20/12/2019 – Pilar, Argentina

We woke up very hot. It was muggy in the house and grey outside. We had breakfast and then set to work. Today we went up on the roof to sweep leaves, and also around the houses guttering to clear the leaves out. We managed to beat the rain, just. We finished cleaning the outdoor lamps on the wall, Josh cut his fingers on the glass a few times and also stepped back down off the ladder straight into the bucket of soapy water, which was slapstick comedy gold! We finished up with making and installing some netting on a door as an anti mosquito plan. We had leftover rice and curry for lunch and then went upstairs to chill. Grey and raining outside so a perfect excuse for an afternoon nap! Been using the last few days to firm up our plans over the next few weeks in Uruguay. Who knew it was so expensive!? Think it is the time of year to go there though. Looking forward to some beach time! We left at around 19:00 with Liliana to go to a local gallery. On the way we stopped at a health food shop and Liliana handed me some cash and asked me to buy some pearl barley. I did so but it wasn’t until later that we realised the shop keeper hadn’t given me the right change. There wasn’t a doubt in Lilianas mind that this was done on purpose, she said he would have realised I was foreign and taken advantage of it. How frustrating but not the first and probably not that last time!

We went to a private view for a mosaic exhibition. There was wine and empanadas too which was greatly appreciated by Josh. It was a really nice atmosphere and Liliana knew lots of people there, we got introduced to some of her friends who kindly chatted in English to us. It had a nice community atmosphere and Josh started to feel inspired that he needs to get more involved in a community with his photography when we get home. Sadly this week a 34 year old lawyer from this neighbourhood of Pilar was murdered by her husband. She is connected with the ladies presenting their mosaics so they spoke about it a bit in their opening speeches. So sad.

We went back to the house and Liliana made us a kind of crepe cannelloni dish for dinner, which as usual, was absolutely delicious and plentiful! We had crepes with dulce de leche for dessert.