April 13 - Wet Streets and Friends

Thursday April 13, 2017
Up early and down to the patio to read, think and plan the day. 

I thought it was about 7:00 but in fact Dora told me it was 6:00. So I' d been up since 4:30.



She told me she remembered me from my stay here several years back.  Nice to have a personality that people remember even after several years.

 7:30 they invited me to another part of the patio where there was a table, candle and food fit for a king.  Perfect temperature about 70 and sunny with a slight breeze to stir the air.  I hear birds cooing and chirping and only in the background do I hear the sound of buses, the exhaust from their engines starting to turn the air blue.  But here, right now it is about as nice as it gets!  If only my sweetheart were here!



On the streets, which were wet, I walked the familiar route to Piche's, Monsy's and the school.  I feel a little older and slower.  I try to remove that thought from my head but it periodically returns as I feel like I put more effort into the stride over the wet spots.

First stop Monsy's.    She was at the beach but her son Diego called his father,  Ricardo who called his mother, Elsi. And we renew our relationship.  We met Elsi several years back when we brought some items sent by her son.  She was living in Cedar Rapids with another son.

Had a nice chat and then Ricardo and Diego fixed my phone so we called Linda and everyone had an exciting video chat!   WOW! What a wonderfully magical world we live in.  Mustn't let all our advances in technology be lost or  be screwed up!!!

Disappointment  -  Piche's weren't home.  Neighbor thought they might be on vacation.  I'll check back later.

Ate lunch at BurgerKing. Just like Newton's but a more graceful floor designed. Hate to eat as I am, like an American.

Sort of frightened to eat on the street due to the long time I've been out of the country and the short time I'm here.

But I did buy some Yucca from a street vendor and plan to see how it treats my innards.

From there walked to Quesadias por Exportacion and gave Freda a couple of pictures I took on our last visit.  Tried to buy 2 quesadias and a drink but she wouldn't have it.  They were as good as I remember.  You've never had a quesadia until you've had one of her's.  Told me she is a graduate dietician from Universadid  Naccional and got the formula from a girl friend a longtime ago.  She  talked about her family of 3 boys, one living in Toronto  and her three grandsons. Told her I was going to BUY a box before I return home and that I was going to PAY for it.  Stay tuned to see how that episode ends.

When you're doing a lot of walking one needs a rest, it's nice to have a place where you're known, where you can sit a while and be out of the heat. 


That is one of the experiences I appreciate in my travels around the city as a pilgrim.

Having regained some energy from the quesadias and coke I walked to the bi-lingual (actually tri-lingual, since they are also teaching Chinese) school.


No one was there but the security guard Oscar, helped me compose a letter (but wasn't able to read it for spelling errors - sad) telling them that I was going to go to Muñoces, solo and that I had a letter I was going to give to all the folks explaining what had happened.  I hope to make contact with them before I leave so I can repay them for the wonderful meal they treated Linda and me to 2 years ago.

Walking home in the late afternoon heat I became aware of the aromas wafting up from the curb and gutter. Not unpleasant, just not fragrances one would ordinary associate with one another.   Warm water running into the drain from having washed clothes, the smell of dryer sheets, the usual sight of an animal's presence, exhaust from buses "hot-roding" the streets and the aroma of a street vender cooking pupusas or an exotically spiced soup that would spell months of gastro-intestinal attention.  I know that words or pictures don't convey what I'm describing, so you'll just have to try and concoct the formula yourself or -   come to the country and "savor salvador."

Another short video with Linda telling me I need to edit yesterday's blog. 

Then Oasis's owners, Damian and Carolina came by and we exchanged stories about what's happening in each other's world.  I initially stayed with them when I came down for 3 months in 2001 and they came for a visit with their two boys a year or two later, and visited our church. So some of you probably met them.

Their son's are prospering in many ways as visual artist and musician, volunteering to help those less fortunate. 

They are some of the many people taking the napkin's admonishment to heart and not,  "Staying Put."





The phrase, "mi casa es su casa" is embodied by my hosts and their employees.


                                       
And so I'm going to sign off and hope to get some sound sleep for my
brain and mind!



Tomorrow (Good Friday) has yet to be planned in my mind so come back and see, "Que pasara'." what's going to happen

Warren