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Oct
29
Written by:
Jeff O'Brien
10/29/2009 8:49 AM
Canoa...
After an impromptu media event yesterday, we had a 7 hour trek through the countryside to Canoa. It was good to get exposed to a variety of land and social scape on the way. The evening brought on nice light and a lot of activity in the shanty towns we passed. Most were out on their porches spending time as a family.
I was contemplating what life might be like for these people as we drove by. It's all relative. These villages have no amenities. Not even a market where canned goods or "groceries" can be bought. Probably eggs and meat from chickens and cows, vegetables from the land, corn used to grind up into paste and bread products. Potatoes likely. There are NO stores. Maybe a shack that repairs tires and a "convenient" store the size of a large phone booth, maybe.
I imagined the smiths in a bamboo shack having envy for the Jones family on the hill with new drapes. No one has windows. The smiths are also probably jealous of the Jones family having two light bulbs in their domicile.
Life as we know it must seem like literally another world. McDonalds might look like a space station. Las Vegas an exotic galaxy crawling with aliens in strange garb.
I was listening to some tunes staring at the road ahead, when two cows came tumbling out of a flatbed truck. The cows skidded and rolled down the street for probably over a hundred feet. Amazingly, they both stood up when they stopped. The road leading up to them was peppered with cow skin, blood, and some excrement from the cows who'd been scared shitless. Abrasions down to the vertebra were visible on their backs as we passed. The truck they fell out of kept on driving, and was stopped by another car a 1/2 mile up the hill.
The road was under construction all the way to Canoa and we rumbled along weaving around bucket sized potholes hitting a few. I feel fortunate to make it this far away from home. A place I would not get the opportunity to come to otherwise.
Our resort here is probably the nicest place on the beach. $22 per person per night and $5 dinners. It boasts hot water, internet, air conditioning for the first floor rooms, nice little pool, restaurant, bar, etc. Close to town. This town will get more commercialized as the years go on, (a lot has happened in a year) but now it's still rustic and idyllic.
In 90 minutes we head up the hill for a fly.
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7 comment(s) so far...
Re: CANOA
My hats off to you all for braving the conditions for the kids.
By Steve Prater on
10/29/2009 10:42 AM
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Re: CANOA
The animal situation over there would put me over the top. That cow story breaks my heart. How people treat their animals is a direct relflection how they treat their people. This rings true for the USA and the entire world!
Children and animals...the "voiceless" in this world...
Thank-you for sharing; most folks wouldn't even think twice, and to verbalize it, is at least a place to start.
Peace,
~b
By bouchi on
10/29/2009 11:18 AM
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Re: CANOA
Hi to the whole crew out there,
This heavily reminds me of some things that I saw while driving and cycling through places like this during layovers at work over the years.
For that matter, it's not neccessary to travel to exotic foriegn lands to see conditions somewhat similar in ways - north Detroit and Texas border towns come to mind, among others.
What a heart grinder...
I was always careful; presumably you all are too. But again, take care.
See you around...
3D
By 3D on
10/29/2009 12:43 PM
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Re: CANOA
"Las Vegas an exotic galaxy crawling with aliens in strange garb."
Last time I was there, I was thinking that very same thing...
Take care over there, and keep up the good work! As hard as it is to hear about the rough conditions while sitting in my cushy office chair, I can honestly say it really helps me appreciate all that we have over here. Whoever said it's the simple things in life was purely brilliant.
Cheers OB
By Ryan Voight on
10/29/2009 11:37 PM
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Re: CANOA
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6/9/2010 11:50 PM
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Re: CANOA
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6/23/2010 10:37 PM
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44
nice post!Awesome coverage! Thanks!Well, it should be...will be happy to be proved wrong with this one.... I have to admit to a raised eyebrow with this as well.
By Abercrombie clothing on
8/2/2010 6:49 AM
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