barbecue appreciation barbecue.

Friday we scrubbed the luggage from last week’s trip because it was very hot and windy today. They dried out by the afternoon when we returned from our work at the hospital. On our way we had gone to 3 local restaurants to get gift certificates to give away at next Friday’s dance. We got 3 and still have next week to find more. I am supposed to see if we can get some Mexican beer at a discount since that is the theme. We rested about an hour after working and then went to the Stock show grounds for the beer and barbecue dinner. We volunteer there too and this is their way of thanking us. We had a good time sitting with people we know from Immanuel Lutheran where I used to work. We came home so Evelyn could go to bed. She didn’t get to sleep until after 3 last night, and I am concerned for her.

Riding the brisket train

We have returned to the routine. I played golf with the neighbor from Canada on Wednesday but did not do well. Evelyn had long talk with Stacy about things going on in Atlanta. We had to go to the hall to help with the Texas state barbecue. We worked, along with 12 other people, from 3 until the buffet was cleaned at 6:30. The menu featured brisket and potato salad. We left so we could go to the Ash Wednesday worship. I learned that there was a noon service too and 3 times as many attended as did in the evening with us. We were marked with ashes on our forehead, reminding us that “dust we are and to dust we shall return.” We begin the season of self examination anticipating the wonderful observance of the Resurrection. Thursday was another work day for me. I was blessed with ideas and was able to plan the music, readings and Scriptures for the entire Easter season. At 2 we went to a banquet given by the corporation that owns our and several other parks in the Valley. There was dancing for 1 ½ hours, awards presentations, and a brisket dinner. The requirement for attendance is participation in the Encore games. We weren’t here during the games but did help with the racewalk event before we left. The banquet features free beer but only 1 line serving around 300 people. That was the only thing that was objectionable about the event. I didn’t even drink any beer because I was unwilling to stand in line for 30 minutes waiting to be served as some did. We hurried back so Evelyn could attend the Bible study she attends on Thursday evenings. We have our third brisket dinner planned for tomorrow evening. It is a thank you dinner for those of us who volunteer to help with the Rio Grande Valley Stock Show.

Janujary 27 in Iguazu

We had hot water to shower because I had called and threatened the front desk yesterday. We went to the elaborate breakfast buffet featuring many pastries and fruits. We had cereal and yogurt to work on my bowel problem. I also had some scrambled eggs and tried some caramel sauce. We were on our way to the falls by 8:30. Evelyn and I were dressed for mosquitoes in jeans and long sleeves. We were covered with Deet too. We walded over 2 ½ miles to see the falls from various angles. There are 125 falls in the cataract. It got hotter and hotter and by 11 everyone was drenched in sweat. We then got into a boat to ride right up nest to the largest section of the falls. It was a horseshoe like Niagara but higher. We were given a large plastic bag to put anything into that we wanted to keep dry--shoes, cameras, gifts watches, etc. It was sealed and put into the bottom of the boat. We went through the Sargantana Diablo--Devil’s Throat. They were severed rapids. We then went to and under the falls. Not just the mist but under the actual falls. The force of the water took our breath and simulated drowning. The captain took us under the water 3 more times. We docked and were taken by truck to a place where our guide met us for lunch. We were all wet but dried pretty quickly. We walked back to the horseshoe falls, walking over the river on grated platforms and were able to stand within 10 meters of the actual falls. This was a thrilling day. We returned to the entrance gate by train and back to the hotel by van. We showered and rested. I found an Internet site and dumped 209 e-mails. We met Jones at 7 for drinks and the dinner buffet at 8. Everything happen late in South America. We chose the buffet which was marvelous, featuring many colorful salads, grated carrots, sliced onions, sliced tomatoes, grated celery, finely chopped lettuce, cooked cheese and carrots, cauliflower and green beans. Entrees included ravioli, boulganaisse, spaghetti with meat sauce, fish, pork and beef. Desserts: chocolate pudding, passion fruit yogurt, apple tarts, fresh fruit and bread pudding. All were marvelous selections and delicious. We had played cards and drunk wine with Jones from 7-8. We taught them Kings on the Corner. We went to bed around 10 and didn’t have to call for hot water again.

