Primavera...ahh...yes!

Spring time is in the air! Today was a beautiful day! I even put on my shorts and took a nap in the grass. Very nice!

I went with Ana to el campo (the country side) to buy eggs, because eggs are best from the countryside...free range...real yellow yolks.

Things are really starting to change around here. The vistas are looking more green, the leaves on the trees are starting to open up and there are SO MANY flowering trees in bloom right now. It is so pretty. Soon, I am sure, things will be fully opened! I cannot wait. So far, I am enjoying the transition and the excitement of seeing things open up!

This time of year is the time for people to clean up their yards and paint their house, just before the 18 Sept independence day celebration! Ana asked out Nany to make 100 empanadas for the festivities! 100! Wow! This is like hotdogs on the fourth of july! I am excited for the day to come! Sounds like just about everyone in town will be wearing the Huaso attire!

Last night we went to the Cirque de Soli...Alegria! Wow! Fantastik! Afterwards, some friends of the family, the same ones we skied with last weekend, drove us to the bus terminal. Evidently, sept 11 in Chile is the day that Pinochet, after Pinochet took over the country, he had put almost everyone from Allende´s government into the futbol stadium and they were killed. So, every September 11th, there are riots in the city. So, to avoid having to risk the metro, these family friends took us directly to the bus station.

As we were pulling out of the bus station, we were told to close the drapes because of the Sept 11th dangers. Rather interesting I thought...I tried peaking out the windows, but couldn´t see anything.

I really don´t understand the Pinochet years, nor the Allende years, nor a whole lot about Latin American History for that matter...all I know is Pinochet was a dictator and his military regime killed alot of people. Ana said that Pinochet´s daughter had asked him after his reign was over, at one time, to tell the families of the dead where the bodies are....but he refused. They just kind of disappeared. Ana said there was some speculation that they were taken out to sea and dumped there...from the boat Muerto (meaning dead).

There is a movie out now and it is in English, so I am sure it is available in the States, about the Pinochet take over. We started watching it at the apartment when I was staying in Santiago last weekend, but we only started watching it when Once was called. I would like to find the movie and watch it though. Ana said that it was wierd watching the beginning of it, because it was just like it was....tear gas, people burning papers..evidence of something....I wish I could remember the name of the movie. It is interesting history and recent history.

You can still see the influence of the millitary regime at school, in the way the classes are lined up in straight lines for their Monday assembly...the way students need to rise at their desks when the teacher walks into the room and they cannot sit down until you tell them to sit.

There is so much to observe....

On that note, i am going to go...I think we might go out for pizza tonight...

Ciao

jami