When I first traveled to Costa Rica in 2010, my surroundings left me in awe. Me senses were alive to each detail of the adventure. I remember the bumpy bus rides over miles of unpaved rocky roads where houses stood tucked within the hills. I remember the taste of the exotic fruits we tried alongside the road. I remember the barefoot children laughing, playing, and chattering to me in a language foreign to my ears. I remember the embraces of people I had just met, yet who were still so connected to my soul.
With each time I am abroad, I become more acclimated to the culture around me. I will always appreciate the vibrance of being in Latin America; however, I sometimes forget the richness of these experiences as the novelty of a new environment fades.
In an effort to be more conscientious of my Latin-American surroundings, I crafted a list of 15 charming (and occasionally alarming) sights within my neighborhood in Barranquilla.
1. Every morning, numerous men walk through the streets balancing giant bowls of ripe avocados on their heads and declare, "Agua, aguacate!" I usually buy a small one for around $1 USD. Sometimes I eat it with rice and beans. Other times I eat it in a salad of cilantro, tomato, onion, and vinegar.
2. Seeing juicy orange mangos crushed in the street is not uncommon. They fall from the trees onto the sidewalks and streets. Sometimes they are gathered to eat or sell, while other times they are left to the mercy of the busses and cars that pass through the streets.
3. Donkey-drawn carts are pulled through the streets, often carrying produce, construction supplies, or trash. I have seen small boys racing these donkeys and their carts down the street as fast as they could go.
4. Massive speaker systems don many front porches as the tunes of famous salsa, vallenato and champeta music plays. Plastic chairs are scattered across gated lawns where families gather to listen to music and talk, especially on the weekends or special occasions. Music can usually always be heard from the small "tienda" stores or cars driving through the streets.
5. Every child from preschool to secondary is required to wear a uniform to school. The styles of uniforms are vast. Most notably, some are denim, while others are burgundy and yellow plaid. Donning their school uniforms, these children often spend time at the mall after school eating ice cream or in the park playing soccer. I once saw a toddler who was wearing a pink gingham jumper. The sight of her clutching her father's hand and joyfully singing a song melted my heart.
6. Colombia is a colorful country...even the busses maneuvering through the streets showcase a rainbow of color. One bus, painted in swirls of red, yellow, green, and blue, drives toward the beaches of Pradomar. Inside of the buses are fringed curtains and sometimes vivid illustrations of famous cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny.
7. In the cool evenings, barefoot children play soccer in the less-trafficked side streets. They boisterously cheer upon scoring a goal, and are quick to pause their game at the sight of a car. Even the youngest of players adeptly steers the ball around boys of the opposing team.
8. Outside of a corner tienda at all hours of the day, a large group of men play dominos. Their laughter roars, but their faces quickly turn serious in the deep competition of the game. They also play chess or card games with intense concentration.
9. Litter is scattered across many sidewalks and streets. I imagine how much more beautiful Barranquilla would be without the pieces of plastic and paper cluttering the sidewalks.
10. With "blonde" hair and fair skin, I am especially prone to receive attention from men on the streets. Being called a princess, a doll, beautiful, or divine is a daily occurrence. Understanding that Colombia is a very vocal, expressive country helps provide context to these comments; however, even after five months, I still have not have not adjusted to hearing these harmless (yet annoying) noises.
11. Moto taxis are a cheap, exhilarating, and sometimes dangerous mode of transportation. Motorcyclists guarantee a helmet and a fast ride to anyone who hails them off the street. A multitude of moto taxis are always on the streets.
12. To fall victim to or witness a robbery is sadly not uncommon. Taking special precautions is essential. I never carry a purse or wear jewelry. I also walk with purpose to my destinations. Because I do not like to take technology outside of my house, I do not have many photos; but, I ultimately prefer to protect my belongings and myself.
13. Laundry air drys outside the brightly-painted cinder-block homes, blowing in the cherished breezes. The heat of the Caribbean sun quickly drys the clothes. Costeños, or those living on the coast, usually wear vivid colors and bold patterns. Women usually always wear high-heeled wedges.
14. Vendors sell a plethora of items on the streets outside of bigger grocery store. DVDs and CDs in thin plastic sleeves are less than $1 USD. I occasionally see a man sitting on sidewalks with an array of padlocks, while others sell nail files, or brooms.
15. Within my neighborhood close to Parque Olaya, tree trunks and electric poles are often painted with thick red, yellow, and blue stripes at the bottom. Colombian pride is in abundance. These colors make even a cloudy day a little more cheerful.
These are just 15 observations of my Colombian home. So many more people and places make Barranquilla a charmingly bold place to live.
