A Day in Sipe Sipe

Today Katie, Juji and I visited the town of Sipe Sipe. It is about an hour away if you are traveling by trufi or micro (public transportation). It was a very lovely day in the sun and fresh air of the valle bajo. There is the valle bajo (low valley) on the west side of Cochabamba and the valle alto (high valley) is towards the east. The large city of Quillacollo is in the valle bajo and then the smaller towns of Vinto, and Sipe Sipe are further west.

They were having a celebration in honor of the Virgen of Carmen by chance. We did not know that when we decided to go. The dancers were very elaborately dressed and put much fervor into their procession although the crowd was small. We heard a great deal more Quechua being spoken than we usually do spending the day in the city. There were of course a great deal more women wearing traditional polleras (skirts) with the characteristic straw hats that are common to the department of Cochabamba.

Katie and I sipped coke as we chatted and relaxed watching the parade go by. If we missed part of it, that was no big deal as the whole procession rounded the square plaza always staying within view and hearing distance. One woman selling peanuts had her daughter with her who was about Juji's same age. They said their hellos and both times we passed them freely gave Jubilee peanuts, showing us again how generous the people here are. We didn't know the people at all, but because they saw us with a small child they wanted to share what they had. We often find the people here, especially the Quechua who are selling their products eager to share with Jubilee expecting nothing in return. It makes us reflect on our attitudes of giving and receiving and is a little sobering.

We also would like to announce that our friends and family can now see daily photos (of course most of them will be of Jubilee), but we know you won't mind. Please take a minute and visit www.dropshots.com/ForbessFamily