Chiquitanía, the case of the toad woman
My passage through the Bolivian capital, Peace, It has been a success for my trip. I have been able to contact different media and conduct several interviews, I have checked the motorcycle at an official BMW dealer with the guarantee that this entails and most importantly, I have met a great woman. a petite woman, jovial, chatterbox and traveler. WWF Cooperator, Bachelor of Teaching, environmental education teacher. Mariana Machicao opened the doors of her house for me, which is a wonderful place for travelers, taking the time to sit with me at his table, inviting me to eat and as they say around here, talk.
He told me about his trips to the center of Bolivia, to make schools about recycling and sustainability that are so needed in these remote villages of the Bolivian Amazon. Many of his performances have been successful (not to say all) and she proudly shows me some pages of the national newspaper where some of her former students have now become cyclists for these environmental causes.
He shows me the way of life on the banks of the white river, where children learn to swim before they learn to walk
We talk about the management of batteries in these towns far from civilization, He shows me some idyllic photos of these places. He shows me the way of life on the banks of the white river, where children learn to swim before they learn to walk, where washing clothes on driftwood on its shore is like going to the hairdresser for us, a meeting place, talk and friendship. Mariana Machicao has a thousand stories to tell, but the one that attracts me the most is one that tells us about the table, at snack time (for others the tea).
It happened in the Chiquitania, near missions. It, Mariana, I was chatting with the people of this town to compile in a book those legends and typical tales, transmitted orally that unfortunately are being lost. It was night and he sat down to talk to two men, one, Professor Don Juan Moreno, the other Don Chano, a friend of the first. And between legend and legend, Don Chano, before silent listening, start talking. I'm going to tell you, says, what happened to me really ago 40 years in my chaco (ground) of missions. This chaco was far from the town and it took about two hours on horseback to reach it. There he had a small hut made of palm wood and mud., square, with a double door that opened halfway, chickens, some fruit trees and some planted vegetables, near the swamp.
At one point I saw in the distance a figure of a woman with long black hair, nude
One of the nights that it was raining I went out there to check that everything was in order. I would sleep there and the next day I would return home with my wife and children.. I do this routine every two days, to organize, gather, feed the chickens and milk the cows. The rain was heavy and you could hardly see what was in front of you, I slowed the horse down and covered myself well with the poncho. At one point I saw in the distance a figure of a woman with long black hair, nude. I thought something had happened and I approached, although when I wanted to realize, I wasn't there anymore. Then I noticed something climb on the rump, I touched with one hand to the back I noticed the skin duringa (hard, brown) of a bare leg. I thought it would be the woman I saw and not to embarrass her, since she was naked, I didn't even look at her. when i got to the cabin, she had gotten off without my noticing and putting this thought aside, exhausted and rain drenched, I lay in the hammock.
After a while I noticed how she got on the hammock from behind, me. I was very tired and I thought that she was looking for my warmth to get rid of the cold.. I touched her carefully and she did not move, I fell asleep.
Since that day, every time I returned to the chaco, I found it clean, the chickens laid many more eggs, the clean and plump cows, the fruit trees (cassavas and bananas) full. spent the night with her, always came at dusk. he let himself be touched, but I could never kiss her or reach more. So, for two years.
spent the night with her, always came at dusk. he let himself be touched, but I could never kiss her or reach more. So, for two years.
I was getting better financially, the woman gave me luck and little by little I was neglecting my family in exchange for the money I left them.
One day my wife gave me an ultimatum, he told me he was old, skinny and ugly, that would leave me, He asked me how the chaco was doing so well and I told him the truth. He asked me to talk to my compadre Santiago, older and wiser than me, to know how to get out of this. Santiago listened carefully and when I finished he told me that what was absorbing my life was not just any woman., was the Toad Woman. I asked her to come with me, but no one wanted to go there. everyone feared her. They feared falling into their networks. But for everything there is a solution and my compadre told me the way: under your hammock put some buckets of water. if she touches the water, it will return to its natural state and you will get rid of it. But she skipped the bucket and never got wet. I came back desperate, Santiago gave me another solution, pretend to be asleep and keep a flashlight, when she comes, dazzle her with the light.
That's what I did and what I saw scared me, I saw a giant toad that jumped out. I also, in shorts I got on the horse and got out of there, I didn't stop spurring until I got home. My wife was horrified, I didn't recognize how old I was.
Mariana asks and asks, but he says it's true, the professor says that these toad women exist, that is not a legend.
The next day I asked for help but again, no one wanted to come with me. Only my wife dared, who accompanied me to the rump. When we arrived, everything was neglected., dirty, dead chickens and sick cows. The previously plump fruits, they were rotten. We had no money, I lost everything. But thanks to the love of my wife, we got over it, we start from scratch. In the end we live well my wife, my eight children and I. I don't know what I would have done if she had left me. I owe my soul.
Don Chano breathes and tears fall. Mariana asks and asks, but he says it's true, the professor says that these toad women exist, that is not a legend.
It's already past eight and I have to write, I say goodbye to Mariana until tomorrow, tea time today has been magical. I apologize and go to my immaculate white room in your hostel for travelers "Mi Casa", a haven of peace in this capital, with a garden with an orchard and hummingbirds that come every morning to sip on the vines and flowers of this wonderful place. You already know, if you want to relax in the middle of La Paz, visit "My House", of the Machicao family, near the college of bankers, you will meet a great woman and it will be an unforgettable experience.
Comments (2)
alicia
| #
I always say it, your stories leave me with a taste of longing. keep telling us things…
Answer
martin
| #
I will visit her
Answer