Weeks 10 & 11

I'm finally catching up with Project 365 after being without internet most of the past two weeks while we traveled. Lots of photos to share!

I've only included one photo from last Monday when we were in Buenos Aires but hope that after you finish looking at today's Project 365, you'll take time to check out Thursday's post that includes many more PLUS a video!

As most of you know, we traveled to Uruguay for our annual missionary conference. We left Monday, March 1st, and the first photo I'm sharing was taken at the restaurant where we stopped for lunch during the 11-hour drive to Colón, Argentina. This is the owner/manager standing in front of just a few of the many photos lining shelves throughout the large dining area. When we asked about them, he proudly shared that they were customers and said that many of the "kids" have now become adults and still come in!

Ivan has a friend in Colón that we stopped to visit and we were fascinated by his dining room chairs that were hand-caned with corn husks! Absolutely beautiful workmanship.

Colón is a lovely city and we hope to return some day when we have time to explore. As it was, we arrived late Monday evening and left early Tuesday. On our way out of town we stopped and took this photo by the Uruguay River.

Crossing the border, we found trucks lined up for a mile or more on either side, waiting to be cleared through customs.

Many of the drivers had pulled out tables and were drinking mate (herb tea) while they visited with one another. Looked like they were prepared for a long wait.

Conference was at a campground within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean.

The ladies have an afternoon tea each year and I was so busy enjoying that time with the other women that I forgot to take any photos during the tea. So I only have this one I took beforehand as they were setting up.

Last full day of conference we took a group photo (which is missing our teammates who had to make a quick trip to the dentist's).

Taking advantage of being so close, we spent a couple days in Buenos Aires on the way home. We took the ferry from Uruguay to Bs. As. Waiting to board, our car is in the lower left-hand corner (with the duffle and suitcase on top).

We waited for our friends at the port in Bs. As. since they were booked on a later ferry. It was fun to walk around; about thirty HUGE sailing vessels were there for a regatta and, because cruise ships dock here, they've turned the area into a very cool shopping/restaurant district.

The missionary friends who hosted us have a park ministry on Sunday evenings. They play games and have story time with whatever kids show up.

I hope you take time to check out the photo-intensive post about our tour of the city on a double decker bus. Included in that post is a short video of these folk dancers in La Boca.

Tuesday was the loooooooong trip home. Twelve hours in which I slept off and on. Conference and Buenos Aires were fun but exhausting! I didn't even think about taking a photo but Ivan snapped this amusing shot in a bathroom along the way.

It looks like it says "No U.S.A." but that's because the cardboard is folded in such a way that the "r" on "usar" can't be seen. LOL

Wednesday I have no photo. If I had, it would have been the mounds of laundry we worked on all day (and Thursday too). Four people, nine days, plus sheets and towels for the week of conference = A LOT OF LAUNDRY.

While we were gone it must have rained quite a bit because the yard was full of flowers, from almost every rose bush in bloom to masses of morning glories cascading over the fence. 

Friday we took our friends to Sta. Rosa. They're going to spend a couple of weeks there resting (we hope!). We were showing them around the area when we saw this beautiful double rainbow.

The last photo is for my mother-in-law. I know she'll be interested in seeing the new grocery store in Sta. Rosa.  

As much as I enjoy traveling and seeing new places, it is VERY good to be home :-)  In the past two weeks we've put over 2700 km on the car (1701 miles, to be exact). I'm quite happy to unpack the suitcase and stay put for a while.