After breakfast we headed off walking towards the Old Town. It was nice and warm so shorts weather. We walked through the same park as yesterday and today it was really buzzing. Folks were out with families, or selling stuff (a lot of shoes!) and then we came across a bunch of old guys playing what can only be described as a form of boules. 5 old guys throwing boules into a ring with 5 couchons. More later!
Further on we finally came to the Plaza Grande, where the Presidential Palace stands. The President lives there so there is a heavy police presence in the plaza, but much more importantly there were lots and lots of folk about, either enjoying the sunshine or selling something. Sadly there was also a huge memorial for 3 journalists killed last week in a hostage situation on the Columbian border.
Once we had seen enough we wandered on and had a coffee in a very nice covered courtyard in the Centro Cultural Metropolitano. By this time we had spotted there were a fair number of pedestrianised streets , full of street traders as well as families out enjoying their Saturdays. Apart from the usual clothes and trinkets there were all kinds of food for sale including what looked liked ice cream...
...but it turned out to be whipped egg white, fruit and colouring. Hence it wouldn’t melt!
Frying plantain....
Frying potatoes and chillies on a bucket bbq...
You can hardly see but that is 4 washing machines on a handcart...
..and some of Granny’s famous lamb stew with rice, potatoes and a slice of avocado. Really delicious.
Dessert was figs soaked in molasses and fresh cheese. Superb, if a touch sweet for Howard
Radio silence for the next 5 days as there is no internet on board ship. I’ll write a diary and post it here on Thursday when we get back.
..and another one with 5 televisions!
Lots of people to clean your shoes - each of these arches had someone working
Finally when we had enough walking we repared back to the Plaza Grande for a beer
On the way home we came across the same old guys playing boules, 5 hours later! One of the players showed me his boule
We stayed on to watch a full games with money changing hands, but then got caught in a thunder storm with hail stones!
..but then it was torrential. We were trapped at a hut along with heaps of others for about 40 minutes before it eased enough for us to get back the 200 metres to the hotel. Rivers of water every where. We were pretty wet when we got home.
At 6pm we had a briefing from G Adventures about whats to happen ove4 the next few days. A 6 am start tomorrow, with a full passenger list of 20 and 14 crew and 2 guides. Back to the room to pack and an early night.