January 26 in Puerto Iguazu

I was awake until 1 reading my Bible and Evelyn slept until 3. I slept from 1-4:30 when we got the wake up call. We were in the lobby by 5:10 and on the way to the airport by 5:30. We had coffee and hot chocolate before boarding our 7:30 flight. The hot chocolate was a glass of hot milk and a very soft chocolate bar that melted. It didn’t work too well for us. Our flight was full but good. Our ride was on time and took us to our hotel by 10. The hotel was called Orquedeas (Orchid) and was multi roomed and covered with flowered grounds. It reminded us of the Tahitian hotel we once had. We went to sleep but Jones went downtown for wine. There was no facial tissue provided here and we had trouble getting hot water. I had to call twice. We think the breaker on the heater must have tripped. We went to the dining room and bought a 3 course meal to share. It was not expensive. We joined Jones for beer then went to take a boat ride up the Iguazu and Parradan Rivers to near both Paraguay and Brazil. We had appetizers and beer while listening to 2 marvelous guitarists. They were so good we bought a CD from them. We were dropped off at Tio Cardinas restaurant and had dinner. The waiter and the entertainers were great but the “ribs” we had were the worst we had ever had. We were still tired and went to bed early.

A day on the Island

Tuesday we dressed in our chartuse bike club shirts, loaded our bikes on the large trailer and left for South Padre Island. Unfortunately, the leaders didn’t know the correct route to take, and we went clear to Brownsville which was over 20 miles out of the way. We finally mounted our bikes and had a nice ride into the wind one way and with the wind the other. It was a temperate day, but we got hot when riding with the wind. We shared a salad at the restaurant chosen and drove back home. We had driven with a couple who had taken a cruise to the Mexican Rivera, a cruise we hope to take within the next two years. They gave us some good ideas as to what that trip would be like. We shared our South American trip with them. Evelyn went to Weight Watchers and came home with 2 new cookbooks to keep us on the program. I planned a golf outing with our neighbor from Canada for tomorrow. I spent much of the evening preparing a message for Sunday.

January 25 in Buenos Aires

We were to meet Jones for breakfast between 8 and 8:30 but overslept. We joined them as they were finishing and returned to the room to shower and dress. We met them in the lobby at 9:30. I had asked the concierge to find a church but she couldn’t. We took the Subte to Plaza Durrego for another street fair and flea market. We had wanted to see more tango dancing on the mall but didn’t want to wait until it began at 2. We found a Baptist church but couldn’t understand the Spanish and left to shop around. We bought 3 souvenir magnets and postcards. We tried to barter for a metal sign that said tango club to hang on our deck in NC but no one would barter. We shared an tomato, cheese, and basil empanada for lunch but were disappointed. We walked through many street acts before taking a cab back to the hotel. We packed for tomorrow’s trip and slept for over an hour. We took 5 of our 6 pieces of luggage to the hotel storage and then took the Subte to a famous Cafe Tortoni for a sandwich and beer. Carlos Gardel, the man who popularized the Argentine tango used to frequent this place in the 30s and 40s. We thought we would take a short tango lesson but couldn’t stay until it began. We had to get to bed because we had to rise a 4:30 tomorrow morning to catch our flight to Iguazu Falls. I went right to sleep before 9 but Evelyn couldn’t sleep until after 11:30.

January 24 in Buenos Aires

We were wakened by voices coming through the thin walls in the hotel. We met Jones for the breakfast buffet There were interesting items among which were a cake wrapped around meat and vegetables. Another was cold quiche. The fresh fruit cup was delicious with kiwi, pineapple, citrus, strawberries, etc. We took the subte (subway) to visit the large cemetery where Eva Peron and Luis Firpo (a boxer from the Joe Louis era) are buried. We were there when a new body was laid to rest in a family vault. We walked round quite a while and then through another basillica. We then went to an outdoor cafe under a huge gum tree before going to a flea market where we bought a key chain and looked at many other crafts including some gourds hollowed out to contain mate, a tea like substance the locals suck on all day. We walked almost forever and then looked for a restaurant listed in the Frommers guide book but found it closed on Saturdays. Many of the stores are closed Saturdays and Sundays here. We took a cab back to the hotel to rest up until the evening’s tango show. We hailed a cab at 8 and went to the Carlos Gardel tango club. We were the first ones there and met a couple of dancers who were photographed with us. The shows are similar to the old time night clubs in the states. We ordered crab rouladen and a delicious raw beef plate for an appetizer. We ordered steaks--it was Argentina--but could hardly eat it. The national custom is to eat beef rare no matter what is ordered. It was not as good as last night’s, and my Italian pasta was not much better. The good news was that all the wine we wanted was included. The tango show was fantastic. The orchestra was above the stage and featured violins, accordions and a piano. The dancers were also great, making us want to learn the Argentinean tango. We had taken ballroom tango lessons in NC but this type was completely different. The dinner theater must have held 300 people and we sat next to 2 cardiologists and wives from Fort Wayne. We had a nice visit with them and another family from Brazil. We went back to the hotel around midnight happy about the day but sad that we couldn’t find a protestant church to attend Sunday.

