We've had a really great 10 days. Julie, Annabel and Rebecca have started taking Spanish classes two days a week at an international school in downtown Mendoza, and are starting to speak a little bit of Spanish. Our teacher, Senorita Analia, is very patient with us, and we have been taking copious notes.
Last weekend, we discovered the little town of Chacras de Coria, which borders our own town of Lujan de Cuyo. It, too, is surrounded by fincas and has adorable stores and restaurants. About a week ago, we went for a delicious meal with Hernan to a restaurant called El Palenque (The Hitching Post). We went back over the weekend to go to a crafts fair in the town square. Annabel and Rebecca rode ponies, and Rebecca claimed it was the highlight of the weekend.
Our own little house seems to be the best entertainment of all for the girls. We swim every day and play water balloons and soccer on the lawn. We have adopted the finca's cat and re-named him Tigre. In the past, we think that he has subsisted on mice and voles. We've taken to feeding him chicken and fish, and he now doesn't want to leave our side. Rebecca has started helping Pascual, the groundskeeper, take care of the parrots. Lalo, the blue and yellow parrot, dances when he is being fed. Maria, Pascual's wife, introduced Julie and the girls to the owners of the finca next door, Richard and Graciella. They have a horse -- Mark says its a mule --to which the girls feed vegetable scraps . Annabel and Julie have started taking morning walks around the vineyard, and Mark has figured out an ingenious way to get exercise in our tiny swimming pool by tying a rope around his waist so that he swims in place. The girls have discovered that Argentinians make delicious ice cream, and we go to the heladeria three times a week for Mousse de Limon and Cafe ice cream. Mark and Julie are thoroughly enjoying the Malbec wines and are cycling through the different ones from the area.
We are continuing to homeschool the girls, and we think they may have done more schoolwork than their friends in Morgantown, who we hear have had many snow days (we keep getting the email notifications). We're hoping to make a trip to the mountains soon and are beginning to plan for our trip to Buenes Aires at the end of the month.
Last weekend, we discovered the little town of Chacras de Coria, which borders our own town of Lujan de Cuyo. It, too, is surrounded by fincas and has adorable stores and restaurants. About a week ago, we went for a delicious meal with Hernan to a restaurant called El Palenque (The Hitching Post). We went back over the weekend to go to a crafts fair in the town square. Annabel and Rebecca rode ponies, and Rebecca claimed it was the highlight of the weekend.
Our own little house seems to be the best entertainment of all for the girls. We swim every day and play water balloons and soccer on the lawn. We have adopted the finca's cat and re-named him Tigre. In the past, we think that he has subsisted on mice and voles. We've taken to feeding him chicken and fish, and he now doesn't want to leave our side. Rebecca has started helping Pascual, the groundskeeper, take care of the parrots. Lalo, the blue and yellow parrot, dances when he is being fed. Maria, Pascual's wife, introduced Julie and the girls to the owners of the finca next door, Richard and Graciella. They have a horse -- Mark says its a mule --to which the girls feed vegetable scraps . Annabel and Julie have started taking morning walks around the vineyard, and Mark has figured out an ingenious way to get exercise in our tiny swimming pool by tying a rope around his waist so that he swims in place. The girls have discovered that Argentinians make delicious ice cream, and we go to the heladeria three times a week for Mousse de Limon and Cafe ice cream. Mark and Julie are thoroughly enjoying the Malbec wines and are cycling through the different ones from the area.
We are continuing to homeschool the girls, and we think they may have done more schoolwork than their friends in Morgantown, who we hear have had many snow days (we keep getting the email notifications). We're hoping to make a trip to the mountains soon and are beginning to plan for our trip to Buenes Aires at the end of the month.
I'm so glad Becca found a kitty! That picture is so precious. any news on the postal code yet?
ReplyDeleteDoes it feel like a dream? It sounds like a dream. Love you lots! I can't wait to talk with you.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds wonderful there. We are excited to see atleast one of Julie's paintings. So glad that you have all found creative outlets. I like Mark's pool trainer...very clever.
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