"Nature is life, take care of it"
Agreeeeeed!
First I ran an 8k run in the National Botanical Garden of Paraguay (Jardin Botanico). It is the loveliest space I have encountered in the city thus far...I get running along the Costanera or riverside because it's close, accessible, and safe at night when the intense sun finds her slumber (police are EVERYWHERE).
However, I hate running on concrete/asphalt/non natural surfaces, so the JB offers a lush setting with dirt paths, a zoo (I hear its sad so I won't be checking that out 'cept for the goats n emus outside), and a quirky museum. It's a bit far from my house but very accessible by bus (which I learned the hard way post event) So the story goes:
6am: I get up, eat a banana, chug some water, am so EVER happy that it's a cool, cloudy morning. I pack up and grab a taxi to the JB (I was worried the buses weren't running on an early sleepy Sunday morning)
8am: Run is supposed to start. I'm pumped, I'm hydrated, I'm checking out this 8k run and thinking, where are the obstacles advertised? and why are folks running in a loop? I find out it's a 2k loop arbitrarily constructed with some sand, a few logs, and some major ankle-snapping holes that are naturally in the park to create the 'obstacles'. Can't blame 'em for working with what you got!
8:30am: race hasn't started yet because, like everything else, the teams that were supposed to start at 7am arrived horario paraguayo (30 min late) so we can't start until they end (except that we're all using chips so why does it matter?! logistics folks!)
8:45am: we start! and it's fun for the first 4k, then the sun comes out, I get tired of people walking and blocking the path...thank you iPod shuffle for being YOU! I pound out the 8k in 42min and I feel like a champ.
wish they would give out towels instead of medals in this heat!
the start: uphill in red sand between gorgeous bamboo
I walked off my stiff legs a bit through JB and found beautiful wildlife....can't wait to spend a whole day here when it cools down! Reminds me of Iberapuera in SP but more greenery.
art installation
marigolds n palms
(sadly no coconuts)
Taro? Can you eat it?!
A bit of the zoo....
Emu!
The National Museum was not what I was expecting!
Does Paraguay have lions, tigers, and bears?!
WARNING: there are pics of random fetuses below (non human)
beware, the vicious leopard....
ok maybe there are gorillas in Paraguay....amazon style
pickled fish, anyone?
totes from the Amazon
OMG! Vanuatu flashback!!
yep, as I said....lions, tigers n bears!
George Takei: Oh myyyyyyyyy!
Um...no ocean in Paraguay....
scary
My anaconda don't want....to be pinned on the wall!
and then it gets creepy...double headed cow, weasel with litter
whale fetus...once again, no ocean access via Paraguay...nuff said
I'm a monkey in a bottle baby....
Ok, so after THAT I wanted to go home and shower. After waiting 30 minutes I decided to take a bust that I thought would get me close(ish) to my house, boy was I wrong!
I ended up 7k away from my house after asking the bus driver if he was going where the bus sign said he was going...he said "yes, eventually"....so I got off the bus and ran another 7k home (I only took enough money to get me home on one bus, not two!)
.....so I ran a total of 15k, which in my triathlon peak would have been great but in this heat and my out of shape late night latina-ness it hurt (I'm still sore)!
However, my spirits were lifted with my great roomies n good food...
I know this guy! In the white shirt!
A play all about sex, was HIGHLY entertaining and my roomie cooked amazing French cuisine after AND we had ice cream cake! What a great end to a turbulent day!
Here's a bit more of this week:
Cooked up some tasty chicken tacos en casa....even made sour cream!
So happy I saw two theatrical performances this week. After a sexed up Sunday I had a classy Wednesday @ the symphony!
Happens every month and is FREE! How can you resist?!
Cheers to a great February!
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