PORCHES, LAWNS & ANTIQUITY

It’s Saturday and today Paraguay is playing against Bolivia…EVERY futbol game here, is a big deal. It’s a cool, late winter, evening. I walk to the local dispensa (aka store) to buy a coke that’s still made with real sugar--not corn syrup. On my three block walk, I can feel the brisk cool air against my face, smell chorizo, pollo and carne barbequing, windows to all homes are open and I can hear the futbol game playing on the TV sets, families cheering and fireworks being shot off (Paraguay must’ve scored.) Families are sitting outside on their porches and lawns-with their children playing alongside them, drinking terrere, greeting their local neighbors walking by. A horse cart passes by with an old man in it, he waves and shouts out to his neighbors.

After I buy my very yummy coke, I stop by the “Senora’s” house, who’s known for her great cooking and buy myself a ¼ chicken with a pork kabob, from her. Less than 6 blocks later with many greetings from people I don’t know, a great coke & great food in tote and $2.00 later—I realize I felt like I just walked through an episode of The Waltons or Little House on the Prairie, only I’m in South America in the year 2009. What a great experience.