Is Barrio Flores your Last Name?

No, Barrio Flores is the name of the neighborhood where my parents built their retirement home, located some 10 km from Cochabamba. Back when it was purchased, it was a remote location deep within the euctalyptus forest. Now, there's electricity, a new paved road and many of the trees have been cut down to sell as lumber. As entire square kilometers between Cochabamba and Quillacollo continue to become urbanized, much of the charm is becoming lost.

The house is about 1 km from the main road leading into Tiquipaya. It's an interesting environment because huge mansions (not ours) sit side-by-side with small campesino farms. It's definitely a sign of the contrasts in Bolivia. Many of the local families work as caretakers, living on properities, in addition to receiving payment for other maintenance work. We've had three different families who have lived on our grounds. It's been interesting to get to know them.

Even we have met other families in the area. Often I would be stopped driving home and be invited chicharron and chicha. Even though I may have eaten, it's tough to turn down any invitation. Although, only one tutuma of chicha, because I was driving.

One doesn't miss the constant honks of car horns or the pollutants from the city buses. Watching the tall euctalyptus trees swaying in the wind, with the mountains to your back is definitely the best part of being there.