Thanks DelNorte, I looked at the Synergy website and it does look promising. Now I just have to find enough time and motivation to start studying again. I have taken at least six evening courses in Spanish over the years, and have done well in them, but the problem is that I forget after a while be...

Ray your the man! I can't believe you did this before going on your vacation. I guess there are some really good people left on this earth. I don't know how you were able to do the price for postal, but I'm grateful. I'll let you know when it arrives! PS. Crusty ol mate, thanks for inviting me to th...

Hmmmmm.... did I ever tell you guys about the time John Wesley Powell and I went through Cataract Canyon in a canoe with a hole in the bottom and fought off grizzly bears with a rattlesnake? :shock: Why you bean pushing cow chaser, you stole that move from me! I once used a Massasauga rattler to wa...

Ray this is an interesting proposition and I believe I'm going to take you up on it. :cool: If the package makes it through, we'll smoke up some celebratory sausages, I'll take photos, then we'll eat some sausage for you and wash it down with some muy bueno cerveza, and take some more pictures. :lol...

Ray is very correct. I'm sure Customs would nab it, for it being a powder substance. Also, Customs is not trust worthy in the first place. I know of many situation where people got "care packages" rifled through and things missing. We're talking about things that would never raise an eye. Plus conve...

Uh... the sausages, of course. Chorizo? Morcilla? Salchicha Argentina?. Got space for a spare hammock? WooHoo! I'm on my way! :mrgreen: Chiquito Patito, we have a wonderful terraza you can hang yours on anytime! Might need a mosquito net though for the night. They seem to like the northern hemisphe...

Duckmiester - may I call you that? - Elvis lives, habla español fluently, and sings at weddings, 15 años, and hits the discos quite frequently. He bucked the drawl though, trying to stay incognito yah know.. Why do you think I was so quick to move to U?

I stopped in for just a quickie (SHOOSH!), read these last two pages, and liked to say that Chuckwagon and el Ducko, you two are exceptional :!: It's been a long time since I've seen such wonderful banter between friends. It's a real treat to see how flowerfull you two get. :lol: I can't wait for th...

If it's any consolation, it sure looks nice!... I know. Not the same as eating nice. Sorry you ran into one stumbling block after another. Thanks for sharing.

redzed - I HIGHLY recommend something called Synergy Spanish online. It's quite affordable and makes sense to those of us who are not linguists or good at the textbook methods. The guy who designed the course is a genius. He also has another Spanish course that is lower level. The Synergy one is for...

jbk101 - "Care Packages" are a wonderful tradition handed down from generation after generation. Who enjoys it the most? Receiver or giver? :wink: Just a note to everyone who does not know this tidbit - people can get nitrogen poisoning from all safe mushrooms. It's comes about from eating way too m...

redzed - I just might write a book one day paralleling my story.. adjusting to the life here? Ha! It's not an easy adjustment, for so many reasons. I really don't advise anyone to move here unless they reside in Montevideo, Punta del Este, or Muldanado. Hope that you are enjoying your trip! How long...

redzed - thanks for sharing the photos. Some beautiful hill scenery! I have to say though, that my favorite pic is el niñito on the cart... we see some people here in Uruguay using horses and carts. Hard working people. Rough life.

jbk101 - Gracias por la recetas! The effort is much appreciated that it took for you to share. "3 day Pierogi marathon" ??? - Ok, I know you said you give a lot to the Kids, but you still must have a couple of big freezers in your place... a lot of work, but so well worth it. I have fond memories of...

I'll bet there's a great story behind this, but maybe I watch too many old movies. Your pictures look great. Would you mind some further sharing? I'm sure that the few travelogues we see in the USA from your current part of the world don't do it justice. ("Ya mean it's NOT all carnival and fun like...