Brassia orchid in watercolour

Watercolour of a spider (Brassia) orchid.

Spider orchid

Pencil sketch of a Brassia, or spider orchid. 5 species of Brassia are found in Bolivia.

 

Bolivian event in Hackensack

Sunday I took the bus to Hackensack, NJ, where the Bolivians had their annual festival. A couple friends showed up, one who writes for HDL in Israel, and they were quite impressed. Each departamento had their dancers in colourful native dress do a parade.

Marco Medrano was officiating as usual, this being an event he started for the Bolivian community before he became Consul General in NY.

Native food was also on hand, and I had a very nice ceviche, which was not acidic at all as some can be. Best with lots of cilantro and some red onion, washed down with some jugo de tamarindo or coco.

What impressed me the most was just the vibe, real friendly, there does not seem to be much strife in their society, despite the decades of turbulent politics. It happens that this is a very safe country, there are no real crimes, so travel to Bolivia is in demand. Try to go when there is a festival, and you are in for a treat. The next event I know of there is the Tenth Annual Orchid Festival in Concepcion, Santa Cruz, 8-10th October, which will be just as colourful as the parades of dancers in native dress - check out the cattleyas, brassias and sobralias!