The sun shone a couple of afternoons ago… so I set me feet
to the concrete and started a’wandering.
My visual perusal took me up past the hospital and into the
neighbourhoods on the hillside. New
roads, same mud. The streets are lined
with older homes, some falling down, and interspersed were rebuilds. Many of the rebuilds were three story homes,
and I wonder at that. This is an active
earthquake zone and all homes are made of concrete… brings to mind the visions
we see on tv of collapsed concrete rubble and death.
My my, haven’t my thoughts taken a lovely positive note.
Yesterday when the sun also made an appearance in the
afternoon, and I again went out for a wander to stretch the old legs
again. All this sitting and siesta’ing
the cold rainy days away has left me… well, in couch potatoe condition.
I have coffee’d and dined, chitted and chatted, KOBO’d and
Skyped till my eyes have crossed.
Definitely time for a change of town.
Yesterday was Sunday… which meant another flag raising
ceremony. This particular Sunday morning
had me headed to the market with Janet and Carlos, and then back to their house
to learn how to cook Causa, a local specialty.
Watching Janet at the market is entertaining. Her eagle eyes source out her preferred vegetables
and fruit from over 100 different venders displaying their colourful
harvests. She also has a favourite
vender for mixed sauces and spices, and judging by the crowd of women pushing
their way into her stall her mixes must be very good indeed. Carlos, who has just followed along to carry
the purchases looked at the ceiling as he explained that we would be waiting
for her for a while.
Janet is headed into her seventh month of an uneasy
pregnancy, and Carlos dotes on her. No
lifting, mandatory siestas, help with the cooking… not quite what I would have
expected of a Latin man and his machismo.
The day played itself out with cooking and watching the kids
fly around the yard. One of yesterdays
games was a mosquito hunt. Around and
around they ran, fly swatters in hand… they were very successful, although the
profusion of mosquitoes this year pretty much guaranteed then a good hunt. Kids just don’t need all the bells and
whistles we feel compelled to shower them with, their imaginations usually do
the trick well indeed.
Replete, I rolled myself home, packed a bit and hit the sack
for my siesta.
Back in my room after my wander I began the sort and pack
process in earnest. As I know I will be
back with way I am taking with me just enough to get me by for the next 10
days… I will be very happy to have a bag to schlep that doesn’t kill my
back.
Packing complete, I sat in the courtyard chatting with
Eduardo as the sun went down… enjoying the evening breezes. The power choosing to go out at about 9pm
ensured an early bedtime.
This morning I enjoyed a nice breakfast and two, yes, two
cups of coffee. Had a lovely HOT
shower. The last of my dirty clothes
have been sent to the Lavandaria and will be back clean before 5 so I can just
pop them into my bag. A stop at the
bakery to pick up some treats to leave with my friends here, and I will head to
the market in a few minutes just to pick up a few thing to tide me over on the
13 hour bus ride tonight.
Upon further thought I am actually glad that it will be an
overnight bus… No breakfast, lunch and dinner hunger pains or food to
carry. And, likely, no need to use the
on board loo. Visions of me falling off
the seat… breaking something… having to call out for help half naked… no no no.
Better to limit the food and drink intake, sleep the trip away, and hit
the bathroom in my hostel when I get there.
I have met the woman that will take over my English class,
and she seems nice. Has some great ideas
so I know they are in good hands.
Tis time to head out to lunch, set in motion the rest of the
days plans… Adios.
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