'Blessed Cervantes'

The inn we stayed in had plants all over: every direction I look, I see leaves, of potted plants, of trees from the room deck, even where I write now. A potted plant dominates the round, plastic table. It started raining at around 3pm, which is usual in these upland parts of the province. The roads to Cervantes are concrete and well-paved, dangerously hanging from mountains, and with the steering wheel of one's vehicle will tire of the winding, sharp curves about. Like sticks in a matchbox, we were literally shaken in the vehicle. Sliding to one side of the vehicle, then to another, at each sharp turn. I yelled 'punyeta' several times, (sorry) directed at our driver, Claro, who had no choice but to laugh and do his job: drive. Two and a half hours of that kind of travel. On top of the land travel from the lowlands of about two hours. 

But the mountains are lush these days, so that is my consolation. My frustration is that I could not take a decent photo of the scenery, which was a pity because it is beautiful. I was  busy keeping my balance while sitting, negotiating my butt from left to right. I was about to give up and tell our driver to stop a while because we were nauseous, but he said only five kilometers to go. That relieved me.

I hear the birds chriping now. There is no power in the inn, it just went off after we ate our meryenda of pancit and one of the best 'turon' I ever tasted. I found this nook where I can write. The cool wind from the mountains brushes my face as I do. I watch droplets of the rain slide down the leaves, I can see these clearly. I hear the kitchen bustling with activity as they prepare for our supper. My boys, who were assigned to 'secure' me are right above my room, taking much needed rest for an activity tomorrow. They are young and good-looking, by the way. My staff, despite the rains, left to visit the parish church. It would be nice to live in a place like this: isolated, quiet save for the chirping of the birds, and now I think frogs?. They inn owners say they have wifi, but they actually don't. My pocket wifi gets no signal at all. Here, I am unplugged, which is a good thing. At least for a day, I get to be alone with my thoughts. They are blessed here. Really, they are.