Kisses and Mate'

Hope my blog is finding everyone well. I have been busy seeing the city more today. We explored Punta Carretas and Feria Villa Biarritz. Punta Carretas is a shopping mall that used to be a prison back when the country was under dictatorial rule. It was very modern. The Feria, on the other hand, was a large market in a park. Some might call it the equivalent of a flea market in the States. There was jewelry, clothes, PS2 games, shoes, fruit and vegetables. Very crowded but interesting to see. Once again we were our own to explore and find our way home!

This evening we took a tour of the Iglesia de Cristo (the church) that we work with and live in the same building with. The buliding used to be a coffee factory named El Chana. The clock tower is still on the roof along with a beautiful view of the city. While we were waiting for food to get to the church, so we could share a meal with the teenagers, they let us try some mate'. It is pronounced MA-tay and is a drink found here in Uruguay. The best way I can describe it would be an herbal tea drinken though a metal straw. It is hot when you drink it. It burned my tongue but I liked it :) The teenagers were accepting and fun....they are going to challenge us on our Spanish though.

Everyone we met tonight kissed us on the cheek. Its the common greeting. It isn't an actual kiss, you just make the noise but touch cheeks. They were not afraid to greet every single one of us.
Hanging with them will be exciting! One thing I did forget to mention yesterday, I went to Las Carretas to try the Midnight sandwich Gary Green told me about (in the Miami airport). It was goood. Tomorrow is Sunday, obviously, so we will be going to services for the first time- complete with singing in Spanish :)

Comments por favor (please)!