Happy Birthday, Vince

Happy Birthday tomorrow, Vince.

So, enjoy your day!!!  Will it include a trip to your favorite Mexican restaurant?  Which one will you choose? We are remembering our last trip to one of your favorites.

Summer is a fun time to have a birthday – Sports, Swimming, Scouting, Snow cones, Kettle corn (and Caramel, Caramel Cherry, White Cheddar, and….).  So much to do – and with you we know it will be a great time.  Love you very much and appreciate your service in patrolling the highways.  Thanks for being a great partner to Chris and a great Dad to your five.  The carabineros here are also doing a great job patrolling….

Here is a text to Angie when she was surprised to learn we had gone out to eat:

Mom:  We ate at a Mexican restaurant in Viña.  Dad had an enchilada and I had a chimichanga. Can you guess which is which? 

Angie: ...I'd say Mom's is on the left because there is more eaten (the faster eater).

Mom:  And you are wrong! Mom's chimichanga is on the right and Dad's enchilada is on the left.  Mine (the chimi) came late and I took the picture just after it came.... BUT I did finish first!
They tasted and were exactly the same (except folded differently)!

We are also remembering that Sonoran Supremo (?) we ate with you during ball practice last summer.  The Chileno thing to try here is the “Completo” which we have not yet tried.  It is a hot dog with a huge amount of mayo (1 to 1.5 inches of mayo) and guacamole.  The mission nurse suggests we not try street food as the mayo may have been out a little too long….   But we do like to sometimes pick up after a long day at work, a couple of empanadas where we get off the bus to head back home. The Napolitana empanada is a ham and cheese one and the Pino is more like a seasoned hamburger meat with half a hard-boiled egg and an olive (with pit).

Geff wrote this in his last letter to Grandpa: 

“So,  Q: 'What’s the happenings? (i.e. ¿Qué Pasa?)'  here in Valpo last week?  

A: 'Not much out of the ordinary.'  Everything went according to plan and according to schedule.  Like the Swiss trains.  We work such a 9 – 5 job.  But every so often we pinch ourselves and realize that this place is not what one would call “normal” at all.  So, what is different?  Thrill rides on the micro buses – the lack of road rage considering all the crazy moves – jugglers performing for traffic stopped at intersections...

- sidewalk vendors covering the sidewalks with their wares (everything) – the big street market that magically appears on Avenida Argentina every Wed and weekend – empanadas - all the creative murals on every available vertical surface – all the graffiti that covers all but a few of the most impressive murals which are recognized as such by their being spared  that graffiti layer – the oldness – the newness – the bay – the carabineros strolling the sidewalks just to keep everyone honest – the many barking (all night long) dogs - houses built on almost vertical hillsides - cool breezes and warm sun and thick fog – and the friendly and accommodating people.  We hear that there is a lot of robbery in certain parts, but we must never be in those spots.  We know we are feeling at home here, especially when we see these “happenings” and take it all for granted!...”.

But actually, this week we have had several protests.  The carabineros (Geff respectfully calls them “carbs”) have been out in extra force with streets blocked causing the buses to head up different streets to get us to the cemetery….

these vans/paddy wagons/water cannons have metal mesh grates protecting the windows and lights

We took a bus to Viña del Mar one Saturday to stroll up and around Cerro Castillo (Castle Hill).   One of the most impressive castles is the Palacio Brunet (also known as "Castillo Yarur") which was built in 1923 by Adolfo Brunet. It is now owned by the Carabineros de Chile (Chilean police) and is used as a reception center for important visitors because the presidential summer residence, Castillo Presidencial (Presidential Castle), is nearby.  You really are not able to see any of the Chilean Presidents’ home, but Elder Smith checked in with the gate guard to make sure we could take a picture of the unpretentious side street entrance which is shown top left below, and the other three are of Palacio Brunet.

  

So, Vince, you can sleep well, knowing that we are protected down here by your cousins the carbs.

...and in the famous words of Elder Heflin: "Thanks a ton!!"