Review: Taking to the streets, La Paz, Bolivia

Back in La Paz we decided to sample a few of the foods available on the streets.  Street food did not seem to be in abundance like some other destinations we have visited however, its still around.  What is very very good is the number of juice vendors around squeezing orange and pinapples.  We had a couple of these juices whilst wondering around.

We also tried some chocolate…it turned out to be 100% chocolate and let's just say it wasn't that easy to eat or tasty!  I took a huge bite only to discover that it was like having a huge spoonful of cocoa powder in my mouth that was impossible to swallow!  It was so strong and flowery in texture and made me incredibly thirsty!  I also had some pork and chuno, the pork was pretty tasty although some of it was a bit dry and overcooked.

Viva Cuenca! - Independence festival, Cuenca, Ecuador, November 1 - 3 2010

We had planned our road trip in Ecuador around the 190th year anniversary of Cuenca's independence.  We hired a car from Quito and drove down stopping briefly overnight in Alusai.  The drive was beautiful and allowed us to see lots of Ecuador as we passed through farming villages, small towns, rolling hills and past the towering Cotapaxi and Chimborazo volcanos.

The celebrations in Cuenca were vibrant, colourful, peopleful and fun.  As you can see from the pictures there were some cool fireworks where the whole crowd participated in the show!  There were bands and different stalls and shows around the town including a go kart race.

Just like in Columbia, Ecuador has plenty of tasty and cheap street food on offer and being a festival as well there was heaps on offer.  The meat available was delicious: there are so many kebab varieties, including guinea pig!  There were varieties of ice cream, salchipapas, plantain and other tasty snacks.

In addition to the street food we found a really good schwarma shop/hole in the wall called Arabe Schwarma.  The chicken was cooked and flavoured beautifully, the price right and the man really friendly.  We even went back for seconds!

 

Street food, Cartagena, Columbia

For most of our time spent in Cartagena we ate street food.  You only have to walk a few hundred meters to come across multiple street vendors selling something different and the aromas and sounds of the food are too much to resist!  You can buy anything from fresh fruit, to ceviche, beautiful meat, sausages, potatoes, arepa, empanadas, papas fritas, plantain crisps, local made sweets, tamales, fresh bread, donuts….the list goes on!  The food is tasty and very cheap.  A trip to Columbia, and certainly Cartagena would not be complete without indulging in the street food on offer.  

 

Food Glossary: Arepa

Arepa is a round (usually) fried cornmeal patty served plain as an accompaniment to breakfasts, or with cheese, meat, eggs or another topping or filling from a street food stall.  It is found in Columbia and Venezuela in South America.  I have only sampled it in Columbia, but it was really tasty and an easy, cheap snack to get any time of day on the streets.  It tastes similar to a pancake-like-bread and can be sweet or savoury.