DAY 2 - GUAVATE AND EL BALCON DEL ZUMBADOR EN PIŅONES
From Isla Verde, about 50 minutes away, taking the 1, to
the 52 Sur, to the 184, we got to Guavate. Guavate is a town in
the mountains where, in the weekends, the locals gather at 'lechonerias'
(restaurants that roast whole pigs) on the main road to eat, dance,
shop, show off their bikes and their girls, etc. Guavate is just
outside of the Bosque Carite, a natural reserve, green, cool and moist.
Of course we ate lechon, yuca, guineos, arroz con gandules, and drank as
many Medallas as possible. We made friends at one of the 'lechonerias'
- a few folks out of a tour bus that came from Sabana Grande, a town by
Mayaguez, about two hours away from Guavate, who made the trip over to
enjoy some 'lechon' (pork). Those folks were the nicest ever -
senior citizens that belong to a group called UVA, which they kept on
telling me meant "Union de Viejos Alegres" (Union of Old Happy People),
but it's not true; it actually has a real meaning that I never learned.
I had not eaten guineos (boiled green bananas) in YEARS.
I had not seen ņame (similar to a sweet
potato) in years. I always say that I don't get homesick, but what
I'm finding out is that I don't get homesick in California, because
nothing reminds me of home. Puerto Rico is making me crazy
homesick. The food, the greenness, the warm rain showers in the
afternoons... To think a person can cry over rain...
We spent the day in Guavate, and at dawn we headed back
to Piņones in search of El Balcon del Zumbador
on road 187, which was recommended to us as the place to be Sunday
night. El Balcon del Zumbador IS the place to be on Sunday night.
OH my goodness that place is HOT! Hot in every way, hot
temperature, and hot.. hot.. hot... music and people. "Los
Majaderos de Cachete", that's the name of the group that plays there on
Sundays, was graced with the presence of Giovanni Hidalgo! He just
showed up. That freaking made my day... my week! Absolutely anyone
in Puerto Rico on a Sunday MUST go to El Balcon del Zumbador. It's
gospel. [http://www.elbalcondelzumbador.com
] Because El Balcon closes at midnight on Sunday, we went afterwards to
Oysters, in Isla Verde. Several people did the same thing.
Oysters is a restaurant/bar turned club after a certain hour. It's
got a small dance floor and a cover band. Very similar to what we
have in L.A. actually.
Two random thoughts: The lizards are freaky huge
here. The mosquitoes are eating me alive!
Leaving Isla Verde
In Guavate
Our UVA friends
Gambling on horses
on THESE horses
my dollar on 17
we interrupt this program....
Live bachata
El Balcon del Zumbador / Giovanni Hidalgo
BACHATA SINGING IN GUAVATE
LISTENING TO THE COQUIS IN BOSQUE CARITE - GUAVATE
