Vincent Party No. 11

Almost a month after the day proper, we had the party. A tough place to schedule apparently and now I can see why. The field was incredible. As usual the grown ups hung out and handled the asado. We made something like 60 hamburgers, buns fresh from a nearby bakery - they were fab. Janine's two cakes were incredible as always. Most of the family was there; Cecilia, Joaquin, Ama with Ximena and Jose Luis bringing extra special news. Let's just say Paulina is not going to be the littlest one for long, eh? Know what I mean?? You didn't read it here.
Enjoy the photos

Our House

I am trying to scrape my roof. 
Most roofs here are flat and usually have a roll type membrane on top. The membrane can cover or fix just about any roof. Most of the estimates we got for this work include adding the membrane. 
We've got whats called 'chapa'. The term used for all sheet metals.
Ours is a scalloped, aluminum panel that has been sprayed with a polyurethane foam insulation. On top is a tar-type coating topped with gritty pebbles. Perhaps 20 years of neglect and the valleys of the roof panels are full of leaves, dirt, sticks. Plants are growing, moss is everywhere

I never had a look at the roof when we bought the house. There wasn't really any access at the time and it was really undervalued. 
Estimates have been rising with each visiting contractor. What started at $10,000 (about U$500) appears to be heading north of $35,000. 
None of that matters now. 
I've started the cleaning myself. The tiny bald patch is what I managed the first two visits. Whoopee!  
At this rate I'll still be scraping and hauling away flakes of foam, dirt and moss until August. This is only about 5 bags worth. OMG.
It is seriously one of the 
hardest jobs I can remember.
 

Yet another Blog. Why?

Check out an even more exciting account of life in Uruguay "Daily Uruguay". Less family friendly news, the site could possibly grow into a message board with lots of opinions, all of which will be wrong.
I'll try to post each day for at least a year. 
My singular approach to illuminating the mysteries of life in general all told through the prism of being a stranger in a strange land. Really, loads of complaining and contemplating. No actual answers, so set your expectations accordingly.
Until I can graduate to a web site and message board enjoy photographs and anecdotes from the southern cone. 
As always my usual links, like the one for a beautiful early century townhouse restoration, click here or follow the link called 'San Salvador' on the left margin. 
I will post links to my sources of information, maps, tourism tips if I think them worthy.

American visitors, look out!

I had made some contact with an American couple toying with the idea of Uruguay as a retirement spot. I like to check out Expat Blogs, sometimes even throwing in a comment or two.  When I heard they were coming at the end of March, I offered to show them around a bit.
We drove out east to see Casapueblo in Punta Baillena, Punta del Este glamor and the famous Playa Brava fingers sculpture (above). I was trying to get a shot of our guests, but this adorable tourist from England kept getting in the frame. 
We also went to check out a gated community development marketed toward expats that they found on the internet. Spectacular views, some pretty nice homes under construction near Pan de Azucar. The developer has promised golf membership in a ritzy Pt. del Este club, a Healing Center and a Heliport to justify the hefty price tag. $250-$400,000 USD with some financing if you pony up now. The area is beautiful, quite near beautiful Piripolis beaches and just an hour and a half from Montevideo, but I'd think twice about throwing in with this guy. Our new friends want to be here for (our) winter to escape Atlanta's summer heat. This part of Uruguay will be cold, windy and almost deserted that time of year. Plus I wouldn't be so sure the developer can make good on all promised.
Where's the heliport?

I think they are enjoying the trip and are starting to appreciate Uruguay. However, like many of their countrymen with the nerve to venture out into the world, they are trying to force their square peg into this round hole and wondering why it doesn't fit. I don't think they'll be back, there's a lot of world to search for a place that really speaks to them. Good Luck on the quest and thanks for the visit.

High School?

Can it be? I was just carrying him around the other day. Due to a computer-related, slow to post period, Luca's first day of High School was not mentioned. Until now.
Fortunately, it all takes place at the same familiar Latinoamericano, but everything else is new. We were all nervous about this new phase of life, but it went off without a hitch.

Here he is with his pal Emilio.
The new schedule is a bit hard to get used to. Luca is a natural early riser and we've worked out a nice morning routine to keep things sane. Alarms ring at 6:00 am, Luca tosses and turns while I stretch. We head downstairs together and share some responsibilities; he can feed the cat, I'll walk the dog or visa versa. There's a little breakfast to have and we head out to the bus stop at 7:20. By some miracle, he's got a classmate who's home is in front of the bus stop. Most mornings they are pulling out the car just while we are waiting there. They graciously and with out fail offer a ride, which he reluctantly accepts on many mornings. He's painfully shy at this age and the classmate is a girl, so you get the picture. A ride to school with absolutely no talking.

All these previously 'little kids' now have a schedule to keep track of; class changes every 40 minutes, things like physics to decipher and some days even coming home for lunch and returning later for gym class. Most ride the bus alone to and from school as well as to each others homes. 
Look at them. Clueless and having the time of their lives.