Milagros

Here in Cali, Colombia, I have reconnected with a long lost sister.  Ana Maria Casasfranco lived with my family in Connecticut in 1979-1980 as an AFS (American Field Serivce) exchange student.  I was off at college, but have fond memories of her when I returned to Darien for holidays. (It took the evidence of her scrapbook for either of us to remember that she had even attended my Middlebury college graduation.) 

Ana Maria with my sisters Elizabeth, Amy and Alison

My parents lost touch with Ana Maria about 20 years ago when they moved from Connecticut to Vermont.  But Mom thought that Casasfranco was a fairly unusual name in Colombia and suggested that when in Cali, I find a phonebook and see if I could track Ana Maria down. A few days before leaving Florida, I used PhoneFacebook to try to find Ana Maria, and (of course) my mom was right: there was Ana Maria Casasfranco, little changed from the 17 year old girl I knew 35 years ago.

Besides a sister, Ana Maria has been a guardian angel to us in Colombia.  We stayed in her beautiful apartment in Cartagena, and took advantage of the advice and hospitality of her family as we traveled.  Here in Cali she has welcomed us, nurtured us and surrounded us with the warm embrace of her family and her world.  In fact, we have been taken in and charmed by the entire extended families of both Ana Maria and her husband Fernando. 

Lunch at the 26th

We arrived in Cali on October 5, after a 2-day marathon drive by Luc through the mountains from San Gil with a stop overnight near Bogota.  I had picked up some sort of stomach bug in Santa Marta, and had my first real meal in 7 days at her sister, Amparito’s, home outside of Bogota.  Chicken has never tasted so good!

Amparito and Juan Carlos' house near Bogota

We arrived at the beginning of a school vacation.  We were welcomed by Ana Maria, her husband Fernando and their 14 year old daughter Elena.  Ana Maria whisked us off to Lago Calima, where we stayed in her sister Diana’s beautiful house.  Lago Calima has a consistent afternoon wind that makes it a wind and kite surfing mecca in South America. We enjoyed several days of R&R with her daughter Elena and two of her friends, Natalia and Catalina.  Many students here attend bilingual schools, and we had mutual extensive second language practice with them!

Lago Calima with a corner of the deck

Elena and her friends with the wonderful sushi they made

Back in Cali, Ana Maria and Fernando’s two other children, Emilio and Mariana arrived home for their cousin’s wedding.  They share an apartment together in Bogota where he is a student and she works for the government in the peace process with the FARC. We enjoyed these two so much!

Fernando, Mariana, Elena, Ana Maria and Emilio

The arms of the extended family once again surrounded us, and we were invited to the wedding of their cousin Mauricio Otoya and Beatriz Mondragon.  But first we were prepared in Cali style.  Here I am dressed in Ana Maria’s sister Maria Virginia’s dress, Luc’s outfit courtesy of Fernando.  I also received my first make over, including a full mani-pedi!

The wedding itself was an incredible affair.  We sat at a table with a group of young parents who had all attended bilingual schools and studied or worked abroad.  Everything you have heard about Salsa in Cali is true. An incredible 15+ person band started up after dinner and the dance floor was instantly packed!   We staggered home at about 1:30, missing the mariachi band that arrived at 3:00 AM.  The kids rolled in with the sunrise.

Luc on the dance floor with Ana Maria

Elena and Mariana

Men in traditional white shirts, with the bride

The next day we were off to the 26th.   Outside of Cali, everything is identified by the number of kilometers it is outside of the city.  The hill at the18th is a well know respite from the heat of Cali. 

The house at the 26th

We pressed on to the beautiful country house at the 26th where we enjoyed hiking, biking, a tea plantation, oldeas and merengues (two local desserts) and a family evening of cards.   We spent a lovely evening talking with Carlos. He is a doctor who attended a Swiss bilingual school in Bogota and conversed with us impeccable Swiss french. The next day we visited his beautiful home.

Tea Plantation

Mariana, Luc, Carlos, me and Fernando

In all of this, we were whipped back into shape. Luc enjoyed several vigorous bike rides with Fernando, Emilio and their friend Mauro. I climbed up to the hill of 3 crosses and got a little stronger every time.

Emilio, Luc, Mauro and Fernando at the top of 3 cruses

Reliving memories from Madison, Wisconsin with Ana Maria's parents

Dad gives the kids a ride to school

We saw a bit of Cali, too!

A Cali Cat in downtown Cali

Luc got the van and trailer in shape with his new friend Edier, and we finally piled back into the van on October 17, heading toward Ecuador.

Luc and Edier, mechanic extraordinaire

Luc and Fernando, ready to ride

 At the wedding

What a incredible 2 weeks we spent with the Ana Maria, Fernando and their wonderful extended family.  We are looking forward to seeing them again on our way back home next year, and to their visits to Vermont where we will be challenged to live up to their incredible hospitality.