Back in Pereira

I have obviously taken a few months off from any regular contributions. The summer in Wisconsin was wonderful. So many visits with family and friends, the time did go very quickly. Many concerts, fairs, trivia events and festivals too. Got in some fishing on Lake Michigan and the Mississippi along with some local lakes, very good times. Gloria's English has improved a lot in her time in the US.
Toward the end of August her father took ill so she returned 3 weeks before me. Our tickets were set for Sept 15 originally. It turned out to be a very good decision as her father passed away on the 13th of September which allowed her to spend the final three weeks with him. They have a great custom here where the family hosts friends and family every evening at the survivors house for ten days after the funeral. It is a great idea, offering comfort to the widow for nearly two weeks daily.
After saying my good byes to everyone at home I headed to Chicago on the 14th, sold my car to Carmax near O'Hare and got a ride to the hotel and headed to Colombia early the next morning, without any keys.
So now we have been here together for three weeks already and are getting settled back in. Gloria's son Mauro and family have moved to another place in Pereira so we have her house to ourselves. Been fishing here once already and spent a day at the thermal pools nearby. Just found out about another lake nearby, anxious to try it out. Visits with family and friends also.
Gloria has lived in this house for 28 years after buying it new when her kids were young. After checking on the price of remodeling we decided it would be easier to sell here and buy another place. Part of the reason is parking is a problem here for when we do get a car. So it is for sale and we figured it best to rent for awhile and look around. Just today we found a very nice 3 bed apt near where we rented last year. Room for visitors, hint..hint. It even has a pool! So we have some packing to do.
In a couple of weeks we are headed to Bogotá to see about extending my visa and applying for a retirement visa. This will make things much less complicated for travel plans in the future. I hear the city is huge, approximately 8 million people so we are hoping to get a hotel near the immigration office. Then there are many things to see.
More to follow.... next time.