It is International Womens Day today, which started out with
a parade and dancing in the square this morning. A fun wake up, and then good wishes from all
the ladies at the bakery! Such lovely
smiles!
So this week is the week that the kids headed back to school
for the year. The sidewalks and plaza
have become astoundingly busy, and it is such fun to see all the students,
impeccably groomed, and shining in their lovely school uniforms. Buttoned up shirts, sweaters, ironed dress
pants and shiny black leather loafers for the boys. Knee length pinafore dresses, white blouses,
cardigans, knee socks and black polished maryjanes for the girls.
And there is no skirt shortening happening here… not even
away from the campuses, it is simply not in keeping with the modest
culture. We are for the most part far
from the short skirt & high heel norm of the big cities. Casual pants and jeans are the norm… probably
why I feel so comfortable here. Not that
I blend in at all of course. I could
live here my next 20 years and I will still look like a gringa visiting
town. Lilly white skin, blue eyes and
light hair gives us all away.
Of course even without these dead giveaways the moment we open
our mouths the truth comes out.
A couple of days ago I went with Eduardo to check out the
progress on the house he is building just outside of town. The ceiling was poured last week, and we
could get in and have a look see. Nice
layout, very well conceived and planned.
But the view… Oh the view!
I think I would give up a lot to be able to look out my
kitchen window, coffee in hand, and be greeted by such a vista.
My search for such a slice of contentment has intensified,
and my determination to set things in motion is growing.
Lets do the math (all figures approx.)
Lot with vista $
3000.
Lot prep (hydro etc) 2500.
Cost
to build 15,000
Furnish/Décor
5000.
Grand total of said dream $26,000.00. (or about 2 years rent on my house in
Courtenay)
This of course doesn’t take into account the personal cost
of being far from friends and family.
What with the internet for instant communication what that boils down to
is my absence at dinner parties and barbeques.
Hmmm.
On another note, after weeks of rain the hot equatorial sun
decided to make an appearance as I was wandering around in the hills with
Eduardo. Suddenly my long sleeve shirt,
winter fleece zip up and rain coat seemed a tad to many layers. No hat, no sunscreen, and now me carrying
around my winter gear. Yup… oh for a
predictable sunny day?!
Thankfully there will be a good weeks worth when I get to
the coast. I will thaw. Then I will sweat. My prediction is I will smile through it all.
My bus ticket has been purchased,
although not for the day bus as I had wanted.
Seems if I had proceeded as planned I would have ended up alone, at the
side of the Trans American highway, far outside of the city at 1:00 am. Uhhh, nooo…
Not in this lifetime if I can help it.
So the night bus it is, and I will have to catch the view on
the way back.
The continued rain in the mountains here has not only
stymied the various walks & sightseeing adventures I had originally
planned, but now is poised to kybosh the 3 day trek into the mountains planned
in two weeks time. Just can’t envision
myself enjoying hiking around and camping at 3000 meters in the cold rain. I mean, I will have just gotten warm for
heavens sake!
If it doesn’t warm up (or at least stop RAINING) when I get
back this way I will likely just pick up my stuff and keep heading east until I
get back to the Tarapoto area. Then I
can complain about the sweltering heat for a change.
Lovely iridescent humming bird made a return appearance this
morning. Flit, flit, flit and then
GONE. Man are they fast.
Having some pain issues, and I can place that firmly at the
feet of lack of physical activity. Need
to walk. Prefer not to slide around in
the muck and dodge mud puddles. A
conundrum to be sure.
Still full from the enormous veggie omelette I was served
for breakfast, there is no way I can partake of lunch at the vegetarian
restaurant. Thus siesta time has arrived
and my nap is calling…
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