In December we went to Apure, in the Venezuelan llanos, or flatlands. It was hella nice…

We stayed on a small farm, or fundo, belonging to a friend’s grandmother. No electricity, no running water. Milked cows in the morning, so the cafe con leche was incredibly creamy and foamy.

Then they made cheese. We brought back a kilo.

It was the post-Christmas celebration, so a bunch of folks got together and slaughtered a cow before slowly cooking it on sticks over a fire. The guy who killed the cow was pretty wasted by the time we got there, and started talking to me about the "law of the llanos," the "freedom" of the cow, and how he was forced to sin so that others could feast.

Rode horses quite a bit. Quite nice and relaxing overall, laying in a hammock, or going on adventures with the kids. Once we went digging for crabs (it seems strange, but for half of the year, the llanos flood, so there’s fish and crabs even after it dries out).

One thing missing: we didn’t get to eat chiguire!