I wanted to vomit after he told me this. Simultaneously, my stomach groaned in protest, as we both could not come to terms with it.
I said I did not believe him and delivered a punch to his right shoulder. He laughed and told me that he has seen the proof with his very own eyes. I looked out the window to observe the expanse of Pacific Ocean reflecting a dazzling display of sun swaying softly on its calm bed. The orange glow of the sunset was turning a darker hue.
This simply caps a surreal day. I arrived at Chincha, a province in the south in the wee morning hours. It was foggy and still dark along the coast. I had traveled here in hopes of integrating into an Afroperuvian dance class, and enjoying the Peñas since this town is famous for this dance.
I ask the first taxi I saw to take me to a hotel. He drove me to hostel. I was very tired and fell asleep fully clothed. Three hours later, there is heavy pounding on my door.
Your three hours are up! The attendant yells behind the door.
I roll my eyes as it dawns on me, no wonder there is not even a blanket for this cold coastal fog, instead, it is decorated with a huge mirror on the wall.
I walk to the main plaza, through the streets and its central market. I was careful to eat fruits, yogurt and avocados as creamy as soft butter, and as big as papayas. I inquired of these dance classes, being told, this is not in season, to try of El Carmen.
I take a ride to the adjacent city of El Carmen. I view endless fields of cotton plants. These towns are famous for its wine, pisco making, and its dance. Once in El Carmen I walk around the plaza, and investigate about the dance classes. I’m told its not in season once again. I find a restaurant where I rest and order lunch. I requested to be served what they had minus the meat.
I’m served by a very busy server, who does not bring me something to drink. I taste a few bites of the food and leave the place. Outside a boy about seven asks if I want a dance. We agree on the price and he and his buddy tap dance. They are very good.
Meanwhile someone from the restaurant comes down the street requesting payment from me. I said I left it under the plate, and by the way the service sucked.
I decide to leave town. In the bus I establish conversation with my seat companion. He told me that I probably ate cat. He assured me that people in El Carmen eat these, it’s written In the papers.
One day it seems, his buddy invited him to eat. It was a home cooked establishment. They served a mouth watering, delicious stew. This seasoned with cilantro, hot peppers and fermented brew.
.
After he had eaten seconds of this tasty food, his friend says you have just eaten cat. He does not believe it, so his friend escorts him to the back. There trapped in cages hanging by the ceiling are imprisoned cats.
The woman who runs the kitchen tells him not to worry. These cats are fed only tuna fish, and nothing like mice. That is the reason why she charges more for this delicacy.
I said to Señor Chorizo, the nickname I christened him with after he related he spent five years in Cali, Colombia selling sausages door to door. When he was greeted by a room full of women, one calls…¨”Hey you guys, this guy is selling Peruvian sausage.” To which Senor Chorizo mortified, said “No! These are local sausages!”
As the girl said “Just you play along.”
So his business boomed immediately. That and the innuendos of his promoted merchandise to earn an honest days work. Women threw themselves on him aggressively, they could not get enough of his sausages. It was more than he could handle. They withheld payment, until he arrived at a designated hour to their home. He juggled three women at one time, that is until one confessed that her husband was a narco traficante, and that he would be back soon.
Like I said, I mentioned to Señor Chorizo that I did not eat meat, only a bit of rice, beans, and some stew juice. He reiterated that in fact I did eat cat. I punched his shoulder once more for his insolence.
I walk to the main plaza, through the streets and its central market. I was careful to eat fruits, yogurt and avocados as creamy as soft butter, and as big as papayas. I inquired of these dance classes, being told, this is not in season, to try of El Carmen.
I take a ride to the adjacent city of El Carmen. I view endless fields of cotton plants. These towns are famous for its wine, pisco making, and its dance. Once in El Carmen I walk around the plaza, and investigate about the dance classes. I’m told its not in season once again. I find a restaurant where I rest and order lunch. I requested to be served what they had minus the meat.
I’m served by a very busy server, who does not bring me something to drink. I taste a few bites of the food and leave the place. Outside a boy about seven asks if I want a dance. We agree on the price and he and his buddy tap dance. They are very good.
Meanwhile someone from the restaurant comes down the street requesting payment from me. I said I left it under the plate, and by the way the service sucked.
I decide to leave town. In the bus I establish conversation with my seat companion. He told me that I probably ate cat. He assured me that people in El Carmen eat these, it’s written In the papers.
One day it seems, his buddy invited him to eat. It was a home cooked establishment. They served a mouth watering, delicious stew. This seasoned with cilantro, hot peppers and fermented brew.
.
After he had eaten seconds of this tasty food, his friend says you have just eaten cat. He does not believe it, so his friend escorts him to the back. There trapped in cages hanging by the ceiling are imprisoned cats.
The woman who runs the kitchen tells him not to worry. These cats are fed only tuna fish, and nothing like mice. That is the reason why she charges more for this delicacy.
I said to Señor Chorizo, the nickname I christened him with after he related he spent five years in Cali, Colombia selling sausages door to door. When he was greeted by a room full of women, one calls…¨”Hey you guys, this guy is selling Peruvian sausage.” To which Senor Chorizo mortified, said “No! These are local sausages!”
As the girl said “Just you play along.”
So his business boomed immediately. That and the innuendos of his promoted merchandise to earn an honest days work. Women threw themselves on him aggressively, they could not get enough of his sausages. It was more than he could handle. They withheld payment, until he arrived at a designated hour to their home. He juggled three women at one time, that is until one confessed that her husband was a narco traficante, and that he would be back soon.
Like I said, I mentioned to Señor Chorizo that I did not eat meat, only a bit of rice, beans, and some stew juice. He reiterated that in fact I did eat cat. I punched his shoulder once more for his insolence.
.
