Aquí y allá

Yesterday we slept in, but today got going about 8am. We ate a big breakfast of oatmeal, yogurt, fried bread, coffee. Then started off walking for Frank and Ania's new property, 14 blocks from our motel. They are the folks that we rented a bungalow from 14 months ago, for a week. They are building a smaller home here so that when they get older their living space will be on only one floor, with only visitor quarters upstairs. They are a big part of us deciding to check out the Córdoba area seriously, as they have been so welcoming and helpful.

Frank is a vigorous & active 71 and Ania retired this year from teaching at the university. The new home site is in a beautiful location on top of a hill due east of us, with quite luxurious homes about them. The construction is just at the foundation stage. While waiting for Frank to return from a store run, we toured another house under construction across the street. Gave us some shade to stand in and it is constructed quite differently than what is normal in the US. Frank and Ania have suggested we rent it from them when it is finished, which we might well do.

Frank invited us for lunch, then called Ania and left a voice mail for her. She was a wee bit surprised when we all arrived since she had been outside gardening and did not get the message. Luckily she had prepared a large meal today of a Polish recipe pork roast with chayote (tastes like summer squash). Ania is from Poland. Frank is from Louisiana. We dined outside at Las Magnolias, their home, on a lovely patio overlooking their beautiful front yard area filled with flowering trees and plants. We were serenaded by some birds about the size of robins, with a white stripe on head, bright yellow breast, and light gray backs. The butterflies here -- so many varieties!! One is very large and a brilliant yellow. After the meal Frank took us back into town. Las Magnolias is a only few miles from Fortín (about 45 minutes, walking at a steady pace, as we recall from our last visit) They invited us to go for a ride with them Sunday, north to some of the other properties they own.

Sadly we have not found the perfect bakery yet. We have found the best bolillo (little French bread roll), and a very good cupcake with streusel topping. Tomorrow we will walk around south of here checking out houses for rent or sale - just to get a good idea of what is here. Also checked out a hardware and some farmacias today. Was hard to find vaseline. I took several pictures of with my new camera at the central plaza. So far I have not gotten THE picture perfect. Will try again soon.

Carmen is getting quite good at greeting all we meet with "Buenos Dias" with a smile on her face and less clippiness to her tone. Here, everyone greets everyone it seems. Now, this evening, what a difference from earlier today in the sun (wasupper 70's and now only 72 inside)...now it's chilly. Clouds outside but no rain here yet today. Clouds were getting most dark as we scurried home about four o'clock.