criplomats

I spent the long Easter weekend starting to get organized for the movers, going through drawers and bathroom cabinets. Earlier in the week, they came to pack up a small shipment heading to Hot Springs. I sat on hold with Delta for a long time on Monday to get seats for Flavia and me sorted out.

One deputy and I were the only managers in the office this week. Thankfully it was a slow week.

John and I are watching “Wolf Hall,” “Matlock,” “HIP,” and “Ludwig.” I watched Nicole Kidman in “Holland,” and binged on “North of North.” I also started “Friends and Neighbors” with Jon Hamm (it makes me so nervous!). I finished reading “From Here to the Great Unknown,” by Lisa Marie Presley and her daughter Riley Keogh, plus the short but sweet “Oscar and the Pink Lady.”

John went out for gaming Friday night at a co-worker’s house, then today he had Mike, Lynn, and Frank over.

We got John’s 4Runner back from having the paint touched up and dents taken out (our corkscrew entrance to the garage took its toll on both cars!), so we have wheels again. We’d been walking and taking taxis to get around the last couple of weeks (since I shipped my car already). The truck looks like new – it certainly doesn’t look like a 2008 model (albeit with only 40,000 miles!).

I tried to take it easy this week since I was recovering from a cold, but we were busy at work. Our post was chosen to do a “chat” with the consular chief information officer in DC – that was fun and interesting. I also got to interact with my good friend Scott in a couple of calls to DC and my friend Bill, as well, on other topics. And I spent time working with the officer of overseas buildings to look at our consular operations here, helping plan for the section’s future. It’s employee evaluation time, so I’m trying to get all of my reports done for the people I directly rate — luckily I don’t have to do one myself this year – hallelujah!

John and I finished watching “Zero Day,” and have started the new season of “Wolf Hall.” I finished (and enjoyed) the new season of “White Lotus.” This morning I started reading Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir.

Yesterday I walked up to meet Lea for lunch at Roa; John and I had a fun lunch out in San Telmo at Grandes Carnicerías de la Plata today.

Last Sunday afternoon, our guide took us to the Valley of the Moon and Death Valley – it felt like we were on another planet. The next morning, we saw gorgeous geology in Rainbow Valley, and then Devil’s Gorge in the afternoon. That night, we had a late dinner and then went stargazing a little outside of town – I’ve never seen stars like that!

Tuesday our guide Cris drove us two hours to Red Rocks, around 13,000 feet above sea level. We walked over red rocks to get to a big salt flat. After that, we visited two incredibly blue lagoons nearby. During the day we saw flamingoes, giant grebes, lots of vacunas (like a small llama), and two foxes! John spotted one on the side of the highway so we got a really good look at him up-close.

Wednesday we went to 14,000 feet to the geothermals to see the geysers, another amazing sight — and we had some great birding along the way at two roadside lagoons. Cris sat up a fancy lunch for the three of us overlooking a gorge with vacunas and water birds eating algae from a stream. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing on our patio and reading (“More,” for me).

We really had a great vacation – the customer service, lodging, food, and wine at Awasi was wonderful – honestly one of the very best places I’ve ever stayed.

Thursday was our travel day, and made our way home via Santiago – it’s alway good to see little Flavia again! John and I finished “The Residence.” I got caught up on “White Lotus” and binged on some true life crime while I nursed a cold.

We arrived in San Pedro de Atacama — the high desert — yesterday afternoon via Santiago. It is beautiful. The Andres are in sight and the landscapes are unbelievable. Awasi Hotel is amazing. This morning our guide drove us an hour or so away to see the salt flats and flamingoes – so beautiful, and we also enjoyed seeing the avocets. We pulled over on the side of the road to see burrowing owls (!) and feral donkeys (there’s a lot of them wandering around). On the way home, we stopped to let a lot of sheep and goats cross the highway.

Last Monday was a holiday and I spent the day getting clothes and other things ready to be packed and sent to Hot Springs. My car also started its journey home as well:

John and I have been enjoying “The Residence” on tv. I finished “Playworld,” by Adam Ross and am reading “A Well-Trained Wife,” by Tia Levings.

John and I drove a couple of hours outside of town to visit San Antonio de Areco, known to be in the heart of gaucho territory and a lot of estancias. We had a fun time walking around the square and visiting two small but neat museums: Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Guidaldes and Museo Las Lilas de Areco. It was great to be out of the city with no agenda! And it let us burn off gas in my car (I accidentally filled it up, without thinking that I’d be shipping it soon and you can’t have more than 1/4 tankful of gas!).

Last Sunday I had a great catch-up chat with Nomi in Pakistan, then John and I had lunch at the cute Bodegón Tia Zelmira, a short walk from our apartment. Thursday, I went to a happy hour at Rachel’s apartment, along with Lea and Good Rachel. Otherwise, it was a regular busy week; one of my deputies is on leave.

Today was a great rainy day and John and I were happy to stay in to organize my shipment to Hot Springs, which will be coming up fast! We have a lot of work to do to get ready for our move to Guyana!

John and I thoroughly enjoyed watching “C.B. Strike” and finished season four this week. We started “Ludwig,” and are liking it, too. I’m reading “Playworld,” by Adam Ross and trying to finish it before my digital loan expires (thank goodness for my two libraries’ ebooks!).