Nicaragua 2010

 We are getting some more information about our school-building project in Nicaragua.  The village we will be living and working in is called Mata de Caña.  It has a population of 226 and no electricity.  You can see some more information in the file below.  Also, here are some photographs of Nicaragua that I stole off the web.  We'll be in Nicaragua for Thanksgiving 2010! Come visit!

Mata de Caña School & Community Profile

Sunday Walk

Robert and Robert are out looking at birds and collecting power line insulator treasures this morning.

Today's new bird sightings included:

White Monjita

Glittering Bellied Emerald

 Rufous Hornero, the national bird of Argentina. 

Fill Er Up

In Argentina, this is how many people get a gas refill in their cars. Compressed Natural Gas refill, that is. Perhaps 25 percent of cars on the road, and most taxis use the stuff. And they've been using it for years. Many Ford Falcons on the road down here run on it. Pretty cool.

Friends

Here's a photo of Mira and her friend Cinthia at the Recolleta.

Spring Time

Hail Mary

We've got hail!

Los Pescadores

Today we took a drive out to Rio Ceballos with La Familia Schwartz for a visit to Criadero de Truchas.  They have a trout farm, a fishing pond and a very nice restaurant overlooking a very pleasant valley, which, at this time of year, is full of blooming trees and birds.  Rory and his friends Uma and Ivo hauled in some lunch for us all.  At the end of the day, Rory took his traditional fall into the lake.  Luckily enough, his mother passed on the last beer at lunch and had enough wits about her to pull him out.

You can see some more photos here.

Saturday Morning

Villa General Belgrano

The Pierces are spending the day in Villa General Belgrano. For history buffs, this is the place where all the German sailors came after their ships were sunk by the British off the Argentine Atlantic coast. Result: Alpine village towns and better beer.

Saturday Morning

Robert and Robert are at the park in Rio Ceballos. Looking for mas chicos.

Springtime in Cordoba

Springtime in Cordoba means lots of variation in the weather and lots of wind and dust in the air. It was over 80 for a couple days, but some clouds just rolled in making it a pleasant evening here in Plaza San Martin.

Trip to Merlo

Here are a few recent photos.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rrpjr1/MerloSeptember2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCK-1lc-uu8j3Jg#

Not So Charming Billie

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/opinion/07Sides.html

The New York Times is running an Op-Ed about why Bill Richardson should not dredge up history by conducting a postumous pardon hearing for Billie the Kid (in period correct costume).  Apparently, the Governors of New Mexico don't have enough to do and they need to engage in historical theater.

Of course, Robert does not hesitate in retelling stale tales.

Here's the letter Billie the Kid wrote to the then-Governor of New Mexico asking for a pardon in exchange for information about his colleagues during the Lincoln County War.  In the letter, he tells of the whereabouts of one Milo Lucius Pierce. 

http://bobandmira.blogspot.com/2008/07/billy-kid.html

Merlo

We woke up this morning in Merlo to clear blue skies and mountains. Mira and Rory went on an early horse ride, and we saw all these birds just a few steps from our doorstep. Long Tailed Meadowlark, Southern Lapwing, Rufous Collared Sparrow, Guira Cuckoo and Campo Flicker.

Merlo

The Pierces have left Cordoba province and are here at the tourist office in Merlo, in San Luis Province at the foot of some great mountains.

Merlo

The Pierces are taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to go to Merlo, a town outside of Cordoba in the Sierras Chicas. We stopped for lunch for a few hours. We don't think the wine is named after the town.

In Honor of Richard Reicheg

Una pareja está hablando.

La esposa dice: “¿Si yo muero, vas a encontrar una novia nueva?”

El esposo dice: “No. Yo nunca voy a encontrar una novia nueva. Vos sos mi única mujer y mi único amor.”

La esposa dice: “Por favor. Vos tenés que encontrar una mujer nueva. Es muy importante para vos, mi amor.”

El esposo dice: “Entonces, si vos insistís, yo voy a tratar de encontrar un mujer nueva.”

Momento de silenco amor.

La esposa dice: “Mi amor, si yo muero, vas a permitir que tu mujer nueva viva en nuestra casa?”

El esposo dice: “No. Nunca. Es imposible. Yo nunca voy a permitir que otra mujer viva en nuestra casa. ¡Imposible, mi amor!

La esposa dice: “Por favor, mi amor. Esto es importante para tu vida, y yo quiero que seas feliz. Por favor, mi amor.”

El esposo dice: “Bueno. Si vos insistis, mi amor, yo voy a permitir otra mujer en nuestra casa.”

Un momento de silencio.

La esposa dice: ¿Mi amor, si yo muero, vas a permitir que tu mujer nueva use mis palos de golf?

El esposo dice: “No. Ella es zurda.”