Hotel Pensión Stein

Kristin was an avid blog reader of other families who made the same trip that were are currently taking to get a sense of what to expect. If anyone else finds this blog and is planning to travel to Cali for adoption I highly recommend Hotel Pensión Stein - http://www.hotelstein.com.co/

The people here are wonderful. They always greet you with a smile and a "buenos días". Another favorite saying is "con mucho gusto" which means "with pleasure" when you thank them for something.

I have fun trying to talk Spanish with the women from the kitchen, the cleaning staff, the grounds-people and the security guards. The other day one of the security guards said, "¿Cómo estás, bien?" "How are you, good?" to which I responded "Bien, y tu?" "Good and you?" "Tu" is the informal version of "you", it would have been more proper for me to say "Bien, y usted" which is the formal version for people that you don't know. Kristin pointed this out but the security guard pointed to himself and to me and nodded his head as if to say, "It's okay, we're buddies". That's how the people here are. They know that we don't speak Spanish but it is clear that they appreciate us trying.

When we got back from the sugar cane museum yesterday one of the staff had our laundry clean, folded and pressed. They pick up your dirty laundry every Monday and Thursday and return it two days later. They help make this experience so much better and easier given the situation of being in another country and trying to get used to being new parents.

For about the price of a night in a hotel in the states we get laundry service, bottle sterilization, three meals, wireless internet, daily room cleaning plus we get to bond with all of the other families that are going through the same thing.

Can't say enough about how happy we are staying here!

Thanks Hotel Pensión Stein!