern border of Chile. The town is very run down, housing poor workers from the salmon farming industry. Apparently the minimum wage in Chile is about $175US per month. Divers who don wet suits and work the farms from underwater are much higher paid, making as much as $1000 per month. Higher paid employees and wealthier people live in the nearby resort town of Puerto Varas. On the south shore of huge Lake Llanquihue, this town looks much more like a resprt town you would find in other places. Hotels and cute resaurants are side by side with adventure sports outlets. Our bus trip showed us both towns on our way out to the country on our "volcano photo safari" - a cruise shore excursion code name for a LONG bus ride with occasional stops to climb out, shoot a photo, then climb back in and ride longer. The photos start out with the run down housing of Puerto Montt then move on to the volcanoes. We drove about half way up the volcano, so a few of the photos show the view looking down. The dancing children are a family of kids that dress in native costumes (not what anyone wheres on a daily basis) to dance for the tourists to earn tips. Finally, the photos show Puerto Varas and a street market selling local woolens and wood products.

Chilean Fiords: I must admit these were a disappointment after touring the fiords of New Zealand and Norway (even Alaska for that matter). They are barren hills as opposed to dramatic mountains arising from the sea. They provided scenary on a day in which we were at sea, so they were better than watching waves.

Punta Arenas: Located in Patagonia, famous for cold winters, short summers and lots of wind we had an exceptional day. This town is not much to look at, so most tourists visit the nearby National Parque, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. Due to the time in port we were not able to see the park so we went for a walk through town. The photos were taken on that walk from the port to the main plaza, then about eight or nine more blocks to the cemetary. This was the first of the cemetaries we visited on this trip- apparently they are popular spots for tourists. The Chileans and the Argentines revere their dead and the cemetaries are quite beautiful.

Cape Horn: We passed Cape Horn at 6:00 AM just as the sun was coming up. The photos could not show how cold we were, but you get the wind and cold by looking at what we were wearing (everything we had in our suitcases). Although we had expected cold on this trip, the deck of the ship as we passed Cape Horn was the only time we were really cold. Although all you see when you pass the Cape is a big rock sitting in the water, the history of this most famous rock got everyone out of bed to see it.

Ushaia, Argentina: Apparently this town at the bottom of the world gets only thirty sunny days per year and we were lucky enough to be there to see one of them. The locals were in good spirits as we took another long bus trip around town and into the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. The photos show the drive through town and the national park.

Buenos Aires: Our city bus tour took us directly to the cemetary, so there were lots of photos of the city of the dead. In town we visited the main cathedral where we were able to see the changing of the guard which I was able to photograph. They can't refuse a photo so they are easy targets. The rest of the photos are street scenes taken while walking around or from the bus windows.

Montevideo, Uruguay: These are all photos taken on our bus trip around town.

Rio de Janiero, Brazil: It rained cats and dogs our first two days here, but today was cloudy and dry. We walked down to the beach and took all these photos from the bench at the beach. The final few were from the view of our (not) very luxurious hotel.

I hope you enjoy these photos. Deanne

Ten Year Anniversary

On 2/5/08 it will be 10 years since Laurie made a decision to have her husband Dave become an organ donor after a tragic automobile accident claimed his life through no fault of his own. He was a young man with a wonderful wife and devoted parents and sisters. For those of us who have lost family members there is no greater pain. So on this day I remember Dave Dawson, his amazing wife Laurie and his sisters, parents and family members. So to all of my wonderful family and friends I hope you keep Dave and Laurie and family in your thoughts, prayers and intentions this day, as I do each day.
Love
Mike

Updating Photos in Rio de Janiero

Our cruise ended this morning. Like all other cruises we have been on, disembarkation is so terrible it makes you wonder if the trip was worth it. That's why we like the longer cruises best- there is more time for the fun with only one painful day. We got up this morning at 6:30, showered and finished the last minute packing (big packing was done last night when the suitcases went out into the hallway), had breakfast and sat around until 10:00 when we were finally called for departure. The departure hall where you crawl through masses of people to find your suitcases was positvely the worst ever. First of all, it was raining, which just barely improved the heat and humidity of Rio. The room was stifling. Second, the hall was too small for the crowds of people so we were crammed in and it was hot, both in temperature and tempers. Third, there was no rhyme or reason to how the bags were laid out and the process you had to go through to get out the door. We did not leave the hall until almost noon.

When we got outside we were surrounded by taxi drivers all offering to drive us to our hotel. When I retrieved our hotel name and address from our bag, they all assured us that we made a mistake- the hotel is 200 km away from the port. I guess it is now clear why I got such a good room rate during Carnival. I booked a room in an entirely different city! The most persistent of the taxi drivers who had followed us around as we dragged our bags through the crowded, rainy streets assured us that he could find us a good room for a reasonable rate if we paid him $40 for a taxi ride to the hotel. Knowing it was a rip off but being hot and frustrated, we jumped in the taxi and plowed through the rainy streets to Cocacobana Beach where he drove us to a suitable mid priced hotel where we were able to book a room for about $175 a night. Not as good a rate as my previous place, and probably not as nice as a Sheraton Four Point, it nevertheless fits the bill of being in the right town. And, for 20 reals a night (about $11) we have unlimited wifi access. Yahoo.

Mike took a nap when we got back and I worked on e-mail, then we went for a walk around the neighborhood. The rain seems to have kept many people indoors, so the beach, located about three blocks from our hotel, was deserted. An open air market had vendors all talking to each other with no customers. After circling the block we settled on a place for lunch. Imagine having lunch at 3:30! The place was crowded though. As we sat down at one of the semi-outdoor tables (covered but no walls) the waiter handed us English menus. No matter how we try to blend, we are obviously not Brazilian!

We feasted on beef. I wonder how long the life span of a typical South American is. They eat a heck of a lot of beef.

As we were finishing our meal an older woman and her adult son came in and spoke to a number of the waiters. She was clearly highly regarded among the staff, possibly a waiter's widow. As she made her way to visit with some regulars or staff sitting in the corner behind us, she walked by our table and we initiated a terribly executed, but very warm conversation. She used sign language and hugs, and we spoke English and hugged, so it was quite warm. Our waiter liked us much better after that, and when the bill was settled and tip left he came over to shake our hand and say goodbye. Lunch was fun and filling.

We tried to find tonight's Superbowl on tv in our hotel but to no avail. Mike will be forced to check the internet every ten minutes or so to see how it is going.

Do you like the new photos I just uploaded? Two weeks worth of photos. I will write later and explain them a bit. Until then, it is off to listen to the Superbowl. We are skipping dinner for the night and living off the big lunch, so with a start time of 9:15PM our time, it will be midnight or later before the game is over.

oh, please forgive the errors. Spellcheck doesn't work when you are out of country.

Goodnight and happy Superbowl,
Deanne