It was a simple meal of oven roasted chicken, chorizo, rice and mandioca, but it was the circumstances that made this meal so delicious. I had just completed a 40 mile bike ride, and I had not eaten anything since. I was not expecting to have lunch until later, and my group and I were surprised with a lunch, which I happily devoured. The chorizo was also the best I have had since arriving here.
Although it wasn´t really a meal, I enjoyed a food stop in Cornel Bogado this week when I was on my bike, which is located about 20 miles away from my community. It is informally called the national capital of chipa, known for having the best chipa in the country. I went to Don Pipa, the best rated place in town, and I was really impressed with all of the options they had. I ate the traditional chipa, chipa so’o and chipa de pollo. So’o means beef in Guarani, and pollo means chicken in Spanish. My favorite one was the chipa so’o. I also ordered cocido, which is a hot drink made from burning sugar and yerba mate leaves with hot coals and then adding hot water. When served, it is mixed with hot milk. I like to dip the traditional chipa in the cocido, as it heats up the center of the chipa, softening it up and adding the unique flavor of the cocido. This is a combo that many Paraguayans enjoy daily.
This week, I listened to a lot of Led Zeppelin. I biked for a total of seven hours over two days, and I mostly had their seven albums on repeat. My friend also told me about the band Vulfpeck, which is a modern funk band, and I have been listening to them a lot this week.
