... I guess these are the things you never expect will happen ... but sometimes they really happen ... and after that you feel really in love with the people ... OK ... let's start from the begin ... this is story about my visit to Quenchi, Chiloe region ... the reason why I went to visit this tiny little village is because I read it has the biggest tide in the region ... somethig like 7 meters ... I had a kind of hard time to find a bed to sleep ... here there are really no spring and fall ... only invierno (winter) and verano (summer) ... and now it is more invierno than verano ... so not all the places are open yet ... anyways after a fast tour of the village I ended up to sleep in a private house ... really nice and welcoming people ... I took some pics of the funny low tide ...
... and I headed to the only restaurant on the costanera (i.e. waterfront) ... EL CHEJO ...
... when I got in I was the only customer so Elsa, the owner, spent sometime chit chatting with me ... and without realizing it ... I was invited in the kitchen ... where I met Marylin, Don Pedro, Jose ... we continue to chit chat and drink some beer together ... and once my caldito de mariscos (i.e. seafood soup) was ready ... I was invited to eat there ... incredible experience ... suddendly I felt like eating at home ... here a self portrait ... from the left ... Don Pedro ... la Senora Elsa ... Jose ... Marylin (Jose and Marylin were there just helping to clean the seafood) and myself ...
... again ... difficult to describe such an incredible experience ... I really felt like at home ... never been in a restaurant like this ... I felt simply blessed by such hospitality ... they fed me like a son ... and after the soup I had the chance to taste evary type of local food ... at the end I was soooo full ... I had serious problems to stand up ... basically ... I got into the restaurant around 8PM and I left it around midnite ... and I left ... only because I was afraid that the nice family who was hosting me was going to go to sleep and lock the door ... fortunately I got there on time ... and I slept like a baby ... I woke up at 11AM ... and the first thought that I had ... was to go back as soon as possible to my new family ... and I did it ... this time ... Don Chejo and Don Pedro were in the kitchen ... when Don Pedro saw me ... he did hug me like an abuelo (i.e. grandpa) hugs a grandson ... I was grabben into the kitchen again ... and there I spent an other 4 wonderful hours before my bus left ... so I had to see Don Chejo cooking Chentoia (i.e. grab if I understood correctly) ... and filling enpanadas with it ...
... and again ... Don Pedro in one of his tasks in the restaurant ... Panadero (i.e. baker) ... and believe me ... there is nothing like eat a fresh baked bread ... cooked by your new grandpa ... 
... when the customers were not a lot ... we had some serious fun ... here is Don Chejo playing with my mochila (i.e. backpack) ...
... unfortunately ... I had to leave around 4PM ... because I had the last bus leaving ... so while I was waiting for it ... I took some pictures of the tiny harbor with high tide ...
... and while I was chit chating with Eric (a guy who just stepped out of the restaurant) ... and I basically missed the last bus leaving the town ... I saw it leaving from the other part of the town ... but I guess it was my lucky day ... so Eric ... who is living in santa Monica, CA ... had a rental car ... so we run to the car ... we put my backpack into the car ... wer did follow the bus ... and after 5 minutes we caught it ... he basically stop in front of it ... and the bus driver got me in ... ehehehe ... the G-D of the backpackers really exists ... and I got safe and sound to Puerto Montt where I am now ... but I think I will never forget this experience ... I basically went to this restaurant to have a fast dinner and I found a new family ... so incredible ... yep ... I am really happy today ... :O
... and I headed to the only restaurant on the costanera (i.e. waterfront) ... EL CHEJO ...
... when I got in I was the only customer so Elsa, the owner, spent sometime chit chatting with me ... and without realizing it ... I was invited in the kitchen ... where I met Marylin, Don Pedro, Jose ... we continue to chit chat and drink some beer together ... and once my caldito de mariscos (i.e. seafood soup) was ready ... I was invited to eat there ... incredible experience ... suddendly I felt like eating at home ... here a self portrait ... from the left ... Don Pedro ... la Senora Elsa ... Jose ... Marylin (Jose and Marylin were there just helping to clean the seafood) and myself ...
... again ... difficult to describe such an incredible experience ... I really felt like at home ... never been in a restaurant like this ... I felt simply blessed by such hospitality ... they fed me like a son ... and after the soup I had the chance to taste evary type of local food ... at the end I was soooo full ... I had serious problems to stand up ... basically ... I got into the restaurant around 8PM and I left it around midnite ... and I left ... only because I was afraid that the nice family who was hosting me was going to go to sleep and lock the door ... fortunately I got there on time ... and I slept like a baby ... I woke up at 11AM ... and the first thought that I had ... was to go back as soon as possible to my new family ... and I did it ... this time ... Don Chejo and Don Pedro were in the kitchen ... when Don Pedro saw me ... he did hug me like an abuelo (i.e. grandpa) hugs a grandson ... I was grabben into the kitchen again ... and there I spent an other 4 wonderful hours before my bus left ... so I had to see Don Chejo cooking Chentoia (i.e. grab if I understood correctly) ... and filling enpanadas with it ...
... and again ... Don Pedro in one of his tasks in the restaurant ... Panadero (i.e. baker) ... and believe me ... there is nothing like eat a fresh baked bread ... cooked by your new grandpa ... 
... when the customers were not a lot ... we had some serious fun ... here is Don Chejo playing with my mochila (i.e. backpack) ...
... unfortunately ... I had to leave around 4PM ... because I had the last bus leaving ... so while I was waiting for it ... I took some pictures of the tiny harbor with high tide ...
... and while I was chit chating with Eric (a guy who just stepped out of the restaurant) ... and I basically missed the last bus leaving the town ... I saw it leaving from the other part of the town ... but I guess it was my lucky day ... so Eric ... who is living in santa Monica, CA ... had a rental car ... so we run to the car ... we put my backpack into the car ... wer did follow the bus ... and after 5 minutes we caught it ... he basically stop in front of it ... and the bus driver got me in ... ehehehe ... the G-D of the backpackers really exists ... and I got safe and sound to Puerto Montt where I am now ... but I think I will never forget this experience ... I basically went to this restaurant to have a fast dinner and I found a new family ... so incredible ... yep ... I am really happy today ... :O
4 comments:
Hi! Andrea!
I'm son of Chejo and Elsa. I read your "I HAVE A NEW FAMILY" post and I felt
much happiness for the good experience that you had in our restaurant.
I'm going to print the pictures and I'm going to show to them.
I'm sure that my parents will be happy when they have news of you.
Regards!
Andrés
PD. Sorry for my English! ... :D
Andres - It was really nice to read Andrea's post on how you and your family welcomed him and made him feel at home.
Thank you for taking care of a great friend in his travels and making this trip even more memorable with your kindness!
PS: Your English is quite good!
Andrea!
I spoke with my parents about your post today. They were very surprised and happy and said me that "You can go back whenever you wish".
They are friendly, exciting and passionate. I believe, by the today conversation, that they'll remember to the new family member ... je,je,je ... for long time.
I think and hope that this story don't finish here.
Have a nice trip!
Anonymous!
Thank you so much for your comments!
... from a chilote (Chiloé Island People)
Regards!
Andrés
Ehehe ... what can I say ... I never go back to same places ... but I feel like I need to make an exception for my new family ... :) XA
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