A visit to the Contreras Family

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Before we continue south we need to get all that dust off the car. The first person we ask directs us to a large buildiing on the corner.
It appears to be a repair shop, but, yes, they are also  equiped to wash the car.
The kid does a great job. He even sprays under the hood and opens the doors to get all the dust  from between the doors. He then wipes everything dry with a towel. The car is like new again. Now is a good time to take some pictures for the web, so we can post it for sale before we go back to Canada.

The road to Concepcion takes us through a large forest. It’s as if we drive through British Columbia or along the Oregon coast. The only thing missing is rest or picnic areas.  It will be another stand up backseat lunch.

There is little traffic so we have a chance to practice the Spanish verbs. Very complicated, I must say. The rules change constantly. As a matter of fact I don’t think there are any rules. At least I know the meaning of every single road sign, and continue to learn new words every day.

As we approach Concepcion we decide the take the road north on the Peninsula to Talcahuano, hoping to find a place to stay. No luck. We turn south and cross the bridge over the Bio Bio River into San Pedro de la Paz and end up in the slums.

We have no other choice, but go to the city centre. While Ramiro battles the traffic, I look on both sides of the road for hotels. We zigzag through the city and finally give up and call Ramiro’s cousin Nena. She give us direction to the house and of course insists we stay with her.
It’s a fairly big house and has been the centre of the family for over 65 years. It’s where most of the ten kids grew up. Ramiro’s Dad also lived in this house. As a matter of fact he died in his early thirties, in the same room we will be staying in for the next three nights. Cousin Joel from Montreal is also staying here and tomorrow cousin Aide and her husband Manuel, from Montreal will be arriving. We though that may be a good excuse to decline her hospitable offer, but Nena will not hear of it.

Joel and Ramiro have a lot to talk about and of course this is done over bread and coffee.

It is to know that in Chile, no one brews coffee like we do. A jar of Nescafé and a thermos of hot water is placed on the table.
Many people also make use of sweetener drops or tables. As a matter of fact the waiter in the restaurant always carries a small container and adds it to the coffee upon request.

There is a resemblance between Joel and Ramiro, they have the same hairstyle  and similar mouths. Even the same mustache.