Granges in Chile 2021: October 2022

October 23, 2022

John and Kate family picture. John has been training for arm wrestling.

We went to Lampa and cleaned a missionary apartment. When we left I locked the door, both the handset and deadbolt. The missionaries called later and said that they didn't have a key to the deadbolt so they found another way in. They jimmyed the kitchen window and climbed on a chair.

Here they are in the apartment.

Here are some pictures of baby James Paul Grange in the hospital.

He went home from the hospital today. He is up to 4 lbs and 7 oz. Here he is at home.

September 18, 2022

September 11 is the anniversary of the overthrow of the Allende government. Apparently they have protests every year on that day. The smoke in the picture is coming from the metro station near us. The police showed up with 3 or 4 water cannon and effectively put out the fires and dispersed the crowds. I thought it was unusual that all the police cars have cages built over their windows. Now I realize that that protects them during protests. It sounds like the protests were mild this year.

We have had several earthquakes since we arrived. They are mild and short but make you think twice about living on the 17th floor.

My thankyou treat for taking keys to sisters that locked their keys in the apartment. It happpens about once a week.

This is the kitchen that we had remodeled. We had the wall opened up. It makes the kitchen and living room bigger. You can imagine how narrow the kitchen is without the opening. We are doing the same type of remodel to a second apartment now.

Ice cream break in the office kitchen. They look guilty don't they. Its not their first time.

September 25, 2022

This is the view from a missionary apartment on the 26th floor over looking some other buildings being built. It gives me the willys to look out the windows as there is just a short bar across the window.

I drove up to a town about 90 minutes north called Llay Llay. It is straight up the 5 freeway. I think this freeway is the Pan American Highway that joins into I 5 in the states. On the way back I was delayed by a goat herd. In the picture the freeway is to the left and the goats are blocking the entrance to the freeway. There are two goat herders on bikes behind the goats. It was a nice day.

This is picture of Llay Llay it is mostly agriculture. The air is clear, streets are clean, and it is quiet.

We had a cabinet maker make these chests of drawers. They have a hanger rod between them for suits and shirts. Many apartments don't have closets and the armoires that you buy are in expensive but only last a year for missionaries.

October 15, 2022

Jessie came to visit. We went south to Puerto Natales and went to the Los Torres del Paine national park. There are several lakes that have glaciers that drop ice bergs into them. Jessie(sometimes known as Shackleton) risked her life to get up close.

Gigi had a nasty cough and stayed in bed the first few days. The last day Jessie rented a car and we drove around the park. It has some beautiful landscapes and mountains. The weather changes fast. We had some nice sunshine but by the end of the day it was very windy and snowing.

Jessie and I hiked up to Los Torres(towers). It was only about 12 miles round trip but alot of the time it was a scramble up rocks more than hiking. Pictures of it below.

We wore mutiple layers of clothing and I was constantly taking off and putting on to keep from sweating too much or getting cold. I think I was the only climber there in Levis and hearing aids.

Walking sticks would have been very useful on the way down.

I think you can see some of the red trail markers in the rocks.

This is the water at Puerto Natales.

We didn't see bigfoot but did see condors, guanacos and the emu like birds.

Water front at Puerto Natales.

Jessie and I went to dinner at the Ultima Esperanza restaurant. She had pasteles de choclo and I had salmon with 2 eggs and mashed potatoes. Ultima Esperanza must be the name of the province because it used alot down there. Also Fin del Mundo is a common name there. Jessie took a daytrip to Punta Arenas to see penguins but they weren't out yet.

My cousin Ross(Dintys son) has several businesses in Santiago. This is his rock shop. He spent time with Jessie and I and gave her some nice Chilean rocks. It is nice to have relatives here.