Last Day For Now

Tomorrow is our last day in Colombia for now. We will surely be returning as Mariana grows up so that she can see where she comes from and maintain a direct connection with her native country. My Spanish has gotten a bit better but not much. I still sound like a caveman but I can fake my way through a conversation better. We stayed in our insulated bubble most of the time. Keeping Mariana happy was the main goal of this trip, not sightseeing, not learning Spanish, not meeting new people. To that end I think we did ok. She seems happy and we are getting comfortable with the whole parenting thing. There is so much to see in this city and this country. Normally when we travel for 5 weeks we have done and seen a lot more than the inside of our hotel room and Crepes and Waffles. next time, next time...

This morning Helena and her husband Agapito took us to the big flower, fruit and vegetable market in Downtown Bogota. It was great. After not getting to see many sights or museums when there are many to see here it was a real treat to see something so Colombian. Colombia is the top exporter of roses in the world and the sheer number of different species of flowers and fruits was amazing. We try to see markets like this when we go away and I've never seen so many new varieties in all our travels. I guess being this close to the equator makes it a good place to grow lots of things. It was good to have Agapito and Helena there to tell what we were looking at and explain how they were best eaten. We bought some baby mangos and some green oranges. Tasted like our oranges but the skin doesn't turn orange down here for some reason. There was also a meat and fish market too. We stopped and had some lechon. They start by roasting an enormous pig, take the meat out but and leave the crispy outer skin intact. Then mix the shredded pork with rice, yellow peas and spices and stuff it back in the pig skin. The result was the tastiest thing we've had in Colombia. Mmmm, porkilicious. They've invited us to their house tomorrow for breakfast. What goodness awaits?

It is a bittersweet feeling going home. In one sense we'll have our own bed, a dishwasher, our own laundry, etc. -the creature comforts of our own home and the beginning of our new phase in life. I'm so excited to have Mariana in her new home and have her meet all the friends and family. On the other hand I have to go back to work. For those of you less aquainted, read this article from this weeks Newsweek to see the "crazy man" I work for: http://www.newsweek.com/id/191396. For the most part the job is still working for me even if I'm saddened by the continual departure of coworkers who have become friends. It's the time with Mariana and Hilary that I'll miss most. As bored as we've been on occasion it has been really great to have this time to watch her grow together. I don't want to miss her first steps or her first real words. I'll miss seeing those big dark eyes and sweet smile all day long and the afternoon naps all together. What will I have, an hour in the morning and 2 hours at night to see her if I'm lucky? Going back to work and earning money is my roll for the moment and that's what I'll do but it's not without conflicted feelings.

In this picture Marianita is fast asleep with her feet sticking out the side of the crib.