Our Last Day in Escobar

Friday, April 4th. We got a late start today. That was good, because I got to walk around the town on my own for about an hour and a half this morning. This is a town of around 200,000, and is quite a pleasant place. My host family is just a few blocks from the center of town, as well as from the internet cafe I am writing from right now. I went into a supermarket to buy some dulce de leche (carmel sauce that is used in everything). There was about 15 feet of shelves, from floor to top shelf, with an amazing number of dulce de leche choices.

The GSE day began at noon with an official visit with the Intendente, who is the mayor of the municipality. We had a private meeting with him in his chambers, exchanged pleasantries, chatted a bit, exchanged gifts and took photos. We were accompanied by 4 Rotarians, all men. Funny how no women were in attendance except us three team members. It made we wonder whether the old boys network was at work. I don't know. I will have to ask my host mother, who is a Rotarian, and report back on the blog.

Andy and Todd were not with us today. They were invited to go fishing with the president of a fairly local club. So it has been a girls' day thus far.

We then had a fabulous lunch at the estate (and it really was a country estate) of Kelly's host family. They have a nursery business across the street from their home, and a huge, private cactus garden for their own pleasure. I have never seen so many different and fabulous cacti in my life. Some of them were in bloom, even though it is fall, and I wore my camera battery out taking photos.

We then visited a dairy where they breed cattle, and make ice cream from the milk. Kelly was in heaven. Eecole was thrilled to have a baby cow suck on her finger. We followed the dairy visit up with a trip to Munchi's, a local ice cream store, to sample the dessert made with milk from the dairy. Yummy.

Eecole and I then spent a pleasant time strolling through the town's small Japanese Garden, and wandering the streets until we reached this internet cafe. Dancing is apparently on the schedule for tonight. Stay tuned.