sea All peoples have a charm that makes them seem, and Choroni-Puerto Colombia is no exception. But aside from the pier of the latter, near where the boats depart to the beaches of Chuao, Cepe, Puerto Maya and Puerto Cruz, one thing that gives it a distinction and special stamp: a corner reserved for the sweetness. To that that comes in a green plastic punch bowl and brings over his head Saturnina Carmen Cobos, the candy of the people.
She sits in that space jealously guarded every day from 1 pm to wait in patient attitude, the buyers sometimes absent.
The accompany the 100 meters of stone that form the seawall built since the time of Pérez Jiménez and four rusty guns, which in solitary vigil, left to swim by the waves that break forgotten memory over and over again. Beyond the drunks in the bar nearby, and children playing with complete distraction should give under the figure of Carmen with almost 68 years, short curly hair with circles of ash, nails long and manicured, no one can guess that after the strong stamp with brown skin, is the energetic mother of ten children born with three couples, thirty grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Talking with Carmen
uncover the history of many other brave fighters, only that it was not satisfied with birth from before the age of 15 years, but naively says that but because when I was 32, discovered through a friend contraception existed, who knows if it had completed a dozen or more. A mother hen who still cares for the chicks and work without hesitation to help a grandchild can finish college.
- How many years have you been doing sweet?
"Since I was 40 I'm in it for the candy. I started trying and you see I'm still here ..
Early child prevented him from finishing the sixth grade, and he has had to perform many jobs: selling pies, waitress or cook in restaurants, serving in family homes, as a day laborer with cocoa. Although now retired Girardot City Council and also has her pension. Rests not need the income that provides the sale of its cakes. Hence, every day through the streets where the pavement is sometimes lacking, and yet eager tourists travel the rest of the weekend. Although these are increasingly less. A countrywoman
approaches. His eyes and fair skin are presumed mixed ancestry with any foreigner, who was perhaps years, like other adventurers to this land abounded in cocoa farming and stayed. Or perhaps it was but left the fruit of his adventure. She asks Carmen if I could help to buy some herbal medicines in Maracay. The free candy is not disputed. He says he can buy them next week to give the exact name and she gets it. At the top, right, the white cross on a small hill flanked by cacti and small shrubs, it seems bless the scene and hides behind the facade of luxury lodges, there is much misery. One example is the accumulated rubbish and displayed without shame, in many areas.
Soon the candy is about a girl who asks candidly about their rice pudding.
- Is it tasty?
She laughs with a lot of playfulness and honestly says mijita not because I have not tried it, but look already sold all of the portion of the above. Referred to in the punch bowl placed two layers of sweet, in that first hour, the sun accomplice, was given the easy sales.
Carmen confesses that so many years doing the sweet mixture, and no proof. Know what time to put the syrup, when the dough is soft enough to form the kisses or packaged rice milk. Experience is learned her recipe, but it gives many clues. That alone uses coconut milk, of which he brought from Chuao, because there are palm trees here and says with regret and of course the legitimate newsprint. Nothing of that which comes in liquid bottle, which is pure sugar.
The truck fitted out as a bus full of locals and tourists, which makes the internal route between Colombia and Puerto Choroni, no longer play the horn as they pass near the post of Carmen. The candy was born, raised and sustained in these lands is well known and more than a health or shouting something most often not clearly understand, but in the ears of Carmen itself sounds clear, as always waving his hand and replied with a grin.
A sudden downpour forces us to pick up the green punch bowl, cover with a cloth and run to a roof to take shelter.
The Beach bar is the site, with its loud music, its tables filled mostly men who drink beer and play dominoes. Chairs and vigilant approach to the bowl in front trying to follow the talk. Mission impossible. However, this time gathered there waiting for the rain to stop, used to say that Carmen knows almost everyone present. His godfather is there and she walks over to say hello and clarifies that has over 80 years and was the best friend of her father. Does not take long for the old impatience to place his stone seems to presage a domino in a careless until "the slut" can be hanged.
At a nearby table a pair of Germans remains silent, looking around curiously. The people around him, half naked, shouting to make itself heard, competing with the noise-white pieces on the table, it looks amazing. Nothing to invite you to relax and peace. They seem to enjoy the unhygienic environment and the company of the stray dog \u200b\u200bnear his table and Carmen noted that in this town there are no jobs and that when the tourist is not no pa 'no. It is the curse of our country, beautiful places unused, covered by the crust of apathy.
rain dissipates after fifteen minutes at most. The streets are with stagnant waters, with plastic bottles and small boats moored next to paper and food waste.
site using Carmen for sale is wet and has not sold all the merchandise. You have 18 of the 30 cups of rice with coconut milk and packets of kisses (with 5 each), still has 3 of the 12 who brought. The only think that it will have to return without the sale made, we put more shadows to her tanned skin. And besides loss in materials invested, (½ box newsprint costs 100,000 will bs) are stretching your budget. He currently is facing charges in addition to your home, caring for his mother 98 years, and the weight of the cost of medicine for a sick daughter.
With the cloth roll served as a base to carry the load of the bowl on his head, clean his step and returns to accommodate their cargo on the pier. Again
waiting. Customers seem to have fled. Just as they did at one time the boats docked there to bring out the crops and goods. Production economy has changed that tourism brings. Although he says that arrival of poor people elsewhere, crime has increased and of course visitors away. Not good for the people.
In the next half hour no one comes to buy and at the same time Carmen's hands have wrung a tissue enough so that it becomes white to gray desolate. The woman who gave birth to ten children in a natural way to clean lungs, aided by the midwife of the village, now puffing resignedly.
is 5 pm, the boats begin to return to come from other beaches and starts again, harder this time, rain. Carmen I propose to leave the inn. His gaze turns to his question nearly full punch bowl. The calmed. "Do not worry
tonight at dinner with my group, all tested in your rice pudding dessert and your kisses coconut.
The smile that was plastered on posters in which she appeared to promote the Festival of African descent that adorned all posts Maracay and its surroundings, this time it came out. That is like the sun that it took us all afternoon. Back
rejuvenated walls of the houses, now converted into weekend stays, we overlook a future not just be successful for this town still gets up early and going to mass at 8 am at the Painted Church blue and still selling the idea that just pass the mountains that will take him happiness that gets the sun and blue sea magenta.
It had been 45 years since my last visit to Choroni and truth to the people I saw almost all the same, only this time I tried the kisses coconut rice pudding and I promised myself not to let so much time for the next visit because insurance will no longer be to tell.
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