Two Year-Olds
It being a Sunday and all, Yali felt like presenting his worst behavior that afternoon. Now that he’s comfortable in this new life of luxury, fun and games, he tests his limits whenever possible. About the point where he had to sit in a “time out” on the bed for messing with the “baby poof” electrical outlet plugs again, the waterworks quickly followed. You’ve gotta learn, kid.
Earlier that morning we hit an early lunch on the streets of Bogota at a recommended restaurant by the name of Archie’s. Turns out they still serve breakfast at 11:30, so it was a round of pancakes. But Yali quickly turned up his nose at the large pancake in the shape of a cat’s face with banana eyes and chocolate whiskers. Eventually the cold fresa jugo (strawberry juice) wasn’t good enough for him either. But the waitresses still thought he was pretty cute and handed him a bright yellow balloon sword which he brandished most of the walk home.
Two year-olds.
On the walk home – that same unnatural fall-like weather in July – we stopped for baby formula. I think we’ve come to learn that baby formula can only be purchased at the drugstore, locked behind glass. Considering that one canister costs more than our whole dinner last night, I guess that’s why.
After all, they station security guards outside every restaurant. In fact, one of them escorted us to our table at Crepes and Waffles last night. I guess you could look at that two ways: you feel extra safe, or … you wonder how safe things are in the first place.
We took the late afternoon easy. A “hot” bath for Yali; we were told in Villavicencio that all the children take cold baths there and don’t mind it. Another round of ham, cheese, and crackers for dinner, because we don’t want to ask the staff to make dinner for us two hours earlier than the French families. Some “Thomas the Tank Engine” (which Yali seems to have taken an interest in), and crayons (trying to avoid marking the bedspread). It’s not exactly a life-rhythm, but we do what we can while living on the road.
And what passes the time, night after night, waiting out hours in the dark while your two year-old sleeps on the other side of the room? Headphones: baseball and Korean drama re-runs, of course.
Tomorrow: La Mesa: to “present the demand to the judge”. We would be there 3-5 days, according to the Colombian Program Director.