Jorge Original Soundtrack

Admittedly, last night got very late and this post is for yesterday (10/13/22). Jorge and I took a ride on his moto into town for a grocery run. He doesn’t own a car and the motor bike is his sole mode of transport to get to town and elsewhere. I rode on the back seat as he expertly navigated the steep ups and downs while avoiding massive potholes and rivets in the dirt roads. Because I own and ride my own dirtbike at home, I can definitely appreciate how much control and balance it takes to not only ride on rough terrain, but to also carry a passenger. I was very impressed to say the least and felt very safe. Once we got into town, it was like a game of mario kart trying to weave in and out of the trucks, cars, carts, other motorcycles, and walkers all using the same roads.

Once we got into town, I joined Jorge as we went in and out of different stores and purchased the items needed. Most of the markets in this town took the form of more official grocery stores with set prices. However, there were still a few places where price negotiation was necessary. It was also fun to see cervezas (beer) available at these stores by the can for only 25 cents. After shopping, Jorge showed me his favorite arepa stand where he allows himself to indulge only once every 2-3 weeks. They were indeed delicious and the food hall where they were being sold looked super fun and inviting.

In the afternoon, Jorge and I walked his property as he explained to me his vision for the business. His goal in two years is to have built 4 additional huts each tucked into the steep mountainside of the farm. He wants each to have its own private bathroom and small patio. He mentioned how his craftsmanship and mud-working have improved after the first two builds and the next huts will be built very well and will be more modern inside with tile and insulation. The first step is to build a common septic pit which all the huts will feed into. After the huts are all built, he is thinking of building a larger, more industrial-style kitchen to feed more guests. I hope to return one day to see this little village in action.

The conclude the day, we built a campfire at the large “Mallorca” space to host a few of Jorge’s friends. Jorge changed into his more traditional garb and brought out his guitar. He played and sang some of his original songs while we enjoyed a bottle wine and the good company. It was a very peaceful night with the sound of crickets and light rain pattering the sheet metal roof in the background. The funniest part is, out of nowhere, Jorge wanted to show me some of his favorite songs on Spotify. Turns out, this spiritual tranquil man is a huge fan of skrillix and other heavy metal artists. We both laughed at the contrast. I showed him some Odeza songs in return and he seemed to like them.

Lastly, as always, here are the pictures of the meals cooked today. The morning coffee was more of a cold-brew latte style drink still made from the same organic coffee grounds. The main course for lunch included freshly fried plantain chips, guacamole, and chicken and veggies wrapped in cabbage leaves.