Artigas

We took a day trip to Artigas on Saturday, which is on the northern border of Uruguay. We did manage to cross the river and enter Brazil for a short time, but mostly just to say we had done it. Artigas is known for amethyst mines and other semi-precious stones (quartz and agates, mostly). We tried to find some amethysts ourselves, by crushing rocks along the side of the road. Alas, we didn’t have any luck, although we had fun throwing rocks and finding tarantulas and lizards underneath.

Following the advice of others, we found a purple shop in town that was known to have reasonable prices. We arrived just after our lunch, though, and found the doors closed for siesta time.

Fortunately, a woman came out of the shop next door and told us to go around the corner and ask the shop owner if he would open his doors for us. It turns out he lives behind the shop, and was more than happy to open the doors once he saw a group of gringos ready to spend their money. His shop was amazing, and it was even cooler once we found out that the shop owner actually owns the mine from which all the stones come from. He seemed very happy to talk with us, and pleased that we were interested in his work. He showed us not only his small storage room adjacent to the shop, but also walked us through his living quarters to show us his most impressive find that was stored in his garage.

We spend a good hour or two in the shop, browsing and figuring out what to buy. They were just packing up our purchases when a tour bus with 40 people showed up. The owner seemed a little nervous to have that many people in the shop with their swinging purses, but laughed with us when we all agreed that their purchases would probably be worthwhile.

Mis Padres

I’ve had some extra help arrive, armed with temperature sensors, rain gear, and a penchant for good food. I picked them up at the bus station about a week ago, after having a near miss of them getting off one stop to early. Luckily, one of the bus staff told them “No, no!” and waved them back on the bus. When they arrived at the Tacuarembó bus station, he gave them a thumbs up to indicate this was the place they wanted to be.

They’ve helped a lot at the field sites, with installing ibuttons and using GPS to mark locations of all my research plots and the fences built around them. Rain or shine, they are happy to help.

Their willingness to help might be due to the fact that we have been enjoying some awesome dinners here at the house. They’ve now had an asado dinner, as well as homemade ravioli, and some great desserts.

In addition, we usually make it back to the house for lunch. Just yesterday we enjoyed homemade gnocchi with tomato sauce, and then had dessert as well. It’s a little hard to get motivated after lunch, but I guess that’s the price we pay for good food.

Mis Parceles en el Campo

We’ve done quite a bit of field work, installing temperature sensors at all my field sites. My parents arrived with the sensors, and then we found the high-tech equipment with which to install them at the field sites once they arrived here. Our “high-tech” instrumentation involves aluminum tags, a plastic funnel or bottle top, and aluminum foil. The local technicians here call them little sombreros.

After installing some of them at the sites, Juliana came out with us, and we realized that they would be easy bait for the cattle. Apparently underestimating their stupidity, I figured they would nudge them or poke them, but not actually eat them. Evidently I was wrong, as Juliana explained in Spanish, by demonstrating an ibutton in a stomach – and we really aren’t interested in the temperature as a sensor moves through a cow’s digestive system.

So, Plan B was to have Gerardo and company install posts at each of the sites, and we would hang the air temperature sensors from the tops of these. To be safe, they wrapped the posts in barbed-wire (or bob-wire, depending on who you talk to…I’m naming no names) so the cows would be less temped to try and knock the posts over.

Apparently there is no limit to the amount of work Gerardo and his guys will do. They have been extremely kind and gracious, and completely open to any ideas I have about adding work to their schedule. It’s been so nice to have their help, and also Juliana’s, who helps me coordinate all of this.