I find it enjoyable to walk around in a city which is what I mainly did in Cochabamba. Oh, and I went to the zoo. Rather than planning out your day, which I admit has its advantages as well, just seeing what you can find with a vague mental image of a city´s plan in your head can also lead to some interesting occasions. The market to the Southeast of Calle Ayacucho y Aroma is a labyrinth of narrow passageways where you can surely find everything you need and probably more. I stocked up on pepinos (cucumbers), tomates (tomatoes), manzanas (apples) and my personal favorite, mangos. The taste is what brings me back time and time again, but a mango is more complicated than one might think. Some people go right after it, eating the skin and all. I like to remove the outer layer leaving patches on what I´m going to call the "North and South Poles" of the tropical fruit for grip. This allows for efficient handling while carving away, much like one would a turkey during a Thanksgiving feast, but on a much smaller scale. It´s also important to develop a personal preference as to how ripe you want the mango to be when you do choose do delve into the delectable delight. If I could be so bold as to offer a recommendation, I would advise that you choose somewhere in the middle between completely ripe and still yet green. Upon performing the squeeze test right there in the market, your fingers should leave an indentation. If the outer layer springs back immediately, you´ll know that it´s overripe. Contrarily, if the mango feels more like an apple, you´ll know it´s still too green for comsumption. Simple yeah? Now, if you plan to devour the firm mango in 3-5 days, the latter description would serve you well. One thing to keep in mind is that the maximization of mango consumption can be harmful to the gums. Just like chewing sunflower seeds, the fibers closest to the husk that guards the enormous seed inside can become lodged in between your teeth and even cause the dreaded receeding gumline. But unlike its distant relative, the apple, the enamel on your teeth will remain intact no matter which method you choose to utilize. Thank you for tuning in to this week´s episode of Elvagabundonumerouno´s Comida Sensible. Make sure to drop in next week when a special guest delves into the incricate world of the artichoke.
Whoever would give me the right to have my own reality television show should be immediately hired at VH1.
On the second and last day in Cochabamba, I hiked up to the towering statue of Jesús, that watches over the city in his whitewashed robe with outstretched arms and a maniacal look in his eyes. Hey, if you knew that one of your best buddies was going to see you out to the lethally oppressive authorities, your tranquil demeanor might just disappear as well. With a 360º view of the city, I watched an airplane taxi to the far end of the airport and take off. From far away, it doesn´t seem like these giant mechanical birds should be able to lift off the ground.
Eating a salteña on the way to the bus terminal, I had no qualms about paying 25 Bolivianos for a bus ticket to La Paz. A 7 hour drive for just under $3.50, I just don´t understand how goods and services can be so cheap! For instance, I had a meal tonight, consisting of a tasty noodle soup accompanied by half a piece of artesan´s bread, a heaping mound of noodles, spicy chicken with green peppers, and a personal sized Sprite all for 18 Bolivianos. That´s slightly more than $2.50 U.S. dollars. Before I get too carried away I should probably step back and remember that it´s not all about money. It´s all relative within our interconnected world and the high standard of living that I get to enjoy comes directly at the sacrifices that others make on a daily basis. But man it´s cheap down here.
Before "turning on, tuning in and dropping out", I´d like to clarify that comments are welcome to be made by one and all. I know that I´ve given a bit of flack to a few certain beloved individuals about the frequency of their comments, but I assure you they were purely made in jest. So, by all means, comment away peanut gallery!
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