World Colombia Other Popayán

South American trip

Popayan Jul 18, 2009

Well it has been a few days that I could just take a moment to sit on a computer as we have been busy.. The 16th July was our last day in Pasto.. Pasto is cold as it is about 3000m above sea level.. high on a mountain. Leonor took us to the family farm in a placed called Consaca nearly 2 hours drive from Pasto. The landscape on the way down was breathtaking ..we were surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys.. On the farm they mainly grow coffee, plantains and corn for production...and lots of other fruits for eating mandarins, lemons, blackberries, guavas etc. She introduced me to the workers who are lovely people and are treated with such respect. We got to see how the coffee is harvested and processed.. Leonor said the best coffee in Colombia comes from this region. The farm is absolutely gorgeous. The main farmhouse on the property is beautiful.It is really large home with an entertainment lounge room in the roof. There is a river that runs through the farm..The female caretaker made us banana plantains for lunch and Adri prepared a delicious pesto pasta and Guacamole. Leonor set up the hammock for me for siesta after lunch. She said this if for you so I lied down on the hammock. This is so South American. This is the life. We got home in the afternoon and had to leave for Popayan. It was sad to say goodbye. Laurita wanted to come too. She gave me the loveliest hug and kiss and said chow while waving us off. She is adorable(Masallah). It took 6 hours to get to Popayan on the bus.we arrived near midnight. About half way the bus was stopped by the Police. This police officer came onto the bus and asked all the men on the bus to get off the bus with their bags for a search and for the women and children to remain on the bus. A female police officer searched all the women on the bus and wanted to see my passport. She asked what we were doing in Colombia. Adrianna explained that we were touring South America... everything was cool..well didn´t bypass that security check after all. The bus was stopped again by the police an hour later. Adrianna really hated me to see this part of Colombia. I said to her that it is OK they are just doing their job and it is good. The second time round there was no body search but a police officer did a check on areas where people were sitting with his torch. Adrianna said it was most unusual to have two checks on the one trip. Oh well at least they are keeping on top of things and maintaining safety.

Adri´s mum Liliana greeted us on arrival to their house. They have the most beautiful home. Adri´s mum and dad designed it..it has so much open light, spacious and an indoor garden. The family are very creative and talented.. Isa´s (Cristina) and Liliana´s painting decorate every room. Cristina has painted so many paintings in her youth days that the family surround themselves in. Also they are at her mother´s house...the they are gorgeous paintings. Adri´s brother is the sweetest child..he is 13.. I played a couple of games with him.. similar to scrabble but with numbers and follows the rules of polka.. he won both times. Laura, Adri´s sister is 15 and she is a gem. Her dad is a lovely calm content man. The family are very hospitable and gave us the nicest welcome. Cristina´s mum and dad are beautiful too.

The next day Liliana took me to the fruit market, Galleria with Carmillo and Cristina's mum. the fruit is all grown local and sold in Popayan at the fruit market in the street.. fresh and straight from the farms.. The fruit galleria is an amazing experience. There is every type of fruit and vegetable here all year round.. There are no seasons in Popayan. The weather is tropical. Liliana showed me all the types of fruits and vegetables. Then we tried nearly every fruit some while we were there and also again once we got home.. This is what i tried that we don´t get back home...Lula, Carambolo, guanabana, maracuya, all these types of guayaba, pera, manzana, solo and little baby types, maracuya,pinuela, chontaduro (eaten with honey and salt). The exotic fruits are out of this world..Then we tried this delicious sweets called cocada made from coconut and panella. Also Arequipe made from panella and leche (milk)..it is caramel like..delicious..rico.

Liliana has two maids that work in the home.. they do the domestic cleaning, washing, cooking, gardening etc. They are part of the family. beautiful women. We ate traditional Colombian cooking for lunch cooked by the maids. Sancocho which is a traditional soup made from corn, potatoes, yuca and cilantro... Tamales ..a maize and potato dish.. the particular one we had was traditional to Popayan. You eat it with a hot chili peanut sauce...everything tastes so yum. They always have juice for breakfast dinner and lunch..only fresh straight from the fruit. Champus is a traditional green juice made from lulo, pina, white corn and cinnamon..it is so great tasting and really healthy for you. so yummy. wow ..I haven't ate such good food in my life.

After eating we went to the main centre in Popayan with Adri, Liliana and grandma. Tried more delicacies sweets and stuff and a coffee at Juan Valdez. Got a personal tour of the theatre as Adri´s mum knew someone who worked there...got to see back stage and all, parts of the state theatre was donated by various countries, mostly from Europe. An earthquake in 1893 destroyed a lot of the theatre along with lots of other things but it has now been restored. After town we visited Adri´s grandma´s farm.. The farm has been in the family for 90 years. Adri´s grandma gave us an account of how old everything was in the house. This belonged to my grandfather and is one hundred years old. this is my grandparents bed and is.....years old. The house is a beautiful old farm home which belonged to grandma´s parents. The furniture is hundreds of years old.. Her grandma gave a description of the photos on the wall, who the people were and how old the furniture and equipment (horse branding, saddles etc) that they used on the farm was.. it was a trip back in time. ..then she told some funny stories ..reminiscing the old days. she is just gorgeous.. It is very sad to see things just sitting there with only the memories left. Grandma is very connected to the place, she is a very strong woman. I really admire her strength and character.

Adri´s dad and mum are the coolest parents.. We had to try the traditional drink held in a little ceramic cup that has a leather strap that you tie around your neck. I had to have three shots....Armando, Adri's dad kept pouring...and i felt OK for someone who doesn't drink too often ...it is pure stuff. Adri´s dad is so funny...he made us laugh so much over dinner. He drew a bar chart with an x and y axis and plotted lines on the paper to demonstrate the chemistry of the different types of alcohol to depict the lowest and highest effect. He took all the bottles out of his bar cupboard..beer, wine, whiskey, rum and other spirits. Aguardiente came second to the highest potentency to Pisco which is traditional drink of Peru.

Then Adri and Liliana took us dancing to the local disco club for young people. I had no choice in the matter. Adri´s friends hang out there.. average age was 21.. Her mum was the only mum along with us that were the oldest people there . Adri introduced us to her friends. They love her mum and her male friends danced with her. Adri´s friends are so sweet. Then her male friends asked us also to dance.. This guy Nesco said to me ´You have to dance Colombian style´ in a real deep voice. so I did... but there were lots more rounds of Aguardiente before that happened.... it was a lot of fun. At 12.30pm we left for home. Adri´´s dad had video clips playing on the TV of South American music ..so we danced more...it was party party at the Escobar house...Colombian style...