Fantasilandia

Santiago has one American-style amusement park, Fantasilandia, and we have been planning a day there for some time. Somehow summer got away from us so we packed it in the day before we headed off for Uruguay.   They have never been to anything more than the county fair so it was quite the experience.  I used it as a chance to check up on my Spanish progress and the kids used it to see who could deal with spinning rides and who could deal with long drops.  We lasted six hours, actually we lasted five hours and then continued for an hour on adrenaline, water rides and junk food.

Duh!

Duh #2

Not sure this was an appropriate ride for Chile.

The tsunami ride was basically going in a boat and having one large drop into a pool of water and making a big splash that gets the onlookers on the bridge wetter than the passengers.  After an inadequate dousing on the ride, the kids went for the full treatment.

The obligatory cotton candy and ice cream

More scenes of sibling love (not to be confused with the scene about 10 minutes earlier - this was between five and six o'clock)

The highlight for me was the top of every roller coaster when I got a view of the Andes - I'm going to miss those mountains......

Que tengan un buen ano nuevo escolar

School started on Friday and after a long "summer" it was a bit of a shock for all.  One day we were saying goodbye to Abuelos and the next they were back in uniforms and immersed back in Spanish.

Elisa started 2nd grade, Jonathan 4th, and Renee 7th.  Seventh grade is considered the beginning of high school at the school so they stop having classes in English except English class.  Hopefully with only three months to go they will still be able to pick up some language skills.  Elisa got invited to a playdate right after school (she wants me to add that she forgot her stuffed "angry bird" there) and I took the other two out for ice cream.  I wish I could report smiles all around but a smile and a half isn't that bad.  Last day of school is June 2nd for the kids and then we'll travel a bit to Uruguay and somewhere else to be determined before heading back on June 18th.

We finished celebrating Renee's birthday with a Bravissimo Copa Milenium Berries (we shared it) and sushi for dinner before school started.

I'm losing steam on blog ideas so if anybody has anything else that they are dying to know about Chile let me know (of course, the wine harvest season has started so I have at least one more idea.....)

Happy Birthday Renee!! - Updated

Is this the little girl I carried?

12 years ago we welcomed Renee Florencia Nerenberg into the world.  We heard and keep hearing how fast kids grow up and it is so true.  She is a bright, curious, beautiful, sensitive, sweet, slender, musical, responsible, independent, cat-lover, hugger, book-devouring, back-flipping, bug-loving, Spanish-speaking, world-traveling young lady and a pretty good sport at that.  This has not been the easiest experience for her (OK, this has been really hard) but overall she has taken it as it comes thanks to e-mail, skype, e-books, and air-conditioning, when we can find it.  We are proud of her!

She had eight friend/family Skype calls on erev birthday  Here's Olivia Skyping in the car on the way to dinner - incredible!

A gift of Abuela's butter curler found in Rochester sometime in the 60s - not the typical 12-year old gift but Renee is not the typical 12-year old ;-)

You may ask "what is a butter curler?"  Check out:  http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-butter-curler.htm.  Then, you may ask why did she get one?  She has often been spied making butter sculptures and has "ooed and aahed" when she saw cool butter curls.  Gilly, my mother-in-law, just happened to be a proud owner of one but was ready to pass it on.  To watch Renee using her's for the first time:

Breakfast with a submarino (steamed milk and chocolate bars added) and Mama and Papa at a seaside restaurant - La Boca Chica

Lunch in La Barra and a walk with Abuela and Elisa

A real treat - jumping the waves on February 27th!!

What would have been a better treat (thank you Uncle Danny)!!!

and ended with a Silver Palate Carrot Cake 

We love you Renee!

Punta del Este, Uruguay Part III

The final three days with the cousins were a whirlwind of activities and hanging out.  First a trip to Lapataia, a "farm" where they used to milk cows and make fresh dulce de leche.  Since we have been going there it has become more commercialized and now includes bungee jumping, paint ball, and a ropes course.  We still went for the traditional Crepe con Dulce de Leche.

They don't make the dulce de leche on-site anymore but they do package it.  This is seen through a window.  We all decided that it would be fun to do the breast-stroke through a vat of dulce de leche with our tongues hanging out, of course.

Renee demonstrating her gymnastics skills

As if that didn't produce enough adrenaline we headed later to the beach and did some bungee jumping and Jonathan discovered go-karting.  We ended with a dunk in the water even though it was freezing and windy outside.  Jonathan just corrected me "it was not freezing for us."

After a goodbye attempt at chocolate fondue that was thoroughly enjoyed by Renee and Alberto and some last minute playtime, shopping, packing and hugging, Lucy, Rachel, and Ana headed back to Victoria on Friday night (Robert left a few days earlier). We are here until Tuesday night and then we head back to start school next Friday.  Yikes!

A quick word from Ana (my niece):  I never want to go back home.  I want to spend more time with my cousins.

A quick word from Rachel (my niece):  It was really fun and I'll miss my cousins and abuelos a lot but it is nice to be going home.

Punta del Este, Uruguay Part II

Pumped up from his success on his first outing, Jonathan headed out with Rob again to go fishing.  This time with more success.

I believe that the final haul was seven fish.

On Friday we headed out for lunch as a family to give everybody else a break before the storm of caring for everybody.  Given that it is tourist season and the dollar isn't doing so well here, we ended up at an Uruguayan sandwich place.  The classic Uruguayan sandwich is a chivito and it puts the Chilean sandwich to shame in some ways.  Like a Subway, you start with the basic meat and then add things according to your taste until you can end up with a 4 inch high sandwich.  Jonathan chose the steak, ham, bacon, lettuce, mayo, and I don't know what else.  Yuck!

We have mostly been hanging out with the family, eating, walking in the port, town and beach and just enjoying a vacation.

A lot of lazy mornings (and afternoons) with the cousins

Abuelo with the girls going through family momentos

Taking a walk to the store.

The port

It was too cold to swim but it is never too cold to play at the beach!

The swing set at Abuelos' apartment building.

Regression #1

Regression #2

In the evenings we have been entertained by music and dance shows from the kids (mostly for grandparent consumption):

There are more videos for those who care.

A type of ice cream in Uruguay - think that it would sell in the States?  Guarenteed not to be toxic!