We arrived around 4:30am to the terminal in Villa Hermosa. Cintias friend Rochie picked us up, and took us to a taco stand where she had been with her friends. They had been out all night. We got Tacos al Pastor and Tacos de Bistec. I told myself that I would never be a vegetarian again if I had access to this delight in my life. The Tacos al Pastor have pineapple in them. To read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_pastor.
The taco stand sells beer as well and is open obviously late and attracts the party crowd that has been up all night. I could smell liquor on everyone and the waiters had impeccable service. We drank a beer, ate and went back to Cintia's friends house where we slept for three hours. Awaken with slices of Papaya we were off to the Ranch of Cintias Uncle. It was a big two story beautiful house on three hectares with exotic plants. Cintias Uncle Aunt and Cousin were so nice, I immediately liked them. We had breakfast and I was suprised that i could speak spanish after such a small amount of sleep. I think it was because I felt so welcomed, accepted and happy to be there.
Uncle Armando took us for a walk around his property. I had asked to see it because he had told us about an ecotourism/ education project he wanted to do. His vision was to have students learn about agroforestry and the natural environment on his own property. Armando is a professor of Evolution at the nearby University. I noticed his passion for teaching others. Walking around, I found a tree that was similar to a Madrone Tree we have in California. The bark peals, yet this tree almost seemed to glow with its red bark.
We continued our walk, and it reminded me of Paraguay with its leaf cutting ants, cedros, etc, but it had its differences with its vegetation.
I loved it.
We continued onto the next property, which was owned by another family member and had cleared the forest for pasture.
We came back and slept before the party that night. It was Cintias friends mom's 60th birthday. We drank Vampiros (Tequila with sprite and a red sugary liquid), a ton of beer and four different types of tacos. There was an enormous amount of generosity that was shared by the family putting on the party. They had more tacos for when it got later, and the beer just kept coming. We also each got gifts. Then it began to rain. But after two tequila shots we were out in the rain without shoes on, dancing with the cumplenera, the mom, and her friends. I was impressed that at 60 years, they were dancing barefoot in the rain in their nice dresses. We came back to Uncles house out at the Ranch in which a car followed us with partygoers and friends of Cintias. The party at the house maybe over, but there was still a cooler full of beer. At 4am, I went to bed. I was sober enough to take off my wet clothes and go into an air-conditioned room with a comfy bed.
The next afternoon (morning we slept), Cintias cousin made Chilaquiles http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilaquiles.
Which are great for hangovers :). We spent the day watching a movie, and helping Cintias Aunt make Mole.
and Napole catcus
The next day we returned back to San Cristobal. We ate dinner at an amazing pizza place
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