Monday at home

Monday was normal: exercise, walk, park meeting. We came home and had a Weight Watchers lunch. We ran some errands: recycle, Home Depot for a ceiling fan brush, and to the bank to try to get the TXU conflict resolved and to another park to see one of our worship attenders play drums with a band in a jam. We came home and Evelyn washed down the porch. I rode to get my medicine and the mail. We ate another delicious WW creation for supper and watched TV until bedtime. I did remember to fire up the smoker and smoke some pork loins we had bought a couple days ago. We have a bike outing tomorrow.

Return to worship

Saturday afternoon I watched Purdue play basketball, took a nap, and worked on the service for Sunday. We wakened early on Sunday and returned to our call to preach God’s Word. We had 59 in attendance, indicating that our replacement had done a great job. We enjoyed the worship because we had not attended any for 4 Sundays and needed to take Holy Communion. We came home and Evelyn had a bracelet repaired by a woman from TN. I left a note for the Drews to come to have wine and hear about our trip at 4. Evelyn had made a delicious, low point stir fry for lunch, cleaned the kitchen and took a nap. I tried to find some sermons to use for the Lenten messages coming up next week. We visited with Drews from 4-6:30 and then made popcorn for supper. I continued working on the upcoming messages.

Days 1 & 2 of the "trip of a lifetime"

I will try to recall the major events of our trip to South America in several different entries. The events occurred on the dates indicated. Sorry to be so detailed and boring. I will also try to make short entries in the present. Here we go.
January 22 we spent the morning preparing the last minute items after a walk. I gave keys to Armond before Paul and Donna to Gonzales hamburgers in Donna, TX. We were unloaded at the McAllen airport by 3 and in Dallas 3 hours early for our flight to Buenos Aires. We met Tom and Luann on our flight, leaving at 2300 hours for our 10 hour flight. We were served dinner and breakfast but in the meantime neither of us could sleep well. We arrived at 10:30 Argentina time, rode 20 miles in a van with 12 pieces of luggage and checked into the Bristol Hotel. We showered and relaxed until 13:30. We joined Jones to go to lunch and walk around the neighborhood. The area around our hotel (near the Oblisque, a Washington monument type structure) was remarkably clean. Men are hired to manually sweep along the curbs. It is summer and quite warm. The local’s attire is much the same as ours except for the business people who wear exclusively black. The young girls wear more dresses than in those in the states. We joined Jones and went to the bank to get some Argentinean Pecos. After a little trouble with my PIN, we went looking for a cafe for lunch. We found one and had what they called “pig” which turned out to be ham. The prices here are reasonable for almost everything. After lunch we took the subte to a large cathedral near the Presidential palace where Eva Peron lived. It was very hot and my sweating caused concern that I might fall over in a faint. I didn’t. We cleaned ourselves up and took a taxi to one of Jones’ favorite restaurants--Las Nazarenas. We had a great Argentinean steak dinner and dessert. Meat is sold here with a notation as to the gram weight. We had to share a 400 gram steak. We took another taxi back to our neighborhood and went to a small tango club in a nearby hotel where Tom was invited to dance the tango with the professional dancer. We weren’t in bed until midnight local time. Having fun wore us out. Everything happens later at night here. Most evening meals aren’t served until 2130 or 2200. That is very late for us. We will have to get used to it.

Friday at home

I neglected to mention that we are trying to eat by the guidelines of the Weight Watchers program. It will be difficult but necessary. It was overcast today but rain is desparately needed. It has not rained significantly since we left. The park handyman came today and installed the water heater I bought in Mercedes. I decided to get a 30 gallon instead of the 40 gallon one that we had before. That was 10 more gallons to heat. I rode to the hospital to have an Xray taken as required by the volunteer services. I also transferred half of the pictures from our trip to the computer. The others are on a disk that Tom made on the trip. We went to the sweetheart dance at the park.

Our Lord wants it here and brought us home.

We have returned to our Texas home. We arrived around noon on Wednesday, bought our friends lunch, came home, unpacked a bit and took a nap. I had not slept well on the plane, and Evelyn had not slept well for 2 days. I picked up the tray of mail that had accumulated and worked on disposing of that for a while. We went to bed around 9:30 and slept well during the night. Evelyn had to return to exercise Thursday (she has the key to the video cabinet) while I walked. It was the morning for Mabel's clinc breakfast. We contributed but did not eat. We are going to try losing weight. We kept on emptying suitcases and accumulating the gifts we need to send. We ate a light lunch and supper. During the day Evelyn went to the grocery while I worked on Sunday's message. I was blessed and got it pretty well finished. We walked around the park during the night and then to bed early again. I had noticed that the water heater was leaking and arranged for the local park handyman to come Friday morning and replace it. Friday morning I had to go to Mercedes and buy a new water heater. The man had it installed by noon and only charged $30. We did not volunteer at the hospital but will return next Friday. We have a dance tonight and we will go because we are partly responsible.