Monday, February 16, 2004

Ten Hour Lunch

Yesterday, Adrien and I were invited over to the house of a Rotarian (his name is Marcelo) for lunch. He said he would pick us up at 11:00, but he showed up early with another scholar from Boston, whose name is Peter. We went oustide of the city and arrived to Marcelo´s place a little before 11:30.

We sat and talked for a while about finding an apartment and he gave us all some advice. He gave us a tour of his beautiful house and gave us a newspaper to look at the classifieds. While drinking some Heinekin, we had some good laughs and generally got to know each other.

A little after noon, we started with some appetizers of Fritos and a trail mix. Next came more beer and some empanadas (breaded food filled with things, very traditional Chilean) filled with cheese and another with meat and onions. By this time, Marcelo´s son in law and grandson arrived with a friend of the family´s (also an employee) and joined in the festivities, along with Marcelo´s wife Monica.

Marcelo began the BBQ while everyone finished the empanadas and had more beer. Then lunch really started. We had some good chicken with a fresh green salad and fried potatoes in a sphere, like the size of gumballs. It was accompanied by some great Chilean wine as well as sangria. And for desert, canteloupe and a hybrid pear and apple (which was really good).

After lunch came the coffee or tea. Coffee here is different- they use instant coffee like Nescafe. When it is brewed, like normal coffee, it is called "cafe cafe" instead of just "cafe". And after that came the fine brandy and scotch.

By this time (about four), everyone was in the mood to dance, especially becuase the friend of the family (Sebastian) is a tango instructor. So I had my first tango lesson. I am a natural, I am told. :-)

After about an hour of dancing, it was time for "onces" (eleven) or what can also be called tea time (this was about six o´clock). There was a dessert, kind of like cheesecake, with raspberries and bread with cheese and chicken. Plus more tea and coffee, and at the end, irish cremes. Two hours later, we started more dancing, and then about 9:30 we called it a night.

Apparently, most Sundays are like this with the family. Marcelo´s son, who showed up in time for onces) took us home, and promised to call us tonight for a small fiesta. It made me wonder- was yesterday a fiesta or was it just a Sunday? I don´t know still, but maybe I will find out what a real fiesta is like since this Friday is my birthday....

posted by Rebecca @ 2/16/2004 04:45:00 PM