Panaca Farm

Today we were treated by Katya and Isabel to a day on a very large farm! The drive was spectacular. We passed Jaime Duque Parque where we went when we adopted Silas. I couldn't believe that when we drove passed, our Isabel said, "Hey, there's Jaime Duque Parque!" I could not believe that she remembered this from when she was 2 1/2. This was one of our most "scenic" days yet in Colombia...and we had a true South American experience today!

Every where you go in Colombia there are Navidad scenes set up...the kids love seeing these, and have wondered why baby Jesus is missing...Tia Isabel tells us that they only put Baby Jesus in the Nativities on Christmas Eve to Christmas Day...

Ok...so our first stop was the "cerrdos"...I felt bad, but, I couldn't stop laughing. I hope this didn't offend anyone. I just have never seen so many people show up for a pig race...

...at the very end, they call the kids down to join in the fun, and race with the pigs...Isabel and Silas opted not to do this...

...the entertainment and singing was a blast...although my Spanish is minimal, I had a hoot watching Isabel and Silas take it all in with giggles...I'm thinking how in the world are they understanding all of this...it still amazes me, and I witness it every day...

So, the farm was not just pigs, cows, horses, dogs, birds...yes, the tour guide made us go see the worms...not such a big deal, until they started telling how good worms are for you, and that they cook with them in hamburgers and different meats...I felt myself gag...and then Isabel, being our adventurer, said, "Mom, I would totally eat that worm!" Ay...not one more hamburger for me in Colombia!!

The favorite area was the horses. I went down memory lane watching the "cowboys" barrel race their horses! The "carousel" at the farm was not as fancy as it is in the states...the kids got to ride burros! Caroline was totally freaked out, so, I had to walk with her around all the strunts to help her over come yet another fear...

The favorite were the pony rides. Not just those short pony rides you might get at the fair, in Colombia, they go for very long walks, Iwondered when the kids were going to return...they all had a blast on their ponies...

And, to top the day off, Tia Isabel took us to a little outdoor resturaunt outside of Panaca to let us experience some "real" Colombian food. Driving up to it, I was picturing the raw meat we saw hung on our way to Giradot...a bit uneasy about what we were going to eat, I did not want to offend anyone, and said yes to everything they were telling me to try...some of it was actually not that bad...but, I will be very surprised if I get through the next few days without that yucky stomach stuff...

Really it was a wonderful day experiencing more of Colombia...I still can't believe Tia Isabel and Katya treated us to something so special!