Los Pueblos Pequeños – The Small Towns

Small towns really are the heartbeat of a country and wherever I travel in the US or abroad, I love going to places (los lugares) that are off the beaten trail or are somewhat overlooked from the main roads (las calles principales) in order to experience what they uniquely have to offer.  Las year, while traveling through Wyoming on my way to Mount Rushmore, a true American tourist destination, in South Dakota, I stopped in a small town called Gordon, Nebraska for a visit.  Since my Dad’s name was Gordon and my brother’s name is Gordon, and a friend traveling with s as well has a father named Gordon, we all felt the need to at least check out what from the outside (de afuera) looked like a family namesake.

Anyway, upon entering Gordon, Nebraska, there was an already established connection, and on a beautiful summer day (un día bonito en el verano), there was an opportunity to see what unique things this American town in the middle of the country was all about.  From a beautiful picnic lunch in a wonderfully luscious and green park to the wanderings down main street to visit the post office (el correo) and a few local stores (las tiendas locales), the place had a vibe all its own, and I enjoyed the unique setting and the beauty it had to offer.  When I talked with a local about how great Gordon, NB seemed as a place to live, the woman just stared at me blankly, seemingly asking, “What is wrong with you?”

Sometimes, fresh eyes (los ojos abiertos) can capture the special air and unique circumstances in a place that appears to be just a routine or even backward moving location.  This is something I recently experienced in Chile as I left Santiago for the day to go down into the Santa Cruz valley area and visit the small town (el pueblito) of Sede Graneros in a beautiful valley of vineyards and fruit groves.  Walking down the main street, the smell of fresh empanadas drew me into a local store and soon I had a roasting fresh pino empanada in my hands, the aroma (el olor) making my mouth water, and each bite becoming better than the last.  It was like the first and best empanada I had ever eaten, and believe you me, I have had more than a few empanadas during my stay in Chile.  The empanada is practically the national food (la comida nacional) of the entire country, and this day, in a small town off the beaten path, it seemed to me that I tasted the best one (el major) in all of Chile.

Talking with the owner (la dueña) of the store connected me with the heartbeat of this area and having a toast with locals in the bar (la cantina) just cemented my new affection for this seemingly remote and off the beaten path destination.  I imagine that one day I might live in a small town or be back in a small town, or maybe I’ll just hit the road and visit a lot of small towns along my path (mi camino). Whatever the reason, whether it be in Chile, the US or other parts of the world, it truly is the road less traveled where you find the treasures (los tesoros) that a country has to offer.