I promise this is my last post about Colombia. After almost a week at home, some of the differences between here and there have become even more pronounced -- pronounced enough for me to compile a list. When you're living in a Philadelphia suburb, none of these things happen.
BUT, you know you're in Palenque when...
...chickens, pigs, cats, dogs, turtles, frogs, and toads casually stroll in and out of houses' open doors. (There are also plenty of horses, donkeys, goats, roosters, turkeys, strutting around town.)
...men commonly have more than one wife. (And the most important/prolific men have more than two.) These wives rarely live in the same house.
...you can spot an entire family rolling around town on one motorbike -- and the bike is being driven by a 15 year old girl.
...little old ladies and young men blast champeta from their homemade sound systems for ten hours a day.
...locals are genuinely concerned when you tell them you've been drinking the water (but it's totally safe).
...all three "restaurants" in town don't have a menu, but simply ask "pollo, carne, o pescado" (or "cerdo" if you're lucky).
...you never tip for anything (actually, this is true everywhere in Colombia) and you can pay whenever -- even days later. Finances aren't often discussed.
...indoor toilets are rare and indoor plumbing is pretty much non-existent. (The seldom seen western cammode is flushed by dumping a bucket of well-water into the bowl.)
...it's seen as totally normal and acceptable for women to have babies as young as 13 years old. Grandparents and other family members will watch after the kids until their moms are done with school. (This is not quite the same environment as "16 and Pregnant.")
...you can buy moonshine tequila called ñeke for 2,000 pesos (about $1) a bottle.
...every guy's favorite American musician is 50 Cent (and many gals love the Bieber).
...it's really hard to guess someone's age because of how youthful and healthy most everyone looks. (I thought a 38 year old man with 4 kids was 24. His mother is 88.)
...the people around you rarely get worked up over anything and never seem to be in a rush. It's always, "here, sit. Sit!" Even if you're just passing through.
...everyone says "bueeenaaaas" (good morning, good afternoon, or goodnight).
...on the hill, just behind your house are these trees:
and then this view, overlooking Palenque:
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for more photos from Palenque, click here.
and here are some more from Cartagena.
BUT, you know you're in Palenque when...
...men commonly have more than one wife. (And the most important/prolific men have more than two.) These wives rarely live in the same house.
...you can spot an entire family rolling around town on one motorbike -- and the bike is being driven by a 15 year old girl.
...little old ladies and young men blast champeta from their homemade sound systems for ten hours a day.
...locals are genuinely concerned when you tell them you've been drinking the water (but it's totally safe).
...all three "restaurants" in town don't have a menu, but simply ask "pollo, carne, o pescado" (or "cerdo" if you're lucky).
...indoor toilets are rare and indoor plumbing is pretty much non-existent. (The seldom seen western cammode is flushed by dumping a bucket of well-water into the bowl.)
...it's seen as totally normal and acceptable for women to have babies as young as 13 years old. Grandparents and other family members will watch after the kids until their moms are done with school. (This is not quite the same environment as "16 and Pregnant.")
...you can buy moonshine tequila called ñeke for 2,000 pesos (about $1) a bottle.
...every guy's favorite American musician is 50 Cent (and many gals love the Bieber).
...it's really hard to guess someone's age because of how youthful and healthy most everyone looks. (I thought a 38 year old man with 4 kids was 24. His mother is 88.)
...everyone says "bueeenaaaas" (good morning, good afternoon, or goodnight).
...on the hill, just behind your house are these trees:
and then this view, overlooking Palenque:
--------------
for more photos from Palenque, click here.
and here are some more from Cartagena.
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