Friday, September 27, 2013: The Road to Parika

Yes, another very hot day. I don't think it was any hotter than yesterday, but I also don't think it was any cooler than yesterday. Ok, enough about the weather. We took a trip to Parika, Guyana which is on the bank of the Essequibo River. On the way we passed a few rice fields, and also this man selling hot dogs...I found that kind of odd, but hey, why not.

We also stopped at the sea wall which goes along 280 miles of coastline in Guyana, mostly centered around Georgetown. The sea wall began construction in 1855. It protects the coast lands of Guyana which are mostly below sea level during high tide.

Me on the sea wall (Atlantic Ocean in the background)

Foster Caines and Lizzy on the sea wall

When we got to Parika, we walked to the dock. I was here in Parika in 2008 when I took a team into the interior of Guyana to work with the Amerindians. The speed boats pictured below are what took us across the Essequibo River and beyond. At that time all the speed boats were open air, but some now have coverings. This is due to the rough waters on the Essequibo as it is interacting with the Atlantic and can become very rough. When I rode across the river in 2008, we got drenched!

Parika is also a place where the Amerindians, as well as other Guyanese, bring in their produce to sell. You can buy the produce right off the dock, but you better hurry because it is meant to go to market in cities across northern Guyana. We almost didn't get to buy any red bananas, in fact they were already on the truck ready to go, but they were able to sell us 3 lbs...I missed those red bananas!

Plantains ready to ship

On the way back to the Caines', we passed a Hindu funeral. The building you see in the picture below is where the people gather and the service is done. The smoke you see rising is the body being cremated.

After we got back, Lizzy made a wonderful meal of fried rice, potato salad, macaroni and cheese and bbq chicken. We then went to their worship team rehearsal, and when we got back, Marie asked me if I wanted to try souse made with cow face. Yes, you read correct, cow face. They use all parts of the cow face to make this souse. And yes, I tried it. I figured if Andrew Zimmern can do it, so can I. Oddly enough it was good, in fact it had a lot of good flavor...but man was it spicy hot! Phew! We got a video of me eating this and then my reaction. I'll get that up on youtube when we get back. Meanwhile enjoy this picture of a flowing bush in front of a friends gate.