Day Trip to the Countryside

Sunday, the 4th, Alma and Giovanni took Leah, Hannah, and I to the neighboring countryside Tarata.  It was about a 30/40 minute drive outside Cochabamba.  On the way out, it was interesting to see how much of the hillsides were covered in houses.  

They made Hunter's Ridge (a steep hill back home) look like a molehill!  As we traveled, the vegetation slowly became more green as the pollution of the city thinned out.  There was still trash covering the road, but the scenery was breathtaking.  The river was full of people washing clothes, while the areas closer to the road were covered with human car washers.  At one point, we had to stop to pay a toll.  I think it might have been to cross "counties?"  Anyways, all along the road, there were people going up to car/bus windows looking to sell newspapers, food, drinks...anything.

Shortly after the toll, we pulled off to the side of the road so we could get some Empanada's, or cheese filled bread.  It so so delicious!!!

While Alma got these, Giovanni took Leah, Hannah, and I down the hill to the river where we watched a family wash clothes.  There was a rather rugged looking wooden bridge that crossed the river.  We looked at each other apprehensively.  Dare we try crossing it?  Leah was the brave one and finally took the first step to cross it.  The rest of us held our breaths as we watched Leah step hesitantly, placing her foot at precise places as to not fall through the holes  or loosen any nails holding the thin strips of wood above the water.  She finally made it and beckoned the rest to follow.  Hannah eagerly stepped forward, and as I followed in behind, Giovanni told me he would just wait for our return right where he was.  Couldn't blame him, I thought as I tiptoed across the bridge.  I was scarier crossing it than it looked. Us three girls made it and headed back to Giovanni and the delicious treat that awaited us.  As we climbed the small hill back to the car, we looked at a native Bolivian scamper across the bridge easily, as if he was walking along a normal path.




As we munched on our food, we finished the car ride to Tarata.  It was a small town nestled in the hillside that boasted of a well-known monastery.  We parked at the plaza in the center of town and walked around the beautifully vegetated square.  There was an old church we wandered into that held a massive pipe organ.  We didn't venture too far into the church as there was a mass going on, so we continued on our way.  We stopped at a little square where local women were selling their wares of fruits and vegetables, among other trinkets and items.  The women wore brightly colored skirts with wide brimmed hats.  Their long black hair was usually done in two pigtails down their back and tied with ribbon at the bottom.  Their wrinkled faces smiled as we walked by, and they would mumble something in Spanish to us, gesturing us to look at their supplies.  We smiled and continued on to the monastery which was further up the hill.


The smells of the town were making my stomach rumble as they surrounded us.  Soups, bread, and other delicacies were brewing in the native's pots as we walked by.  I watched as little children played in the streets and prattled on in Spanish.  It was weird hearing young children talk in a different language, but I smiled as they shyly glanced at us.  We finally made it to the monastery, but it was closed, so we browsed through the pottery that was being sold outside.  After a few purchases, we continued to another nearby town (I cannot remember the name), that was famous around the area for making ceramics.  We began to hunt around the land for pieces of ceramics and were pleasantly rewarded.  We all found quite a few pieces of unbroken pottery that were probably thrown out because of defects.  No matter, it was still interesting to us.

                 

As we traveled back, we stopped at a few places where Alma and Giovanni begged the owners to let us look at their ceramic making places.  Leah, an avid ceramics and art fan was in heaven.  We continued on to a nearby resort, called Largo del Eden, which was a well-known place for lunches and afternoon fun.  It was located on the lake (largo) where visitors could ride swan shaped paddle boats or go across the lake on a zipline swing.  Us three girls opted to go on the zipline, which was a fun treat.  We also walked around the lake soaking in its beauty and peacefulness.  It was the perfect end to a wonderful day.