In December I took Alicia a phone to replace the piece of junk she had been using. She tried to have me talk to people a couple of times on her old phone, and I couldn't hear a blessed thing.
The new phone has a 5mp camera with flash. It's a little touchy, but she had some nice photos on it that I downloaded to the computer when I was there in June.
This was her Christmas tree. She really loves Christmas.
My niece Claire spent a couple of days with us in January. (Whoops. Someone's boxer shorts got left on the little Christmas tree...)
We spent an evening with a couple of Alicia's oldest friend. This is Lucrecia, whom she has known since high school. She's an attorney. It's handy having a lawyer for a friend.
That evening at Lucrecia's house, we made a traditional Christmas delicacy: natilla. Natilla is a thick cornstarch pudding flavored with coconut and cinnamon. The coconuts were browned over a burner and then cracked open. Lucrecia's husband Alejandro is on the left. The other friend is Maritza.
Maritza is one of the world's absolute best long-distance runners. She entered the Marathon des Sables twice. It is considered the toughest footrace on earth: six days, 251 kilometers through the Sahara, carrying all your gear on your back. The first time she entered, she came in 30th overall, and 2nd for the women. She would have won her category except that she and her husband got lost for an hour or two. (One year a runner was lost for 9 days because of a sandstorm.) She's one of Alicia's dearest friends, and is godmother to her son Juan Manuel. She and her husband run a very successful rock-climbing school. They also organize a yearly cross-country race on the mountain slopes above Medellín.
One of my favorite places in Medellín is a house overlooking the city. It used to be a restaurant called Los Pinos, back when we were kids. It was owned by one of my neighbors in San Cristóbal. Alicia and I hung out on this balcony for an hour or so when we were just getting reacquainted in November 2010. We made a pilgrimage up there in January again.
Another favorite stop is El Astor, a great dessert place on Junín in the heart of downtown. I think our friend Oscar was with us this time.
At a little business that helped us with cell phone issues, we met this sweet little dog. I don't remember what the Cone of Shame was for. I think it was an injury.
Well, Alicia's on Skype, so I have far better things to do right now. Have a great night.
Beautiful pictures Tim. Wow that is so impressive about the runner. She must be phenomenal. Alicia has such beautiful friends.
conehead!:D
Dude and Dudette, you make SUCH a great couple! Love what you do and the fact that she has such valued friends is a credit to her (and you both) as a person. Life is so much richer when you have good friends!
Thank you for the photo tour! The pictures of you two together are so sweet. Your smiles are mirrored many times over, every time someone sees them! I love her Christmas tree, I always have a struggle having enough lights on mine, but that looked good to me. :). What in interesting and varied group of friends! Just enjoyed all the pictures; thank you for sharing them with us!
The photo of you two in red is SO cute!
And of course it's fun to see Claire here. Alicia has been such a wonderful aunt to her.
Maritza is just amazing!
@ZSA_MD - Maritza hasn't been able to race the last couple of years because of an injury, unfortunately. I can't imagine that kind of stamina myself. Her husband ran the two races with her as her logistical support. He's also a world-class runner.
@suzyQ_darnit - She's got a huge collection of lights. The biggest problem is her cats. She had to keep the tree in her bedroom for it to survive. We've been debating whether to bring the tree to the US or sell it there and buy a new one. I guess I need to check into shipping costs.
@winniezpoo - Thank you. We're both extremely happy. And you're right; I've learned that friendships are a good way to judge people's emotional health. My closest friends tend to have a handful of treasured longterm friendships with good people.
@Roadkill_Spatula - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdDla0QW844 we are siamese if you please. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEgCkOfl4jE do you come from a land down under
heh but from france or not I know you want to be canadian please http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbIh-vn-Rww
I wish I could see photos. I am one of the users having trouble with xanga.
Maritza sounds like a remarkable person. It's sweet that they stayed together during the race.
@distractedbyzombies - Maritza is amazing. I personally can't understand why someone would spend thousands of dollars to do something so unpleasant and exhausting. Maybe it's a little like being a semiprofessional musician.
you two look so very happy, Tim. seeing your photos makes ME happy. and Alicia's friends seem wonderful.
@plantinthewindow - She has wonderful friends. I always enjoy visiting with them. Alicia and I have both been extremely happy this past year and a half. I'm glad the happiness is shared. Blessings to you.
Nice trip down memory lane via the cell phone pics! Love the ones of you two, especially. :)
@DrTiff - Thank you. Those were good days. Most days with Alicia are good.
Comments (18)
Beautiful pictures Tim. Wow that is so impressive about the runner. She must be phenomenal. Alicia has such beautiful friends.
conehead!:D
Dude and Dudette, you make SUCH a great couple! Love what you do and the fact that she has such valued friends is a credit to her (and you both) as a person. Life is so much richer when you have good friends!
The photo of you two in red is SO cute!
And of course it's fun to see Claire here. Alicia has been such a wonderful aunt to her.
Maritza is just amazing!
@ZSA_MD - Maritza hasn't been able to race the last couple of years because of an injury, unfortunately. I can't imagine that kind of stamina myself. Her husband ran the two races with her as her logistical support. He's also a world-class runner.
@suzyQ_darnit - She's got a huge collection of lights. The biggest problem is her cats. She had to keep the tree in her bedroom for it to survive. We've been debating whether to bring the tree to the US or sell it there and buy a new one. I guess I need to check into shipping costs.
@winniezpoo - Thank you. We're both extremely happy. And you're right; I've learned that friendships are a good way to judge people's emotional health. My closest friends tend to have a handful of treasured longterm friendships with good people.
@starmanjones - We are from France.
@Roadkill_Spatula -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdDla0QW844
we are siamese if you please.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEgCkOfl4jE
do you come from a land down under
heh but from france or not
I know you want to be canadian please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbIh-vn-Rww
I wish I could see photos. I am one of the users having trouble with xanga.
Maritza sounds like a remarkable person. It's sweet that they stayed together during the race.
@distractedbyzombies - Maritza is amazing. I personally can't understand why someone would spend thousands of dollars to do something so unpleasant and exhausting. Maybe it's a little like being a semiprofessional musician.
you two look so very happy, Tim. seeing your photos makes ME happy. and Alicia's friends seem wonderful.
@plantinthewindow - She has wonderful friends. I always enjoy visiting with them. Alicia and I have both been extremely happy this past year and a half. I'm glad the happiness is shared. Blessings to you.
Nice trip down memory lane via the cell phone pics! Love the ones of you two, especially. :)
@DrTiff - Thank you. Those were good days. Most days with Alicia are good.
Fun photos!
Great shots and Ty for sharing your world a bit:)