Hello, friends of #Weekend Experiences!!!
Friday morning arrived, and with it the possibility of embarking on an adventure with the kids. Actually, the idea came up the day before. I don't spend much time with the kids outside of the house; the reality is that I'm always too busy and miss out on the privilege of sharing more games, more knowledge, more life with them.
This Friday we had a break from work and school. So I couldn't think of a better way to spend these hours than providing them with a unique experience, different from the everyday routine of the blackout. So I thought I'd take them to one of my favorite childhood places: the ruins of the old Rosario sugar mill, and specifically the forest garden of the old family home belonging to the Lobos family, who owned much of the town's land during the 19th century.
According to local history, Mrs. Lobos was a great lover of gardens and botany in general. For this reason, she commissioned a mini botanical garden in the rear of the new house, which the residents dubbed "The Forest" from the start. This space was home to a variety of timber and fruit tree species, some of which are exotic to the Cuban flora, such as the peach, which thrives on this plot given its microclimate. Ms. Lobos intended to create a small paradise of varied abundance.
When I arrived with my little ones and we entered, I felt a terrible shock to my memory. I was struck by an indescribable nostalgia for the beauty that once distinguished the place, which with the arrival of this century was gradually lost in the undergrowth that now floods the paths once shaped like walkways through tunnels of foliage.
However, the smell of the fruit, the Santo Domingo mamey, and the peach immediately took me back to my school days and was like a caress to my memory. I immediately asked my children to smell the air, to listen to the sounds of the wind and the carpenters working on the logs. They were filled with the spirit of the place and, like sloths, they set off along the path that was barely noticeable under the blanket of dry leaves.
It was wonderful to see them in their exploratory imagination, discovering plants and stone structures, trapped in the grass, climbing rocks. Above all, it was wonderful to be able to share a moment with them among my beloved trees, telling them stories, as we also visited other places that will be the subject of new posts I'll be sharing little by little. There was no shortage of "what," "why," and "what for," and it was a pleasure to reveal to them a part of history dormant under the shade of the yagrumas, which is now also part of my own story.
It's simply thrilling to dedicate hours to these small moments with our children, to be part of the adventure, to motivate them to love nature (my daughter surprised me by hugging trees, and it makes me so happy because I do it too, and it came naturally to her, even though today wasn't her first time). I don't think I've had a better experience with my children than this weekend, nor have I ever made the most of a day off from work.
I feel this weekend will be unforgettable for everyone because of the adventure, the learning experience, and the tremendous walk for my three-year-old (who is tireless).
I'm grateful for those two pairs of eyes full of wonder, and now I'm grateful to you for giving me a few minutes of your time to read my story. It's been a pleasure to attempt this quick sketch of a memorable start to the weekend. More weekends, please!!!
See you in other posts. There are still adventures to tell about this day...
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