Christmas Day and the alarm goes off at 5:56am. Today, we have another plane to catch. The plan was to meet the kids in the kitchen area of the hotel at 6:40am. We were down by 6:30 waiting for Corvin and Sonora. Corvin arrived at 6:41 without Sonora. He started eating breakfast and Sonora was a few minutes behind. With breakfast consumed, we walked out to the waiting cab. I forgot to mention but we asked the front desk and they helped arrange the cab for us. Thank you again Palermo Bridge Hotel!
Sonora took the front of the cab and we were off to the airport. Our driver today wasn’t interested in chatting. Well not true, he was talking to somebody on Whatsapp back and forth. We arrived at the airport early as always. Security was annoying, but less than the TSA in the states. I got to keep my shoes on! We sent a few messages to Coty that we were on our way after a short delay. Danelle and I both got coveted window seats and were able to look out for the last 1/3 of the flight when there were less clouds.
We were getting close based on the announcement in the plane. I saw a mountain range rising up. We went over that smaller range and descended into a valley between two ranges. The landscape was a fascinating mix between lush fields of trees and vines and bone-dry looking areas of bare soil and dry grass.
Being a one-terminal airport, we had no issues finding our bags. Just outside we found Coty and her dad, Francisco. Big hugs were given all around. Its hard to describe how excited each of us were to see Coty after two years apart! Francisco was an asset at the rental car counter. He translated and helped me get all the forms filled out. Did I mention the airport was small? The rental car parking and visitor parking were in the same lot.
Just to make sure we didn’t get lost, Coty went in our car and Corvin with with Francisco. I followed along as Francisco drove and everything went great. I was driving a manual transmission car for the first time in 12ish years and didn’t even kill the engine. Then we started passing motorcycles. Francisco passed a few and I got into the rhythm. Passing means the motorcycles, which are already all the way on the right side of the road, keep doing what they are doing while I scoot half way over into the next lane and pass them. Francisco made a pass and I moved to go with him, then he exited the highway. I didn’t want any close calls kept going to the next exit. I had no concerns as Coty was with us and they caught up surprisingly quick and we continued following.
We still didn’t know where we were staying for the duration of time in town, only that it was taken care of. It turns out it’s a duplex directly across the street from their house. All of the houses have gates and fences around the property. With the gate opened, I pulled in as instructed. Waiting for us was an adorable single story brick house with a giant covered front porch. Two pools, one for each tenant awaited us. Inside was a kitchen/living space, two bedrooms and a bathroom. More than we could honestly ask for. We spent a few minutes getting cleaned up and walked across the street to Coty’s family house.
They had recently moved into this adobe house built in 1923 with walls at least a foot thick. High ceilings adorn every room. It isn’t modern or up to fancy [North] (okay, USA) American standards, but all four of us loved every second of it. The house didn’t originally have a kitchen or indoor bathrooms. They are quickly working to change it, but did just move in recently. I heard no complaints though. The bathrooms were plumbed (not outhouses) in a separate adobe building next to an outdoor kitchen in a large covered area. Currently its a temperate summer and I wouldn’t mind it. Ohh and they also have a pool in their yard. Between the pool and the house there is a large grape vine with several bunches of very yummy grapes.
Out in the yard, we joined the extended family. It’s their tradition to gather for a large celebration late on Christmas Eve with gift giving at midnight. Then on Christmas Day they meet for lunch and eat leftovers from the festivities the previous day. Its hard to argue with delicious leftovers. I recognized empanadas and bread. There was other food I couldn’t identify that was also good. We casually drank the afternoon away. Corvin was the star of our show using his Spanish to chat with the family. Coty was wonderful to jump in and translate for me. I was surprised I could occasionally follow along. I guess learning by immersion just might be a real thing!
After the family left, Corvin, Danelle, and I went for a walk to get some exercise while Sonora and Coty took a nap. The architecture in San Juan is so refreshingly different from most of the USA that I stopped too many times to take photos. I was amazed by huge trees that would take three people to join hands and get around many of the trees. I stopped numerous times to look at plants. I walked very slow doing my best to just take everything in.
Back from the walk, we found Francisco and Daniela in the pool. We sat on the edge and joined them. Danelle carried the conversation with them. It wasn’t long before Coty and Sonora came out from their nap and the other girls joined us for a full pool. I went over and retrieved our bag of gifts for our hosts, including a Missouri shirt for each of the 9 of us. We brought a few things from home we hoped they would enjoy. I think the candy went over best.
Finally, we had dinner at a table outside in their yard. The weather was perfect for this. Somehow it came out that I was interested in coins. Francisco brought out his coin collection and showed us several of the coins he has collected over the years. Many of the coins have no financial value due to inflation. It was almost comical. Currently 1 USD = ~ 1000 Peso. There was a coin that was .01 Peso.
Of note that I forgot to mention, they have 2 very old olive trees in their yard. We were able to see olives on the tree. They said likely February before they are ready to harvest. Also they have the most interesting insect here. We have fireflies at home, they glow from the back. This insect had two glowing patches in the front that presented as eyes at first. The insect was very gentle when picked up but constantly moving. We each took turns letting it crawl over us. When placed on its back, it bends and straightens flipping itself up in the air to get off its back.
Two days in South America and we’ve been overwhelmed two different ways. First at the bustling and crowded city. Now with space and family. All of us chose the less crowded San Juan experience with family around. Tomorrow will be interesting. As the absolute newness wears off, we’ll see how another day treats us with wonders.