Bienvenidos a LatinoAmerica
Today embarks National Hispanic Heritage Month. With over 12,000 Latinos in RVA and 10% of Virginia’s population, there is no denying we play a role here. I am a proud Panamanian and although I have a variety of blood in these veins, Panama is my heritage, my birth, my family. I thought to celebrate this year, since the vibrant events of the city, such as the ¡Qué Pasa! Festival are cancelled, to educate with some fun facts about Latin American countries. Each day I’ll post a new country with some notables. Enjoy and take this month to support your Hispanic owned local businesses, here’s a few to get you started
All of our Latin Restaurants of course
Do yourself a favor and look up these countries travelogues on YouTube, you’ll learn even more!
Photo from Lata Travel
Paraguay
I love visiting countries off the beaten path and apparently Paraguay is one of them. Corazón de América (The Heart of America) is an undiscovered gem of dusty deserts and tropical delights. The Itaipu Dam provides almost all of Paraguay’s electricity.. Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as you are a registered blood donor! Guarani is first language of Paraguay and is the only South American country to adhere to its linguistic origins, but Spanish is also an official language there. This country was a safe haven for Nazi’s at one point, just as Argentina and Brazil, and strangely it has a large Mennonite community. The first railway was developed here; during the 1800’s there were many European engineers planted in the landlocked country. Paraguay is also known for it’s lacework, harp music, and the traditional bottle dance (la botellera). They love sipping on their Mata tea and enjoying Chipa (cheese biscuits). The Iguacu Falls are breathtaking and are taller than Niagra Falls with 275 individual waterfall cascades. They have the cutest rodent ever, Capybara! It has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest BBQ (30,000 attendees). The indigenous Aché peoples still inhabits Paraguay and have suffered many hardships from early Colonists and those wanting to destroy the rainforests. You can find pockets to Russian, German, and Japanese communities within Paraguay due to the migration of those fleeing during wartimes. Friedrich Nietzsche's sister, Elisabeth helped plan and create an Aryan community called Nueva Germania, but fortunately it failed miserably.
Cuba
It is on my list of destinations, and although all of my Cuban friends are close and dearly admired, I so long to be in the warm sun of this nation untouched by time. This well-read nation (99.8% literacy rate) has one of the best healthcare systems and houses the largest medical hospital in the world. You can indulge in ropa vieja , but you can’t get a Coca-Cola since it is banned. That’s not the only thing that was banned in Cuba, for 30 years Fidel Castro abolished the Christmas holiday as a recognized event, declaring Cuba an atheist state. Cuba is home to the smallest bird in the world and 400 islands and cays, how could you not enjoy this cigar famous nation in all its sand and sunshine. Santeria is widely practiced here and the African culture is sprinkled throughout its cuisine, music, and culture. This Communist nation was not allowed to buy computers or cell phones as of 2008! Can you imagine, but making $44 a month is worse I’d say, not even the free healthcare and education can make up for this. There are a lot of cool vintage cars though, and about 70K doctors! Although Obama opens up American travel to Cuba in 2016 and then a year later Trump shuts it back down, but I do hope to visit this beautiful culturally enriched country in my lifetime.
Uruguay
My uncle was a diplomat here and I’m familiar with their fútbol team (yeah Suárez!), but other than this I know little of this second smallest nation in South America. This livestock infested country and home to the world’s first FIFA World Cup, and boasts the lowest poverty in South America. Marijuana trade has been legal in the country since December 2013. The cost is approximately one dollar per gram. They don’t use numbers on their residences, but use names instead! Although Uruguay is made up mostly of rolling plains and low hills, there is still the Atlantic coast and is surprisingly completely out of the tropics. It is quite a non-religious country and boasts a 6 minute National Anthem and has a large Italian influence. It was also the first nation to legalize the home cultivation of marijuana and weirdly enough banned salt from restaurant tables and schools. Crazy! They also love their gays and their dogs, it is illegal to harm any canine in the country.
El Salvador
Not only is my sister-in-law from here, but it is also home to Lake Coatepeque, a large volcanic crater lake. El Salvador is quite cheap to travel within and is littered with small cute towns which can be found on la Ruta de las Flores (Road of Flowers). El Salvador is referred to as the Land of Volcanoes and the terrain ranges from beach to tropics to mountainous areas. A gorgeous country to explore and travel off the beaten path. Surfers love coming here and eating pupusas, the national dish. This super friendly county’s denizens are referred to as “ guanacos”.
Bolivia
Bolivia mesmerizes in land and water, this hat wearing country boasts the tallest heights and pink river dolphins! It is the highest country in S. America (12,383 ft above sea level) and has the largest salt flat in the world, Salar de Uyuni. Along with part of the Andes, salty landscapes, Bolivia also has the deepest and tallest lake (Lake Titicaca) in the world. Bolivia hosts a hotel, Palacio de Sal, completely made of salt! Known for the traditional sandwich, Chola, Bolivians also consider guinea pigs a delicacy and eat cured llama. Raquel Welch is Bolivian, ding ding. People dress like Zebras to help with traffic and children to cross the road there. Bolivia was part of the Incan Empire and the purchase of dead animals is common for citizens to use as offerings to Mother Nature or Pachamama. Cal Orko has over 5,000 individual dinosaur prints. Whoa. Lastly it is home to the most dangerous road in the world, Yungas Road or Death Road killing 200-300 people a year.
Panamá
It’s not just the canal that Panamá is known for, it is a wonderland of tropics, volcanoes, and exotic wildlife. There are untainted areas and pristine white and black sanded beaches, yet it has a majority of its population within the capital city. We’ve had one Miss Universe, a female President (1999) and Vice President (2014), musician Reuben Blades and boxer Roberto Duran both hale from Panamá, aaaand lastly Van Halen’s song is about a car not the country!
