June 29, 2007

Friday

Day 11

 

Up at 5:00am to a hot and humid day.  Dennis and I had coffee in the hotel restaurant and played our first game of Spite and Malice on this trip.  Then we walked to Plaza Bolivar.  Simon Bolivar’s statues, sayings, and name is everywhere in Venezuela.  He is the father and liberator of several South and Central American countries, somewhat akin to George Washington.  His statues require much respectful behavior, almost as if he were a saint.  No immodest clothing near them, no leaning on the pedastle of the statue, no loud talking.  The Plaza was beautiful and we saw 2 gorgeous churches and 2 theaters, several gardens, a market and parks.  When we got back to the hotel, we were told it wasn’t safe to be wandering around! 

 

Onto the bus by 11:30 and off to Sanare.  At one of our stops, I saw 2 young kids eating popsicles in the hot sun.  When I asked if I could take their pictures,  a young woman who was with them said yes.  They told a group who gathered about their adventure, and with that, the girl, who was about 9, came on the bus and took all of our pictures with her cell phone.  It was delightful!

 

  We went through very dry desert, small towns, rows of irrigated crops (the first agriculture we have seen – Venezuelans import 80% of all products, but in 2 years imports have been decreased by 10%, and some of the land of the wealthy, lying unused, is now under cultivation.  The agricultural missions and coops are helping with marketing as well as production) of roses, corn and other vegetables.  We saw 3 loads of pigs on their way to market.  As we neared Sanare, the landscape greatly changed and we  were in Tuscany!  Or wine country in California!  Lush, rolling hills, cool temperatures, soft breezes, eucalyptus trees and many birds.

 

We arrived at our Posada Turistica Sanare – a red tiled house that looked like Zorro had lived here.  The air is cool and dry.  What a relief!  Our first relief from heat and humidity since the trip began. 

 

Lunch of beef or pumpkin soup, rice, potatoes and plantains.  Then dashed up to the coffee plantation before checking into our rooms, because we were running late. 

 

The plantation, producing Café Café brand, is a cooperative, with 50% of profits going to the owner, 40% to the coop farmers and 10% to community programs.  Many boys in the town are tempted to drop out of school and run the streets, going home at night to share what they have begged for with their families.  Mentoring  or internship programs have begun on the coop to help with this problem.

 

Chavez is seen as a savior here and people thank God for him.  He has helped businesses and the poor and has addressed many of the country’s problems.  Ilene, who helped with the coffee tour, is a woman with 3 children who runs an education mission of 92 schools.  Before Chavez, only men were educators.  In the missions Chavez has begun, mostly women  do this job.  Perhaps women can get out of the beauty pageant business.  (Venezuela boats 4 Miss Worlds, and 5 Miss Universes.  Even the village women, no matter their shape, wear low-cut, tight jeans, very low cut tops with spaghetti straps and lots of cleavage – some of it synthetically enhanced – lots of make up, jewelry and dyed hair.  It’s really quite a sight!

Even older women dress this way.  Our guides told us proudly that Venezuelan women are a natural resource!  And these people are very progressive, and sensitive to oppression.)

 

We sang to close our time at the plantation, in a silo-like storehouse that reverberated with sound.  Then delicious coffee and cookies.

 

On our way back to the Posada, we found a baby bird in the road and then after checking into our rooms, found more in the showers.  Dan helped them reunite with their families.

 

Free time until 6:45 rehearsal.  I did laundry!

 

At rehearsal, Fred assured us that “Let America” will work, with some changes,  for our concert in Caracas.  There have been some rumblings about doing it.  It felt great to work our voices after a few days off.

 

Then dinner of chicken, “baked” potatoes (we would call them “scalloped”), and plantains.  A local cultural group came and performed for us on the patio, dancing and singing.  The moon was full and the sky was beautiful.  It was a magical night.

 

June 30, 2007

Saturday

Day 12

 

Rain sprinkles this morning, just like Seattle!  Breakfast of scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, shredded meat, cheese arepa and juices.  Every meal, we have fresh juices at this Posada:  a choice of mora (usually blackberry or blueberry), banabana (tastes like pear), or peach.  Then off to an education mission in the town center.  We met in a small classroom with several social workers, students and teachers.  It was an amazing exchange and ended with us singing “Si Somos”, arm in arm with our new Venezuelan friends, tears streaming down faces.  Then to listen to a speech by a former minister of culture who stepped down to be in the streets with people, moving towards change.  At the end of his speech (which was long!), we sang and presented the minister with a Peace Chorus scarf. 

 

Back to the Posada for a lunch of beef stew and black beans, rice, fresh frit including cantaloupe, pineapple and papaya, arepas and juice.  Free time in town, trying to get on the internet, poking  into shops, speaking with the locals.  We got caught in a torrential downpour, and walked home soaking wet.  Such fun!

 

Rehearsals for 2 hours on “Let America” and people are feeling very positive about it.  Then to a pod meeting for information about our grueling 8 hour drive tomorrow to Caracas.  Steve Johnson joined the ranks of the ill today, but others seem to be improving.  Hooray! 

 

Dinner was spaghetti, fresh white bread, fruit and juice.

 

A young man came and entertained us on guitar.  The rum was broken out and people just mellowed as they listened to his beautiful love songs.

 

Sanare is a charming town of winding, narrow streets, lots of grill work on windows and doors and delightful people.