We walked around the area Monday looking for ice cream and an ATM. It is carnival here which means most shops are closed except for the tourist traps. We first walked to a train station that was pretty seedy with lots of street vendors selling trinkets.
There was an ATM in the station. A free standing booth that you had to swipe your card just to get inside, then try to figure out their system. After a couple tries and a $4 charge (plus exchange fees from the bank I'm sure) I emerged to a line of people with my pesos.
We found the tourist pedestrian mall and ice cream. Only $1.25 US for a big soft cone. The purpose of the trip, besides keeping us awake had been accomplished, so we went back to the hotel and got ready for dinner.
We were greeted by waiters with trays full of wine and even beer and went through the 'reception' line. One of the home office hosts was at our summer meeting at Alderbrook and we had fun with her. She has been with Jones for 12 years when they started in England. When they withdrew from England she was brought back to St. Louis.
Eric Brudi and I and anyone near by pass the time at those meetings by picking a speech tic of the speaker and the other picks an over/under for the number of times the speaker says that for a dollar. It's usually an 'um', or 'you know', or 'ok'. She was too well spoken, so we settled on her topic of BOA's. She must have caught on because she asked us at dinner what we were doing. She was worried what her flaw was, but was relieved what we picked, but was floored she said it 54 times in thirty minutes.
We met her husband in line, she was being held captive by one of the talkers on the bus and he didn't remember meeting us. Later that night he came up and said smiling, "I remember you. You were that bad man picking on my wife!"
Dinner was a fancy buffet with good salads and desserts. The main courses were good, but no unlimited steak. Found our potential older couple and sat with them and heard all about her.
It was back to the room by eight and quickly to sleep. I figured 36 hours of mostly being awake.
Tuesday morning was early breakfast and my meeting at 8:00 to 9:45. Then the spouses came in for introductions and tips from the local tour guides. Out by 11:45 and our meeting obligations are done!
We went back to the ice cream area and split a pizza then got on the bus for a three hour city tour. Learned a little and saw a few places, but nothing spectacular.
I'll head to the business center and attempt to post along with some pictures
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