Visit with Abue and Grandpa

Four days after school let out – and two after we moved into our new place – Brandon’s dad (Bert/Grandpa) and aunt (Diana/Abue) came to visit. They had an interesting trip down to Paraguay involving an emergency Chilean visa and a $98 Easter Island statue . . . but I’ll leave those stories for them to share.

While here, they caught a glimpse into our daily (if not, boring) lives. Paraguay is not a tourist destination and there’s a reason it’s not featured on South American “must-see” lists. Don’t get us wrong, we enjoy the laid-back culture, but when it comes to family visiting, there’s just not a whole lot to do or see. Anyone up for a card game?

We did visit a few outlying cities that are known for their craftsmanship: Aregua and Luque. Aregua is a quaint little town known for pottery and strawberries. Luque is known for the silverwork called “filigrana.” Both are hole-in-the-wall places with cobblestone streets, street vendors, and cathedrals in the center of town.

Cathedral in Luque, still decked out from the bicentennial celebration in May.

Abue wandering the hallways looking for a way INTO the cathedral.

A picture of the inside from an open window. None of the doors were open.

With Brandon around, you know that we ate well while Grandpa and Abue were visiting. The most memorable lunch was at El Bolsi. While sitting down, enjoying our meal, we see a girl with a video camera filming on the patio where we were eating. At times it looked like the camera was pointing at us, but I just assumed I was paranoid. But she was always around. Abue and I started whispering: “do you think she’s…?” “I don’t know, but it looks like it…” “why would she be…?”

At El Bolsi with Daddy and Grandpa.

Turns out she was filming us. When we asked for out bill, her counterpart brought us a giant waffle, topped with ice cream, strawberry, chocolate and caramel syrup and whipped cream. Surprise! They had been doing some sort of promotion at the restaurant, surprising people all day with dessert (and I’m sure we were laughed at by Paraguayans watching whatever channel they were filming for).

Oh, and Grandpa broke our shower curtain AND locked himself in the bathroom . . . and that was just the first day. The stories HE could tell . . .