BAHIA DE CARAQUEZ, ECUADOR
While learning a new language, we all have moments that burn in our memories when we mistakenly insert a similar-sounding word in place of the correct one. The locals in Costa Rica still reminisce (with chuckles) when I stated that I was a man, instead of stating that I was hungry! Hombre – hambre; oh the difference one vowel makes! They also laughed when I bluntly stated with strong emphasis, “I NEED A MAN” (to help shovel truckloads of gravel!)
My most-recent Spanish-speaking blunder arrived last night, when University students joined locals and extranjeros at Museo Bahia de Caraques’s opening reception of the Mola Series. While explaining that the preColumbian Kuna Indians painted the designs on their bodies, I used the word for breakfast instead of naked!
Desayuno. Desnudo. Come on, I was close!
Several generous souls in the audience helped me through a few other stumbling blocks, but everyone seemed quite patient and forgiving!
The public reaction to the paintings continues to surprise me! Color certainly has a positive effect on people, and as Kate Murphy said at the Manta opening, “The paintings smile at you and make you smile back!” One dear lady invited me to attend a Ladies’ conference in Manta on Saturday; how I can be in two places at once is beyond my grasp at this moment, but if possible I will try to make her dream come true!
SUNRISE OVER SAN VICENTE, ECUADOR (from Bahia de Caraquez/Rio Chone)
Speaking of dreams, last night was a Cinderella story for me, as my sleeping quarters were right here in the museum with priceless antiguas! My suite is almost as big as my home on the river, and I awakened this morning with a sweeping sunrise view of Rio Chone!
Being a good princess, I stayed in my suite until the formal opening hour of 8:00 a.m. and then asked the guard where I might find bolones for breakfast. He asked if I would reconsider and have encebollado instead. Encebollado! Yes! I have a growing file of encebollado photos for a future ‘What’s Cooking” post!
So, “What’s encebollado?” you might ask. When one tries to summarize it in a few English words, it’s reduced to ‘Tuna Soup,’ and that is a sorely-lacking way to describe it. Encebollado bursts with flavor yet is equally soothing. Not too thick and not too thin, it might be best described with a photo!
Traditionally, the chifles (paper-thin slices of fried green plantains) are served on the side, and most people crumble them into their soup. Today’s had finely minced cilantro on the top, with a squeeze bottle of fresh lemon juice on the table to add more flavor. Sticking to tradition, I joined the diners in community-style sharing of table space. “Buen provecho,” is the customary etiquette always spoken between diners!
My small bowl of encebollado, medium serving + refill of fresh grapefruit juice cost a whopping $1.75! I will surely never grow tired of the unique dining experience of encebollado!
Encebollado near the Museum
Back at the museum, some of the staff and I gathered around the night watchman as he shared tales of museum ghosts! There’s a hauntingly comforting feeling to the second floor’s collection of antiguas, at least for me! Some of the guards strongly disagreed and confessed feeling spooked about the ghosts of the ancient relics!
The finale of the morning was witnessing a beautiful procession of people dressed in white to bring attention to their stand against crime. I spied the parade from my vantage point high in the museum, grabbed my camera and dashed down the steps and to the streets! The rest I will share in the next post!
For now it’s time to retreat to my quiet quarters in the guest suite. Perhaps I’ll have a new ghost story to share tomorrow!
Sweet dreams!
Z
Oh, the joys of learning a second language! My first Freshly Pressed post was about trying to learn French when we were living in Haiti.
Fortunately, art is a universal language, and color, indeed, makes us smile!
Hugs,
Kathy
Finally get to see the soup! It actually looks pretty good. The last photo gives me the willies!
I enjoyed your Spanish misses! We adopted our two children in Chile, the first at 7 weeks, the second at 2 months. To the many people who asked in Spanish how old our daughter was, I replied, I realized later, the Spanish equivalent of “She has two tables.”
People were kind and wonderful and understood anyway.
That is a great story! For some of us, those slightly-different enunciations make a huge difference! It’s also great that most people enjoy and forgive us for those errors! Most are quite patient and grateful that we make the effort!
Z
Great post!!! Watch out for embarasado…that one could really get you in trouble. ;-) Been there!! BTW – I love your paintings!!! The colors are spectacular!
Thank you so much! The Valdivia culture is best known for their ‘Venus’ artifacts, and many of those mujeres are with child!
I spent a few hours drawing/studying some of my favorite pieces today – what a great experience! Z
In the top photo, I very much like the way your scarf picks up the colors of the painting.
The little linguistic vingettes were fun, too. You might be interested in looking at the site, Spanish-English Word Connections . If I spoke more than what we call “dock workers’ Spanish” I’d find it even more fascinating than I do.
Are the people in white affiliated in any way with the Cuban movement, Damas de Blanco? The Cuban movement is more politically oriented, but perhaps its influence has spread and mutated.
hey! thanks, i’ll check that site soon!
today i have asked several people about the ‘white’ parade; it’s the the locals’ message to the thieves, that basically says, ‘they’re mad as hell and they’re not going to take it any more.’
from a cybercafe,
z
Awesome! Congratulations again!
muchas gracias! it’s going well! z
That is awesome, a night at the museum…sounds like a movie. ;)
The soup does not sound appetizing in english but thanks for including some pictures because it definitely looks delicious. I wouldn’t mind having that for desnudo.
What I’d like to know is what are bolones that the guard didn’t want you to have them for breakfast? Tuna soup might be great for lunch or dinner, but I might want the bolones instead for breakfast!
Yes, those language slips, aren’t they funny. I always get it wrong between coach and couch – not when writing, but when I am speaking. And for Spanish, how many haven’t said they are hot (sexually) when they actually meant warm – said caliente instead of calor. I love encebollado, too, it is really rich and good tasting. By way congratulations with the exhibition, unfortunately I wasn’t in the neighbourhood, so I couldn’t attend the opening. But good luck with the exhibition.
Thanks, the response to the paintings continues to amaze me. Yesterday a tour group of extranjeros visited the museum, and their feedback was incredible!
Yes, encebollado is equally incredible, though Ecuador also has a unique soup called Viche, made with a pureed peanut base and is packed with vegetables and fish or shrimp and sometimes small lobster.
I’ve been home five days total in two months, and am ready to have a week of acclimating back to my quiet life!
Z
Lisa, I found this a really interesting story as you related the various aspects of your evening and morning, letting events unfold and appreciating the unexpected.
Thanks, Margaret! I’m a bit behind on the follow-up story about the people wearing white, but hope to do some catch-up work soon. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Siempre, Lisa
Wonderful read! The Encebollado sounds awesome and I wouldn’t mind owning even a copy of one of those Antiguas! And not surprised at all by the positive reaction to your paintings :-)
There are artisans that work in this province that are so talented with their reproductions that the archaeologists have difficulties deciding which is real and which is a copy. It’s so great to meet so many talented people!
Yes, encebollado is an incredible breakfast/brunch treat!
Z
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On our first visit to Spain my wife asked for a slice of gateau to accompany her cafe. The waiter looked perplexed and cast a protective eye on the nearby cat!
ah, it’s those moments out of our normal element when powerfully-strong memories are made!
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Nice antiguas :D
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