SUNDAY IS FAMILY DAY

Today the family gets together at the farm in Scalera de Tango. At a time Ramiro and I would normally have lunch, we walk to the bus stop and after ten minutes hop onto an old  bus filled with families all traveling somewhere. After a 30 minute bus ride we arrive at the property of Guillermo and Doris, another brother of Nena and Teruca. Almost everyone here has a nickname.  This Guillermo is called Llillo, his son Guillermo is Memo.
Teruca brought her son and grandson Bruno, who is so proud of the few words of English he speaks. He clings onto me for a while and I teach him a few more words in English.

After hugs and kisses, the ladies start  preparing the meal. Doris removed some wonderful smelling cooked beef from the stone oven outside. Potato salad and freshly made mayonnaise i sbeing prepared by Nena and Teruca, the traditional dishes for a BBQ. Meat is also being cooked on the Parilla outside by Memo.

There are other children at Llillo and Doris’ house, who all spend time in front of the computer playing games. The man talk and drink; Pisco or beer. I help set the table and wonder around and check out this colonial house which is over 100 years old.

This is a huge piece of land. At the gate is a veterinary clinic, run by Memo. A large section of the land is leased out for vegetable crops and all along the main driveway to the main house are giant walnut trees, filled with fruit, ready for harvest by the end of summer, which is late March.
In the back of the house is a greenhouse, a barn with chicken, geese and pigs.
Everything is for sale.
Llillo works for a Mexican Communication company and does not have time to look after everything. The kids are either working or studying. It does not look like the large swimming pool on the side of the house is used much. There is no sitting area, just the pool in the middle of the field surrounded by trees. There are beautiful trees everywhere. Roses, magnolia, hybiscus and many others of which I do not know the names. This is paradise, well, paradise in despair.

The table is set for approximately 18. The food is good, the conversation goes into many directions. I am happy to be able to take part in some of the conversation and the laughter. I recall my first time in Chile, when I spoke maybe 10 words of Spanish and  felt so lonely. I was also shy at that time and did not dear to speak, let alone make hand gestures.
I try not to eat too much, and am happy when Teruca suggest we go for a walk and explore the terrain. I learn the names of many of the trees and some of the plants for sale at the greenhouse.

When we return to the house I am ready to take the bus back home, but see that the table has been set again. I can smell bread being roasted. It’s Pan amasado, which is a round flat firm bun, which is put on a small griddle on top of the gas flame.  Every day it is purchased fresh. Very little goes into the freezer.
I see plates with cake on the table and coffee cups. “We’re having tea” I am told. What? I just ate. I could not eat a thing. “We won’t be eating at home” Nena explains. I take a piece of cheese and a cup of tea. If I am hungry when I get home tonight I can always take some nuts and an apple. Don’t worry about me.
Ramiro  digs right in and enjoys the homemade cake with lemon filling and a type of super sweet meringue on top. We may have to buy him a larger pair of pants in a few weeks, if he makes this a routine. It’s 10 pm by the time we return home. So much for my plans to work on my blog and check my e-mail.
I have other assignments too you know. It’s not all play.