Day 31: Uneventful, Unstructured Day in Valpo
Today was relatively uneventful. The kids woke early and went downstairs to pour cereal and play games. We slowly followed. By the time we had finished reading the kids “Matilda” (Willa’s excitement during this page-turner was so adorable), exercised, showered, had lunch and done school, it was 3 pm. How??
We went out to our little pool in this apartment complex and the kids swam. Funny: This is the second pool we’ve been to in Chile, and both had a shower blocking the entrance — like, take a hint and shower before you get in this damn pool, people.
By 5 pm the kids had bathed and we were having a beer and playing a family round of “Steal a Bundle” the card game.
For dinner not soon after we moseyed down the road to La Cafeteria, an Italian place whose charming owner had stood in the doorway yesterday and sold us on coming back today.
There was pasta, pizza, a giant mango juice and lemon meringue pie. The restaurant was so cute. It even had a little cardboard box of “juguetas” (toys) for kids to play with while they wait.
When it was time for dessert, we sent the kids down to the first floor (we ate on an upstairs balcony) to survey the cakes in the case. We could hear the owner trying to explain each flavor to them.
When we were settling up at the counter, the owner wanted to give us a mini Italian cheese tasting/lesson.
The light walking home was fun.
Before popping back into the mini mart for paper towels, we asked some 20-somethings on the street to take our pic. The background’s nothing to write home about but the light as nice so we did it. Took three tries:
On the walk home we saw a Molly doppelganger:
After some more books, the kids zonked.
Thoughts/Misc:
- Unstructured days are both a blessing and a curse. We already know this from our real lives. Nowhere to be! Nothing to do! Sounds amazing but then the minutes start creeping by and the kids are antsy and impatient and you’re in a small place with no plans. Not ideal.
- Tomorrow and Friday we’ll have more of a plan.
- Of note/related: We taught the kids to play Solitaire today….
- Teddy still feels sick, so that might be another reason we laid low.
- It’s California-ish this weather – overcast and chilly in the morning and blue-skied and hot in the afternoon.
- A shot from my walk this morning:
