Roads Less Traveled

I’m seated at a cafe’ on the Parque’ Abdon Calderon in central Cuenca, and a woman is pestering me to buy her mangos. She has them in a great basket, and she’s stopped by my table because, I think, it’s raining, so I’m the only potential customer, however unlikely it is that a lone gringo drinking wine at a restaurant needs fresh fruit. I finally succumb and hand over a dollar. She proceeds to put one in a be, and I’m thinking I’ll get some change back. Then she gives me another. And another. Soon, I have a bag full, so I’m figuring they’re about 8 cents a piece. I don’t do the grocery shopping at home, but I think that’s a great deal, especially since I didn’t have to actually rise from my chair to buy them. Continue reading →

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I travel a lot. Enough, at least, I think, to appreciate what makes America such a great place to live when compared to the rest of the world. And by that I mean, how easy and convenient our country is for the average citizen. I am not talking about nebulous and unmeasurable concepts like freedom and opportunity here. I’m talking about the things that make your day-to-day life easier, like:

A flock of sheep is heading my way on the trail of Tequile Island (in the middle of Lake Titicaca), and there’s nowhere to go. Walls to the left of me, walls to the right. I decide to take a picture. That’s when the trouble starts. Continue reading →