Accidents and language
Trip Start
Nov 06, 2006
1
11
31
Trip End
Apr 22, 2007
San Jose ... Liberdad, Uruguay
Saturday, December 9, 2006
We are in a tiny place called Liberdad (here b´s sound like v´s and vice versa!). We came for a ´papas festival´... papas are potatoes and we were told they make a massive potatoe souffle which they then cook ... a tradition they told us. Well, we caught the bus here from another town about 40 k away (another story how we came to be there ... so many mishaps usually caused by language problems). Got here OK, masses of buses, so no problema. It is a very small place, a bit like Litcham I suppose; (village in Norfolk UK) even found the festival, which consists of half a dozen or so tractor or farming type machines, a few market stalls and a massive stage for, we suspect, over powering music. There are three empty baths there (normal size, minus taps and plumbing) but we discovered the potato bit happens tomorrow. Never mind we will hang around until the music starts, then probably beat a hasty retreat from the noise.
Just briefly we are here because we met a Paraguyan man the other day who told us of a music festival at San Jose, got ticket there, transpired they took us to Monetvideo ... 40 or so k further on so didn´t get the the festival town until today. Hence we are here ... but of course we now suspect the music festival our new friend told us of could be back in San Jose, because it certainly isn´t here. That´s life!
However, little things make the mistakes worthwhile. On our walk from the terminal to the park for the potato festival we passed a home for ´´anciens´ (people like us only mostly even older). On the way back to the town ... purpose to kill time because nothing starts till 7pm and this was around 4.30 ... we past this old peoples place again and Peter being a shy little thing marches boldly in and starts talking. Wonderful, we are invited in, stumble over our Spanish and they have no English, not even numbers (most unusual). Actually one chap about my age (really shouldn´t be there!) had some English; it was ´Margaret Thatcher´ I just had to threaten him with my handbag for swearing, but we ended good friends. Sat with them for around 20 minutes swapping whatever information we could had a tour of their house, which was basic but cool and homely. The roof appeared to be thatch and visible from inside as well as out, wonder what happens when it rains, must bve waterproof I suppose. (Later we discovered that from the outside the roof was corrugated .. metal of somesort). We wondered what lingered in the thatch to fall into the communal soup bowl. Anyhow, a lovely feeling of warmth and friendship which makes us like Uruguay.
Incidentally, just one of those things, having given everybody my phone number it isn´t working at the moment, the reason is lost in the mysteries of language.
Language ... or the lack of it.My (or our ... Peter´s also) listening vocabulary expands each day. However, when either of us speak with the panach and confidence of a two year old we are greeted with looks of total bewilderment. I am able, now, to say ´it´s called?´or ´how you say?´ and even repeat it to their satisfaction, but I will cherish the day when I can say ´naranja´ without that spaced out look staring back at me ... there are only so many ways to pronounce that word and I´ve tried them all. (naranja = orange juice). We finally got the invitation to sit down at the old people´s home earlier ... I guess they thought we needed to, nearly admitted Peter.
This bit for fellow travellers. When you buy bust tickets check they have listened and understood, this will save time and hassle exchanging tickets or, worse ending miles away from your intended destination. Getting from Argentina to here it was purely (I think) a misunderrstanding with the language) but clearly asking for tickets to ´San Jose´and ending up in Montevideao (nearly two hours further on) I don´t understand. The bus did stop near San Jose but in the middle of nowhere so absolutely useless to us. And, travellers, if you do get stuck at the bus station in Montevideo at 8pm on a Friday night give the Royal Palace Hotel miss, they have thin sheets, but a thick plastic sheeting on the mattress, they do not offer breakfast but charge a price that reflects that.
SALTO GRANDE is a must, but go to the thermals rather than the town. We ended up at Dayman Termals at the Gemini hotel ... a room with a douible downstairs and 5 singles at the top of a spiral staircase, intended for familys, but a wow for a couple of days stop over for any traveller to sooth over heated feet and over worked back in the variety of hot pools. All fantastic value for money. Geminis Apart-hotel, Termas del Dayman, Salto. email info@geminishotel.com.ar
One further bit of adivce ... the cell phones (Moviestar) supposed to work all over South America and probably do if only you know how to use the top up cards you buy in other countries than the one of origin. That is why my one is useless at the moment.
Happy Travelling ... christmas decorations out everywhere now but really too hot for Christmas and I so miss those corny Christmas tunes!
Love to everyone.
xx
Comments
intrepid
Cant believe you two, so intrepid it makes my blood run cold. Glad to hear that Peter is still shy and retiring, there is some philosopher, I forget whom, who says that life happens in 'meeting'. Yo.
I'm off to Amsterdam tomorrow for a few days and the thought of getting to the station in Toulouse and catching a plane is more than enough excitement. A little too much, perhaps. Keep being a good example!
xxxxxxxxxnilzi
intrepid?
Hi Nilz,
Enjoy Amsterdam and Toulous .... we think Esperaza can be quite exciting sometimes and are waiting for you to tell everyone all about it.
Wondering how the enigmatic fruit and veg are these days and the Captain, Ian. So much to ask.
Still, for the moment, have fun in Amsterdam, a lovely city. Bet you´ve been to the Rembrandt house and the Van Gogh museum, but always good for another visit.
love n hugs to you and Lily (hope she´s in good hands)
Vera
xx