Marianne's second look

Hola!

O.K, O.k. I was told that my e-mail was too scary….now I will tell of the bright side….The house is beautiful…the weather is fantastic….I look out over the swimming pool to the olive orchard in the back of the property….We were treated to a traditional Argentinean (meat roast) complete with salad and tomatoes with olive oil, pork sausages and Blood sausage for appetizers ( do I need to mention that Dick asked what was in the blood sausage and everyone laughed!!). The loma or steaks were fantastic and the local beer and wine are over the top. At $3 for a bottle of wine Dick is in heaven.

We took the local bus into the big city of Mendoza…it looked and felt almost European with outdoor cafes and little kiosks selling candy and gum. We ordered lomo sandwiches…slice of meat, cheese, ham, fried egg, lettuce and tomato. We walked to one of the town squares and strolled a Sat. art/craft fair…it was good for practicing Spanish…The people were mostly young Rastafarians and Argentinean hippies. The people dress the same as anywhere else…maybe a bit more casually. We were able to locate an Argentina soccer shirt for Brian, he was in heaven.

We went to Mass on Sunday. A little church up the street. Brady, and Dick were overdressed in collared shirts…everyone was in jeans except the very old. We sat on 2x4’s and knelt on 2x4’s …wow.. does that hurt. AnnMarie thought she was going to pass out from the pain. I had to give her the old “ think how Christ and his disciples suffered” Did I mention that it really hurt! Other than that, it was the same mass only in Spanish. They had singing but no music, not a single instrument. The hand shake of peace was the traditional Argentinean greeting…a kiss on the right cheek., to everyone around you. It was strange to be kissing men and women you did not know!!

Jose gave us ride to the big grocery store yesterday (still smaller than Giant Eagle). He drove us in his car…a 1966 Ford pick- up truck. It has a 1966 radio that doesn’t work, and a huge speedometer that also doesn’t work. I had to sit close to Dick in the front seat so I wouldn’t get in the way of the 3footlong stick-shift in the center. I braced myself on the duck tape covered gear box, and Dick rolled down the window and then threw the handle up on the dashboard. The truck is a lovely white primer, and though you can not see the road through the floor…you know it is there. Driving down the dusty road I know I am in Argentina…I feel like I am in a movie…I should be doing something dangerous …or glamorous. ..Instead I have to remind myself that I am on my way to buy groceries…
It is both dangerous AND glamorous.

Adios
Marianne