Day Four - Out & About

Monday, November 17, 2008

Friends & Family:

Today was a beautiful day, which started with Bill and I going for a long
walk and getting lost, but it was wonderful to see all the sights of the lovely neighborhood surrounding The Residence. By the way, there is a LOT of graffiti here on all the buildings. Apparently it is not from gangs, but it is "political" tagging due to upcoming elections. Whatever - it's just terrible that some people deface the beautiful buildings & statues here - just as they do in the U.S. It was all I could do to not buy a bucket of paint!

After our walk Bill was interviewed by the local business newspaper inquiring on his thoughts of the markets ("not good"), and then he & Frank returned to The Residence where we were expecting a luncheon for over 50 of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - who is touring South America. If you can believe it, the pastor in charge called right before the lunch and cancelled!!! The Residence had prepared for a luncheon of 50 people and then it turns out, they didn't come! Bill, Frank, and I had a marvelous lunch none-the-less.

Soon there-after, Kathy returned from her Pilates class. Earlier in the morning she met with a TV station to discuss her upcoming debut on the morning show discussing & demonstrating (in Espanol mind you!) "How to prepare a Thanksgiving Turkey". Having alerted Kathy that in my 53 years of life I have yet to cook a turkey (and am proud of it!) and thus would be of no help to her on this topic, she assured me she would do fine on her own.

So off we went courtesy of Kathy and her driver, to the U.S. Embassy where we visited Frank at his huge & impressive office - the U.S. Embassy was designed by IM Pei, and is all concrete with a huge atrium inside. Lots of flags everywhere. If you are interested in reading more about the US Embassay in Uruguay (which includes many speeches & photos of Frank & Kathy!!) go to http://uruguay.usembassy.gov

Then Kathy took us to "the Ports" where all the container & cruise ships come in daily - the port industry in Uruguay is thriving. Adjacent to the ports is an area which is kind of similar to a NYC Soho, with all sorts of galleries, shops & restaurants sprouting up on the cobblestone streets in old warehouse buildings. I think in another year the place will really be hopping.

Then we went to a leather shop and Bill found a jacket made out of cow. (I passed on purchasing a pair of slippers made of rodent). Kathy and I went next door to a shop that sells amethyst (my birthstone) - see the photo I attached ... taller than the both of us! (Perhaps Bill stayed behind and is having it shipped home for my Christmas present??)

Tonight Frank hosted a reception at The Residence (everyone showed up!) full of government & business people and there was a round table discussion of thoughts on the global economy and financial crisis. No one was optimistic, except to say even in terrible times there are opportunities to make money if you keep your eyes & ears open. The most interesting speaker (other than Frank & Bill naturally) was an economist who was a graduate of.... Williams College! Now who would have predicted Bill would be meeting another EPH-man in Montevideo, Uruguay!

Early tomorrow morning we drive to Old Colonia del Sacramento (more on that later) and take a one hour super-ferry over to Buenos Aires for an overnight. Every single person who we've mentioned this little jaunt to has warned us "Do not wear any jewelry, take your wedding ring off, leave your watches at the Embassy for when you return". Bill and I are going over there with expectations of mass thievery and a Dickensonian atmosphere. Stay tuned.