This post is only about 4 years overdue…. what can I say? Life happened and I got distracted living in the moment.
I have to say though, in retrospect, the things that stick out are still really vivid and I think those are the important things, the ones worth mentioning.
For instance, the fellow in the first picture below, Cuelli Mangui. He is an absolutely amazing artist. I still follow him, every time I look at the pieces that I bought from him, I am reminded of this trip.
I remember the walking tour, I do love a good walking tour. Our tour guide was dressed like Where’s Waldo, and he showed us all the most fantastic examples of the incredible street art that Valpo is known for.
I also really remember the alfajores, caramel between two shortcake like cookies, dipped in chocolate, and the empanadas we got from this elderly man in a tiny shop this was part of his home, up this steep side street (ok that’s the majority of Valpo streets), while on our walking tour. We had to knock and call his name, and then he came and opened up to share the deliciousness. 😀
I remember loving the funiculars. I mean, come on, the word FUN is right in the name.
I remember the ancient, sprawling old home that we stayed in, inhabited by one old man with a love of music, and being struck by the thought of everything he had seen and done in his life, and all the moments that house had seen over the years. I remember eating sushi on the floor on our last night there because it was all that we could do to go and grab take-out from around the block after hoofing it up and down the hills of Valpo for 2 days.
I remember drinking fluffy water, I remember laughing, and I remember making the best memories with my dear friend Ellen on this trip.
tRNscontinental 