ENGLISH VERSION (click here!)
Last time we saw our brother-in-law—@aventurerasbike’s big brother—it had been over three years. Nothing dramatic, just life doing its thing: the hour-and-a-half drive between our cities turns into a wall when it comes to staying close. But this time, something special pulled us back together—a BBQ invite at his place up in the Mirandino highlands. Our son @stow01 had hit him up to see if they could hang out before flying back to Norway, and that call kicked off everything you see in the pics that go with this post. He handled the sides and the booze, we brought the grillables: rump steak, pork, chicken, spicy sausage, chistorras, and blood sausage—each one a headliner at the cookout.
---  ---  ---  ---  ---  --- # 
ENGLISH VERSION (click here!)
So we hit the road, packed into our ride with Maura and Rosa (our sisters-in-law), @aventurerasbike, @stow01, and yours truly behind the wheel—heading toward the meetup spot. After exiting the Central Regional Highway (ARC) at the Tejerías turnoff, we started climbing into the Mirandino highlands. Maura and I swapped stories along the way—both of us have some kind of history with that stretch of Venezuelan geography. Drum-heavy folk music from Un Solo Pueblo trickled through the car speakers, setting the vibe. The drive flew by, thanks to the chatter and the smooth ride. We pulled in right around noon. Earlier that morning, we’d kicked off the day with shark empanadas—Maura handled the filling, @aventurerasbike worked the dough. Straight-up delicious.
---  ---  ---  ---  ---  ---  --- # 
ENGLISH VERSION (click here!)
Our brother-in-law’s place has that old-school colonial vibe, and his furniture is like a time capsule from the '80s—back when that style was all the rage. High-quality wood everywhere, and it’s a visual treat: the living room and dining sets blend beautifully, topped off with a wooden bar, stools, and a garden view. Real nice setup. Out back, there’s a spacious patio with a brick grill and a table that easily seats a dozen folks without crowding. The man fired up the coals as soon as we arrived, laying down a big dry log and using rosemary kindling to smoke the meats. Pure flavor. Meanwhile, the Scotch made its rounds like in the good ol’ days (once a year won’t kill ya), and our brother-in-law got the ladies buzzing when he pulled out a massive bottle of homemade eggnog—his own recipe. Needless to say, it was legit.
---  ---  ---  ---  ---  --- # 
ENGLISH VERSION (click here!)
Instead of the usual cassava to go with the BBQ, our sister-in-law went with corn hallaquitas and a fresh pico de gallo salad. Gotta say, our brother-in-law nailed it—the whole combo was spot-on. Stories from the nephews, throwbacks from the past, and a wave of nostalgia filled the chilly Carrizal afternoon. Around 6:20 PM, it was time to head back, and I handed the car keys to @aventurerasbike—driving after a few drinks isn’t our thing. The ride home was smooth, and for some reason, felt quicker than the way there. It was one of those magical afternoons wrapped in the warmth of family, and here’s hoping it doesn’t take us years to do it again. Next time, it’s our turn to host. And you, dear reader—do you dig a good BBQ with your crew? Hit me up.
--- # 