Chivirico goes to the farm

Chivirico and I went off to a friends finca or farm for the weekend. He was so excited and turned up at my house as soon as school finished, having packed and unpacked his bag all week.

We had a lift into Santiago where we met friend Jonathan, who was coming with us for the weekend. The most important thing was lunch, as Chivirico is always hungry. He ordered a ham and cheese sandwich, ate one and then gave the other to the shoeshine boy lurking outside the restaurant who was hungry. He then proceeded to devour Jonathan’s mofongo (mashed plantain with bacon and garlic).

We set off over the mountain to Shirley’s house with Chivirico asking every two minutes if we were there yet. A couple of hours later we arrived and he jumped straight in the pool and then next thing I knew he had discovered the ducks and yelled at me to go and see them.

Jonathan had bought him some non alcoholic champagne which he adored, and he now knows how to hold a wine glass!

Then it was off to bed, but I made sure he cleaned his teeth first. Mind you had I known it was such a messy business I might not have bothered.

Day 2, having woken me up at 6, he then donned his chef’s hat and apron and helped me make omelettes, concentrating very hard to make sure they had no egg shell in them.

He then played with Shirley’s cleaner’s granddaughter and washed Jonathan’s car so that he could earn some money. I suggested he buy a present for his aunt or grandmother with his money, and he said he would buy a present, but for himself.

Then off to his first ever visit to the beach where he built sandcastles and was in and out of the sea. He absolutely adored it, although was very surprised the sea was salty.

Lunch was pizza – which is now his all time favourite, and he was very taken with Jonathan's sun glasses.

Then back home but not before Shirley had bought him some swimming trunks and he bought himself some swimming goggles. Straight back in the pool on our return to check out the goggles which he then refused to take off, even at the dinner table.

One very tired little boy then crashed out. The next day we visited all of the farm animals, and he decided to feed Bob the donkey.

However, he thought Bob would bite him, so couldn't get closer than 6 inches from his mouth and poor Bob was desperate for his biscuit. In the end I had to help out.

And then homeward bound. He had a fabulous time, but was happy to be back with his family in Barrio land regaling them all with his adventures.