Since October, granddaughter Amalía and her Mommy and Papi
have been living in the quaint, quiet, colonial city of Granada, Nicaragua,
with occasional trips back to swinging South Beach, Miami.
Granada, with its horse-drawn carriages, almost weekly
religious festivals and handicraft markets is very different from the wacky
modern vibe of South Beach, but Amalía’s day is still just as busy in Nicaragua
as in Florida.
Photo taken during the Poetry Festival by Eleni Gage de Baltodano
Amalía wakes up demanding to eat huevos and gallo pinto—the
national dish of Nicaragua,
made of beans and rice. ( “Gallo Pinto” literally means “spotted rooster”.)
Then everyone goes out to have fruit and yogurt and coffee
by the swimming pool.
But Amalía can’t tarry; she has to go find the tortugas,
which are always hiding somewhere in the garden.
She likes to feed them leaves but sometimes they run away
(very slowly).
Then she has to check on Tonia, the parrot, who comes out of
her cage in the morning
to eat sunflower seeds and wake everyone up with her
shrieks.
After breakfast, Amalía and her Mommy may walk to the center
of town
to have juice and sweets with friends.
And do a little shopping.
Everyone knows Amalía and says “Buenos dias.”
Or Mommy and Amalía might take a taxi to the market at
Masaya, to buy handicrafts.
A mural at Masaya Craft Market, 14 kilometers from Granada
like hammocks, handmade masks and textiles.
Then it's time for a nap.
After lunch Amalía likes to play in the pool with Papou,
when he’s visiting,
Or with her two grandmas: Yiayia Joanie and Abuela Carmen.
Or she might go out with her babysitter Maria José—
maybe to the lakeside where she can see parrots and monkeys,
large water birds
and one
of Nicaragua’s famous volcanoes.
Coming Monday—Part 2--everyone goes to the seashore....
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