Ray's Travels

Today was the last day of work on the school project. We were scheduled to work until 1:00 pm. The nuns had planned a barbecue for us at a site away from the school as an ending celebration. Of course, not everything on our list was completed but we left money behind so that our objectives could be completed with local labor. I spent most of the morning finishing and installing the shade canopy over the playground. Somehow, I became the lead guy on the task. Once again, this was one of those tasks where, when you complete the project you know enough about it to begin to start it. We rushed to get it installed and managed to finish by about 1:30 pm.

The bus took us to a compound that is owned by a private homeowner that lets the nuns use it if they need it. It was a really nice rural place. Not elaborate, but nice. Everything was waiting for us. We were about to experience something amazing.

In recent years there have been three times when I have been overwhelmed. Once was in Ethiopia when the villages turned out to thank us for the water projects. That was the most exotic. The second was in Laos when we had the Buddhist ceremony after working on the school. Today, the nuns arranged a totally overwhelming event of gratitude. It was amazing and humbling. They welcomed us, fed us, wined us an had a thank you ceremony that was sincere and profound. Also, the teachers, translators, cooks and other workers during the week were honored which was something they richly deserved. The outpouring of love, gratitude and affection was unexpected and almost breathtaking.

Numerous times we gathered for group pictures. Several of the participants spoke about what the experience meant to them. This event alone made the whole trip worthwhile.

Yes, we do these projects as tourists. Yet, we leave something permanent behind. Beyond the bricks and mortar and paint we leave some genuine interaction with cultures. An event like we experienced today is not something that a tour operator can contrive or that happens as a regular event. It’s not a theme park or a scripted show. It’s one and done, never to be recreated.

We finally boarded the bus to take us back to the hotel. As we were about ready to leave a nun came on the bus and said that they needed one more picture. We got off one at a time and it was like a Broadway stage call. They were applauding us individually like stars of a show. I’m not used to that but I will never forget it.

Following are some pictures.

The place where we had the barbecue. That’s Sister Theresa, the Mother Superior.

This man worked with us during the week. On the last day he wasn’t at the school. We found out that he was the barbeque chef. Oh, was it good!

Two of our translators, Gabi and Dani. They are sisters. To us they are two of the most beautiful women in Argentine. Gabi and Dani, thank you for being who you are!

A photo with the nuns. God bless all of you!

Back to work today at the school. There was rain again so we pushed some of the water off the second story. Because it is a holiday the hired workers weren’t there. Therefore, we have suspended our masonry work. We cleaned up a lot of broken brick. The pieces will be used as a base under some concrete that needs to be put down in a small area of the playground.

We took up other tasks, one of which is the replacement of a mesh sun shade over about 1/2 the playground. We need more materials so a couple of us went to a big home supply store named EASY. It’s like a Home Depot. The store was big, nice and quite well stocked but I think the manager trained with the first Walmart manager. Getting through the checkout like was like getting a root canal.

We shoveled the sand into the sand box and within 15 minutes our turtle friend arrived for an inspection.

Tonight we went to a well known Pizza restaurant that is a close walk from the hotel. It was one of those very busy, casual places. The name of the place is Pizzeria El Cuartito. I have to say, the pizza was great.

Meanwhile, although we weren’t there, the trip hit a low point. Beanie went to an Italian restaurant near our hotel with some others from the group. While there, a waiter stole her purse. He apparently was holding a towel, took the purse off the back of the chair and handed it off to someone outside. When it was noticed that it was missing the restaurant refused to call the police. Still, our people got the police involved. The restaurant had security cameras but of course they weren’t working at the time. Beanie lost some money and credit cards but fortunately her passport was not in the purse.

There is a special place in Hell for someone who would steal the purse from and 87 year old woman.

It’s Sunday and a quiet off day. A lot of the shops are closed. We just did some walking around. We went up Florida Street but it was fairly quiet although the weather was nice.

We can’t get the holidays figured out. We are told that this is a holiday weekend. Monday and Tuesday are also holidays. Presumably this has to do with Carnival but Carnival is not hugely celebrated in Buenos Aires like it is in Rio or New Orleans.

Tomorrow it is back to work.

There’s a most amazing tree in the Plaza San Martin. The thing is humungous. Look at the size of the branch to the left.

The branch is so big they have propped it up with a pole.

Now look at how this branch is growing away from the tree. The trunk is to the left.

This is the view from our balcony. We can’t figure out what is going on in this place. The shutters are almost always closed. Occasionally a car with come in or out so there is activity. There are four or five cats running around. Note the security camera above the door. We just refer to it as the KGB Place.

Saturday. No project work today. The group went on a boat tour of the delta area. Buenos Aires is at the confluence of two rivers. A lot of silt has formed a large delta. The delta has become a vacation area and somewhere that people have vacation homes. I guess it is something like the Cape Cod or Hamptons of Argentinians. It is interesting and in its own way beautiful. The homes or cottages are on small delta islands that are only accessible by boat. The tour was a different look at Buenos Aires.

This was the vacation house of a former President of Argentina who loved the delta. They have encased it in glass to keep it from rotting. Maintenance is a constant challenge for homeowners. Seawalls have to be maintained and adverse weather can be a problem.

Here is a grocery boat. Due to lack of roads or bridges the grocery store comes to you. It loads up make stops at houses to deliver provisions.