It’s been awhile since I wrote here and, considering how slow and monotonous things can sometimes feel in this little town of 16,000, a lot has happened.
Some grave illness infested my stomach for a day and resulted in a graphic scene right in the middle of downtown Puyo during a pounding thunder storm. Very cinematic, and I I felt much better afterward.
Two of the pilots I’m working with took me tubing down a river. We waited by the side of the road with our thumbs out. A dump truck stopped just long enough for us to chuck our tubes in and climb on. We sped up the road, standing with our heads above the cabin like dogs, then banged on the roof when we reached the place where we would start tubing. I never even saw the face of dump truck driver. The rapids weren’t too big at first but got bigger when it started to rain really hard. It got pretty extreme, very fun.
I stumbed upon a volleyball court hidden behind some downtown storefronts where seemingly all the older men in town each afternoon to bet on seriously intense games of “Ecua-volley” (like volleyball but with three to a side). If you want a beer, you just yell “CERVEZA” and a 10 year old boy runs brings one in a hurry. There are also little kids eagerly trying to shine shoes, which I did even though I was in hiking boots. At least as much time is spent arguing and renegotiating bets as is spent actually playing. In the end the players agreed to call the game early, with each winning better been paid half the total of his bet, so I got $7.50 back on my $5 bet.
Probably the highlight of recent times has been renting a motorcycle and exploring the area a bit. A great day with lots of discoveries and little adventures. I came across the church above in the middle of a sugar cane field. I had to get off the motorcycle and walk to get there. It had a eerie, mysterious feeling about it, and looked like it is not in use.
I stopped in a one street town that had no sign of life excpet for four elderly people sitting in front of a little store. I bought a water and talked with them for a long time. I kept thinking ‘how amazingly different have our lives been, and yet we are able to sit here and talk and connect as fellow human beings’. Very cool. And I was touched when, as I got on the motorcycle to leave, I heard one of the women say “there are also nice gringos”. Just doing my part to helpthe diplomatic effort.
October 23, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Okay, Oliver, I know that you might think this is very creepy and weird. But, last night I had powerful dreams about you. At first you were just at a party with a bunch of people and we were all having fun. Then, suddenly you stood up and said “my stomach doesn’t feel right,” and rushed out.
You didn’t come back to the party so I went looking for you and found in you in the bathroom. You were gravely ill with some type of stomach malady that was causing some symptoms that I won’t share in public comment, but let’s just say my dream was insistent enough that I woke up and felt a need to check in with you to make sure you are all right.
In my dream, I took you to the Dr. because you needed more help than you thought.
So, I’m sending you love and checking in. Would you e-mail me and let me know you are okay at marnita@marnitastable.org? Thanks.
October 29, 2008 at 3:14 am
I love that the nice gringo is wearing a t-shirt with a British cop flicking us off. I can’t wait to see this place and go on a few adventures with you.