As we come to the end of an incredible adventure I have to reflect back on what we did and how we made such a difference in the lives of five families.
Yesterday morning, after a very short sleep, we were up to pack and head to $the site for the dedication of the five homes. It was a nice ending, albeit very hot. Since we donated our shoes and sunscreen and our hats were packed, it made for a really long celebration. Leandro and Carlos were very thankful and gracious. Leandro's parents and brother were there as well as a representatives from the Minister of Housing and the US Ambassador's office. We all received a "suitable for framing" certificate of appreciation plus a piece of Paraguaian lace. Leandro and Carlos also made us a montage of the music we listened to on the job site. We were some mad, dancing gringos so we are anxious to listen to what is on it.
After our happy/sad tears, we said good-bye and headed back to the airport to go to Buenos Aires.
A real bus met our group with a real guide! She gave us a lot of important information about how to stay safe while enjoying the city. She was also going to take us on a city bus tour today. Caused a bit of a ruckus when I told the tour guide that we only needed one map as Ann and I were a "couple". She told us all about how liberal Argentina was and gay marriage was perfectly fine. We did set her straight later today.
We stayed at the Hotel de las Americas and it was a real hotel with real beds, a TV and a private bathroom. Paradise. Since Argentinians have a more relaxed lifestyle, they don't eat until at least 8:30. So off we went to do a little shopping. Since I packed exactly according to the packing list, I ran out of clean clothes and had nothing to wear suitable for dinner in BA. Upon recommendation from Silvina, we went to a very cosmopolitan mall. The mall was filled with great boutique stores but each store had only one size of each item and few of the sizes were mine. After two hours I over-paid for a shirt and decided to wear one of two pairs of Ann's last clean pants.
After a quick shower, Ann, Stefka, Julieanne, Brad, Ryan, Melissa and I ventured out to Puerto Soho in the northeast part of the city for dinner. We enjoyed an excellent Steak and salad (not a great choice) and some nice Argentine wine. After dinner we ventured out to an Armenian dance club, where several hundred couples danced the tango and samba. Those latin women, with their double jointed hips, had the most shapely bodies. We did not dance but thoroughly enjoyed watching. Arriving back to the hotel at 2-ish am, we met up with some 15 year old English speaking Argentine girls, drinking beer and ready to party. They told us their curfew was 6 am. Not ever in my house.
We were out and about early to finish souvenir shopping. Regretfully the previous evening's dinner played havoc with our plans and we had to skip the tour.
So now we are at the airport, ready to board. We'll be in Dallas by early morning and in Denver before noon.
Hard to believe that this is over. We've planned for a year and it was so worth it. My life has been enriched by this experience and the 40 new friends I've made, and the five families lives I've helped to change. So this is it for now. Tomorrow I'll write more, but from Denver. Thanks to all of you who followed my journey. Pictures with follow soon.
Love to all,
Karen
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