It was raining and a little chilly when we all piled in the car for Gualaceo on Sunday. But by the time we were going through the toll check point and buying aplanchados and melchochas (sweet, pastry-like cakes and sugar cane candy) to snack on in the car, the sun was out and it was perfect weather. Especially perfect for shopping.
The small town was buzzing with festivities for Patron Santiago, their patron saint and the "indoor" food market was so busy, we had to move like vultures to find an open table. Mona, the pro that she is, brought me with her to get the food. What did we have? Fresh, like, they pulled it off the pig with their hands and put it on our plate fresh, hornado, morcilla, papas, llapingachos, sancochos, y aplanchados (pork, sausage intestine with rice and vegetables, fries, cheese potato cakes, stewed pork, and sweet tortillas) for almuerzo. Ricissimo!
We walked through and around the cute, pedestrian-friendly town and admired the old architecture, the cobbled streets, and the beautiful cathedral. Finding the car again, we drove the few kilometers up to Chordeleg and admired the beautiful mountains and country houses. Dorothy translated that a lot of European and American people have decided to retire here, and so the property value has sky-rocketed. I definitely would have lived there. Fue precioso!
Chordeleg was any woman's with some bit of taste dream. Silver and gold handmade jewelry shops with one-of-a-kind pieces with only-in-Chordeleg prices. As we walked the shop-lined square, gazing into every store, peering into the window, and even trying (and buying) some of the gorgeous aretes, anillas, y collares, I couldn't help but notice the family we were and how beautiful of a day it was.
After several hours of delayed stepping around the park, we drove down to Chio's aunt's house to spend a little time. La quinta was a beautiful, old estate of a house complete with an overgrown sugar cane field, cows, river, and cock fighting pit. I truly fell in love with it, especially after I met Valentine, the 2-day-old calf that I made friends with. I kept thinking how much my parents would love this place, wondering if the family would ever sell, even imagining bringing my family there far in the future.
Ok, so a little much, but this place was beautiful.
After stopping in town to buy pan y helado de leche, we made our way back to Quito and Dorothy and I proceeded to eat canguil con pepas de sambo (popcorn with roasted pumpkin seeds) and watch a bootleg copy of Sherlock Holmes.
It really was the perfect day.
No comments:
Post a Comment