Winter Wonderland
No it is not. I like sweater weather, but not snow and cold. Being dressed in layers is just fun. You can be wearing your favorite funky t shirt under a conservative sweater to work and no one knows. It's fun. However driving in snow sucks, being cold stinks, and wet floors in the apartment are a slip-and-fall hazard. Either way I am back in the Michigan, drove the NX this morning for the first time in nearly four weeks and am using Max (my laptop) again. Lets recap my return home.
Wednesday - in a plane all day. Left for the airport at 6am, landed in Chicago at 8pm. Kinda long. I did meet Sean Paul (reggae star) in Miami, almost got arrested for taking his picture. Who knew taking pictures near the airport security area was a federal offense? After a nice 30 minute interogation I will be sure to never take my camera out near there again! Novali and Tamara were waiting for me when I got to the luggage area. Novali's huge mouth when she saw me made the long hours of plane time melt away and she ran to hug her papi. I am home.
Thursday - Novali and I played all day.
Friday - came to Michigan finally. My parents are in town staying at the luxurious Sleep Inn right here in lovely Allendale, MI. We ate at the Country Cupboard and I got mad punches on my punch card, very happy about that. Three bucks off here I come!
Today - I am about to run and get Andres from the bus station. He will chill with the family this afternoon. I will hand out some xmas gifts and I am sure my mom will get Novali in the pool of the hotel. Good ol' Centellas family fun. Minus Miguel who is still in Bolivia and Raquel who is taking care of her now one week old baby Valerie.
Within the next few days expect to see a full photo on-line tour of my trip to Bolivia, some new Novali photos, and hear about my hair falling out as I mad dash to try to get caught up on four weeks of being gone. Ah. I am home...
Back in the Heat
Holy hot batman! Saturday night I arrived back in Santa Cruz, and what heat! La Paz has a great climate, a little cold in the mornings but in the afternoon a great cool temperature and then nice fresh cool evenings. Now Santa Cruz... is just plain nasty hot.
Yesterday we had an asado at my Tio Adrian´s house. Claudia got back from her trip so I finally got to see her. As the afternoon got hotter and reached 91 degrees we all went to the famous Rio Pirai. It was like I remembered, little stands selling all kinds of typical Bolivian food. You had to keep your hand on your wallet cause pick pockets and crooks were all over. I rented two four wheelers and Felipe and I took Tio Ruben´s girls out on the river banks. It was a fun and I got some more sun.
Last night had some duck with Tio Joge and his family. I have spent the most time with them. Oscar, Fernando and Ivan have been great. Tio Jorge has the closest family of all the uncles here. Two of his kids are married, Ivan with two kids and Oscar with one on the way, and Fernando enjoying the single life a little more.
Two more days in Bolivia. I will spend my last few times riding the Blue 21 Micro. Internet in Shopping Bolivar next to business men watching DVDs on lunch break and kids chatting on MSN. Getting hassled by taxi drivers and everyone else for a few extra pesos for the ´gringo´price. Ah...
Family Update - my sister had her little girl! Finally. She was getting very annoyed with being very big and pregnant. So on January 3rd, my sister Raquel had her little girl. Valerie Anne, who was born 7.2 pounds and 19,3/4 long. So now I am an uncle. Here is a link to a picture my dad sent me. Valerie.
Well now I am heading over to the Santa Cruz Social Club. Today will be my last try to get in there and have lunch. I just want something to eat, since I was a little kid I wanted to eat there. Wish me luck.
