In a country where seventy percent of the people identify as Catholic, religious holidays take on a special significance in Colombia. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is one of the most important religious occasions, and thus has also become a popular vacation time in Colombia. Across the country, schools and businesses are closed. The normally busy metropolitan areas seem unusually quiet as many people journey into the countryside to enjoy time with family on the "finca", the Colombian term for a country home or farm. We were delighted to be able to visit our friends, Luis and Piedad at their beautiful finca in the countryside just outside of Bogotá during Semana Santa.
Because Bogotá is at a higher elevation than Medellín (8500 feet verses 5000 feet), the temperatures tend to be a bit cooler. A light jacket and a warm coffee was needed when greeting a new day from their patio garden.
A walk around the garden filled our senses with beautiful colors, but delicious aromas soon drew us back into the kitchen.
Every morning we were treated to a typical paisa breakfast of huevos revueltos, arepas con queso, and chocolate caliente (scrambled eggs, arepas with cheese and hot chocolate). Arepas, flat, round, unleavened corn cakes, are the iconic staple of the Colombian diet. Cornmeal, choclo corn, or yucca ... fried, baked, or grilled ... with cheese, butter, or hagoa ... for breakfast, lunch, or dinner ... arepas are all the rage! Our favorite was the slightly sweet grilled arepa de choclo con queso y mantequilla (with cheese and butter).
Afterwards, we would walk around the neighborhood, taking in the beauty of the surrounding mountains and savoring the quiet of the countryside. Only the occasional crowing of a rooster interrupted our "Spanish conversational lesson".
When we returned, we were treated to a lunch complete with fresh salad, ajiaco soup and a juice made from tomate de árbol that had just been picked from the trees outside the kitchen.
In the afternoon, the sala (living room) was transformed into a yoga studio as Fernando led us in a two hour session. This guided exercise worked my muscles as the Spanish mantras taxed my brain.
Piedad's cousin, María Isabel and her husband, Rafael joined us for a few days, and we enjoyed the culinary delights that result when everyone shares their talents in the kitchen. Top Chefs, Piedad and Rafe, picked out a colorful supply of fresh fruits and veggies from the local market.
Combining a Spanish lesson with a cooking lesson, I chopped and sauteed ...
... while Doug provided the comic relief.
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| "Mire, el aguacate es tan grande como mi cabeza!" (Look, the avocado is as large as my head!) |
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| The resulting pasta pesto ... muy delicioso! |
Evenings were filled with Spanish fun and games ...
and crafts and "girlfriend gab sessions" which gave me even more opportunities to listen and practice speaking Spanish.
Although it was challenging at times to speak solely Spanish, our visit to the beautiful finca of Luis and Piedad helped us realize that laughter and friendship transcends any language barrier.
We beat the crowds back to Medellín by returning on Saturday and were able to celebrate Easter at our small neighborhood church.
The observance of Semana Santa ... reflected in the beauty of the church decorations and celebrations,
... but also reflected in the tranquility
... of a visit to the finca!
Hasta luego ... savor the tranquility of a visit to the finca ... and enjoy the adventures in your life!
We arrived back in Florida and are currently at the "finca" of our parents in Ocala. Our hope to pick up our new RV has been put on hold as the dealer works on some problems with the RV's battery system. So ... we are taking a deep breath and repeating the mantra ¨tranquility now¨ as we try to calmly wait and see if we need to come up with ¨Plan C¨ ... all the while remembering what a blessing it is to be able to enjoy family times at the finca!
