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"I hate snakes…, I hate 'em." - Raiders of the Lost Ark - Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)
Early on, experienced several firsts for Uruguayan life. One was my first Uruguayan SNAKE encounter. I was picking up construction debris from around the house and bent over to see a red, yellow, and black snake hissing only a few centimeters from my face and a few meters from the dogs. Two of the construction workers were here, so I began to run away and scream, "SNAKE!" After a minute of screaming, I realized my screams were in English.
Fortunately, Esteban understood some English and started yelling, "SERPIENTE!" We stood there staring at each other, yelling back and forth for awhile, then took off for the back of the house. Pepe, the other worker, ran along with us, carrying a concrete block. I barely had time to wonder why, but was too panicked to question. The serpentina was laying there, waiting for us. I can never remember little rhyme for colors of poisonous snakes.
Apparently, there is is a similar rhyme in Spanish about yellow on black etc., as well. Esteban and Pepe couldn't remember the Spanish version and I couldn't remember the English one. What a crew we were! We decided that a snake is a snake (o una serpiente es una serpiente), so Esteban threw the concrete block at it. Concrete travels slowly and snakes quickly; the result was a snake underneath the house!
Minutes later, our builder arrived and after our description of the serpiente, informed us that it was not poisonous. Hmmm... a snake is a snake.
Another first - my first tormenta (storm) in Uruguay. We awoke during the night to torrential rain, fog, and very high winds. Power was out for most of the morning, but for some reason - the Internet is worked beautifully, for the first time. Go figure... Thank goodness for our generator - hot coffee.
Winds were howling with 45 mph gusts, dogs were sleeping (thank goodness), and the wood stove was keeping our little casita toasty warm. All was dry inside, so hopefully the roof holds. At one point I looked out the window to see the neighbor's four horses running across our land like they were being chased. Guess the wind spooked them - I know it has me spooked.
Fortunately, Esteban understood some English and started yelling, "SERPIENTE!" We stood there staring at each other, yelling back and forth for awhile, then took off for the back of the house. Pepe, the other worker, ran along with us, carrying a concrete block. I barely had time to wonder why, but was too panicked to question. The serpentina was laying there, waiting for us. I can never remember little rhyme for colors of poisonous snakes.
Apparently, there is is a similar rhyme in Spanish about yellow on black etc., as well. Esteban and Pepe couldn't remember the Spanish version and I couldn't remember the English one. What a crew we were! We decided that a snake is a snake (o una serpiente es una serpiente), so Esteban threw the concrete block at it. Concrete travels slowly and snakes quickly; the result was a snake underneath the house!
Minutes later, our builder arrived and after our description of the serpiente, informed us that it was not poisonous. Hmmm... a snake is a snake.
Another first - my first tormenta (storm) in Uruguay. We awoke during the night to torrential rain, fog, and very high winds. Power was out for most of the morning, but for some reason - the Internet is worked beautifully, for the first time. Go figure... Thank goodness for our generator - hot coffee.
Winds were howling with 45 mph gusts, dogs were sleeping (thank goodness), and the wood stove was keeping our little casita toasty warm. All was dry inside, so hopefully the roof holds. At one point I looked out the window to see the neighbor's four horses running across our land like they were being chased. Guess the wind spooked them - I know it has me spooked.
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