TWO HAPPY CAMPERS

Agua Buena //

Adam says out loud this morning the exact sentiment I’d just been thinking.  It is the first day since arriving here that we feel ready to drive again.  It’s taken five days to reach this point and I am so grateful we were able to give ourselves the opportunity to recharge our energetic batteries.  However, we stick with our plan to stay one more day.

Before the sun comes up workers begin harvesting sugar cane in the fields that were burned in the previous days.  From our observations the burn aids in removing the leaves as the stalks are all that is loaded onto the trucks.  It looks like intense physical labor that extends from morning through the afternoon and into the evening.  I feel very aware of how pampered and privileged I am as I spend my day sun bathing, swimming, and showering.  

At sunset the four of us walk into town for dinner.  After a satisfying meal we make our way to the town square where we are hoping to find a few groceries.  Inside a small tienda, that is about the size of an American living room, we are able to acquire the basics…eggs, chips, salsa, tortillas, and fresh produce.  These are the staples we’ve come to live off of.  As long as we’re spending time in smaller communities, it’s unlikely we’ll find much more than that.  Before making the walk back home, Mark delicately piles our dozen unsecured eggs into the front pocket of his hoodie.  We made the rookie mistake of forgetting our egg carton and were only provided with a plastic produce bag for our fragile merchandise.

One of the stray dogs that accompanied us for dinner escorts us all the way back to camp.  He’s sweet and shy and I wonder how he feels about the name Kevin.  (This is the name I’ve given our next dog, whomever and wherever they might be).  He doesn’t seem like a Kevin but I give him some love and affection nonetheless.  Today Heather purchased dog food for the stays at the local convenience store and I imagine I’m not far behind her.  I know we can’t save them but the least we can do is give them a meal. 

As light fades from the sky and the mosquitoes begin their shift, we retreat to the indoors.  Our energy is fading early this evening but the family fiesta that got underway right beside us a few hours prior is still going strong.  I admire the culture here and how much time families spend relaxing and communing together.  However, it makes me wonder if their love of loud music will allow for much sleep tonight.  Within minutes of Heather asking us if we’d like earplugs, the party concludes and everyone departs.  I exhale with relief.  It looks like it will be another peaceful night here at El Atrancón.

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