Pictured are Kuna Indians famous for making Mola
Photo by: Robert Harding
National Flower of Panamá: The Holy Ghost Orchid - See the Dove!
Traditional Panamanian Folk Dance
Venezuela
The women of Venezuela are world renown, 7 Miss World titles, to be exact, but other than their beautiful women, this country is known for much more than its pageantry. Unfortunately this paradise has been in turmoil in recent times, but Venezuela’s territory is the most protected in the world at over 50% conservation. It is terrible that a place so gorgeous is so dangerous, not just with unrest, but also one of the most dangerous places to drive. Like other Hispanic nations, Venezuela does not like a drunk voter, prohibiting the sale of alcohol 21 hours before an election. It has the highest waterfall, Angel Falls and the Orinoco (Yes Enya, yes) flows here into the Amazon basin. It is a Christmas tradition to roller skate to mass on Christmas day. Venezuela is quite electric in that it is home to Relampago del Catatumbo where there is an everlasting lightning storm. And lastly, you can decide which of the 900 flavors of ice cream you want at Coromoto Ice Cream Shop.
Costa Rica
The Sun rises and the Sun sets at the same time every day here on the rich coast of Costa Rica. You can expect to live a long and happy life in Costa Rica due to the amount of Calcium and Magnesium in the water, centurions are not uncommon here. A surfers haven, Costa Rica has been a holiday retreat for a lot of Americans, some who have bought property to enjoy the coastline and the vast rainforests. A land of orchids, CS boasts 1,400 different species of the flora and is one of the most eco friendly nations on the planet. Ticas (women) keep their maiden names for life and Ticos (men) have no problem openly whistling, staring or catcalling women. Once again, another nation of free education. Costa Rica has no standing army and is a fully democratic nation. There is no mail delivery there and they must get the mail themselves. This surfers’ haven hosts 801 miles of coastline, you wouldn’t find me anywhere else! Although I’ve never met a Tica or Tico from CS, it being one of the happiest nations, it’s no wonder that it's denizens remain there. There are 7 active volcanos and its land is adorned with over 100 volcanic formations. It is a gorgeously biodiverse country and although it used to be quite affordable, Americans have been the result of higher prices, but you can still find affordable things to do there.
Colombia
One of my besties is Colombian. I work with Ana Ines King of the Latin Ballet of Virginia and her sister, they are Colombian. I have two other clients, both are also Colombian. I guess you could say I know quite a few of them…and I love them! Maybe it’s because Panama & Colombia were joined at one time. These people LOVE to dance, making it the salsa capital of the world. Colombian, Shakira knows what’s shakin’. It is also a place where street art is encouraged and sponsored by the government. It is the world’s leading producer of Emeralds and although known for coffee, it is not native to the land. They are, however, the 3rd biggest exporter of it in the world. This Spanish drenched country’s natives were killed by disease brought by the Europeans and what was left embraced Spanish culture. Colombia is incredibly diverse in culture and region, class and age are among status symbols. Don’t forget to order your Bandeja Paisa, the national dish, which coincidentally can be found here in RVA at La Bodega!
Dominican Republic
In 2003, I went here on my honeymoon. I cried when I had to leave after my 8 day, 7 night Punta Cana bliss. DR is gorgeous, with the warmest people and the most beautiful terrain to explore. Dominicans are a baseball nation (Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, and Sammy Sosa. to name a few), DR is also known for it’s golf courses. It is the most visited destination in the Caribbean and their Blue Flag beaches are breathtaking. If you are in the armed forces or the police, you are not allowed to vote. They export the most tobacco and they have the cigars to prove it! It is quite a religious nation, banning abortion and having the bible adorn it’s flag, I mean, it’s named after a patron saint after it was called Hispanola. It houses the oldest cathedral in the Americas (1540). They are the sweetest country making sugar their main industry as well as producing some fine rums and vanilla. And when you are not dancing Merengue you could be enjoying a Presidente their delicious coffee. You would have probably seen Jack Sparrow from time to time in DR, as it was the headquarters for pirates.
Chile
Home to Easter Island, Chile boasts an incredible topography of mountains, islands, desert, and beach. The oldest mummies are found here and the largest swimming pool in the world! Chile is the fourth largest wine exporter (thank you) and the seventh largest producer of wine in the world. The country produces 90% of the world’s potatoes with 286 unique varieties. These people love their food and they love bread. Chile is the second highest bread consumers in the world There are 500 active volcanoes and the driest desert in the world. And the best fact about Chile — officially funded and recognized UFO research bureau!
Honduras
Despite Christopher Columbus’ “discovery” of Honduras, you can see many artifacts of the ancient Mayans here. Honduras is home to the second largest coral reef and is a haven for scuba divers. It has the oldest clock in the world (1100 AD) and is also host to the Hieroglyphic Stairway of Copán which features the largest single text in the world allegedly. Honduras is a savage country, beautiful in terrain yet can be quite dangerous to visit with the presence of The Mara Salvatrucha gang whose tattooed members can be found throughout Central America. Also known as the Banana Republic, you can also enjoy such meals as Yuca con chicharrón or Baleadas. The Talgua Caves or Caves of the Glowing Skulls are a hidden attraction and gets its name from the reflection of the human skulls found here. Don’t mess with soccer here, the country is fervent when it comes to the sport and even engaged in a 100 hour war with El Salvador over it. It is a beautiful country trying to overcome its recent reputation and its poverty, but the people of Honduras are warm and friendly.