by Gun Wechsler

 

As the heat and humidity were on the rise in Caracas, and the supply of chicken breasts, eggs, and milk decreased on the supermarket shelves, four desperate housewives hatched a plan at least temporarily to relieve frustrations of daily life in the metropolis. Shopping therapy in fresh country air of the land of Lara would be the answer!

 

Armed with a sturdy SUV, a young, muscular Venezuelan chauffeur for the expedition, Debbie Yanda was appointed travel agent cum treasurer (& Bridge score keeper!), Sally Evans cultural and linguistic attachee (thanks to many years of experience in the host country), Helen Rebaudo guardian of the Queen’s English, and Gun Wechsler as the chronicler of aforementioned adventure.

Last but not least, the car was well-equipped with a cooler-full of Gato Blanco, pasapalos and playing cards.

 

It took the expedition ca. 6.5 hours to reach Tintorero (S.W. of Barquisimeto), including gasoline and arepa stops. To hone the shopping strategy for the following day, we decided upon a quick reconnaissance of available wooden wares (fruits, animals, flowers and inlaid boxes) in Tintorero. Half of the shops  at the craft mall were closed, perhaps in preparation for El Presidente’s upcoming visit at the weekend  (feverish sweeping, trash pick-up, even asphalting the adjacent parking lot, etc.)  But as we attempted, half an hour later, to complete the remaining 90 minutes to our Posada outside of Sanare, we found that our battery had expired. Caramba!

 

The heat and the dust of the flatlands in Lara can test both automotive and human endurance.  As I tried to look relaxed and “local” in the shade of a low-slung building, while muttering Viking curses under my breath, several National Guardsmen surrounded our chauffeur and SUV offering him free automotive advice along with half a lemon to help cleanse the defunct battery.  Our savior, however, was an elderly man with a superannuated truck, who managed to revive our depleted battery with his own. 

The expedition forged ahead wandering from one battery shop to another , until we finally found a battery that fit our needs.  By that time our personal batteries were in need of a charge!

 

We arrived at El Encanto, our five star Posada, outside of Sanare before dark.  From there we enjoyed spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.  El Encanto itself is set in a truly enchanted garden.  I think we played Bridge better than ever that late afternoon as the hummingbirds, the grazing cows, and the fresh air heightened our senses.

The Vino Blanco did its fair share as well…

 

While the rest of us enjoyed the last hours of peaceful sleep, Debbie arose at the crack of dawn the following morning to prepare the landscape and roust the cows by running up and down the mountain trails in a cloud of dust.  Her focus is on Chicago’s 40 K Avon Breast Cancer Marathon in June. She will allow nothing to stand in her way, including the thin Andean air and angry-looking bulls!

 

After an absolutely delicious and beautifully served breakfast, we were ready to face the vendors of wood crafts and pre-Colombian pottery.  Since it was only Thursday, the shops were empty of other customers.  Little by little the back of our truck filled up with wooden armadillos, ducks and exotic fruits on gigantic trays.  By mid-afternoon we decided to return to higher elevation, before we were totally overcome by heat and financial exhaustion.  Our spirits rose in direct proportion to the elevation. Before long we again sat pondering Bridge strategy as the Vino Blanco flowed and the evening frogs croaked.  We decided that life is better in the mountains!

 

After another outstanding breakfast the following morning, our poor chauffeur was tasked with the challenge of packing the SUV with  our new-found treasures.  The cooler filled with wooden objects ended up on the roof, while the back of the car was brimming with the rest of Lara artesania.  There wasn’t even space to buy a bucket of fresh mangos being sold on the side of the road.  Even the hare-brained idea of speculating on chicken breasts from some small-town butcher had to be canceled!

 

But in the end, all the trials and tribulations didn’t matter.  Our Lara shopping therapy had worked its magic.  We were ready to tackle life in the big city once more.

Who needs eggs and chicken breasts, when we can look into the eyes of our wooden armadillos and remember the fun we had in Lara land?!

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