[ENG/ESP] A guarapo that ended the day on a sweet note
I hope you all have a wonderful and productive day.
Today, I’d like to share with you how my workday went—one of those days that seem simple at first glance but still leave behind little stories and moments worth sharing. From early on, it was clear to me that the day wouldn’t be complicated; I just had to turn in a few pending invoices and go through my usual work routine at the Sunsol Unik hotel—a task that’s now part of my weekly routine and that I know almost by heart.
The days continue to be excellent, though also very hot. That heat can be exhausting at times, but it also offers urban and natural landscapes full of light, vibrant colors, and details that can be captured with a phone camera. As we walked down the avenue, I enjoyed capturing those little corners that the island offers without asking for anything in return, making my walk much more enjoyable and bearable.
Les deseo un día maravilloso y productivo.
En esta ocasión quiero compartirles cómo transcurrió mi jornada laboral, una de esas que parecen sencillas a primera vista, pero que igual dejan pequeñas historias y momentos que vale la pena contar. Desde temprano ya tenía claro que el día no sería complicado; solo debía entregar unas facturas pendientes y realizar mi rutina habitual de trabajo en el hotel Sunsol Unik, una tarea que ya forma parte de mi semana y que conozco casi de memoria.
Los días continúan siendo excelentes, aunque también muy calurosos. Ese calor que a veces agota, pero que también regala paisajes urbanos y naturales llenos de luz, colores vibrantes y detalles que se pueden inmortalizar con el lente del teléfono. Mientras avanzábamos por la avenida, disfrutaba capturar esos rincones que la isla ofrece sin pedir nada a cambio, haciendo mi recorrido mucho más ameno y llevadero.
As we were nearing the hotel, we came across a man and his son who were herding their livestock down the avenue. They were moving them to another piece of land because the severe drought of recent days had left them with very little food available. Watching them walk patiently, guiding the animals under the sun, reminded me of how hard farm work can be and how each person on the island copes with the challenges of the climate in their own way.
Cuando casi llegábamos al hotel, nos encontramos con un señor y su hijo que llevaban su ganado por toda la avenida. Los estaban trasladando a otro terreno porque la sequía tan fuerte de estos días les había dejado muy poco alimento disponible. Verlos caminar con paciencia, guiando a los animales bajo el sol, me recordó lo duro que puede ser el trabajo del campo y cómo cada persona en la isla enfrenta a su manera los retos del clima.
We continued on our way and arrived at the hotel to carry out the chlorination and disinfection routine for the main tank. Fortunately, everything went smoothly; the test results were excellent, and the process was completed without a hitch. That feeling of completing a technical task and seeing it yield good results always brings a sense of peace of mind.
Continuamos nuestro camino y llegamos al hotel para realizar la rutina de clorado y desinfección del tanque principal. Por suerte, todo salió satisfactoriamente; los parámetros dieron excelentes y el proceso se completó sin contratiempos. Esa sensación de cumplir con una tarea técnica y verla dar buenos resultados siempre trae tranquilidad.
When we were done, we headed to the Parque Costa Azul shopping center to turn in the week’s receipts. It’s almost become a habit to stop by there after working at the hotel, and it always feels like the perfect way to wrap up the workday. With everything taken care of, we set off for home, looking forward to resting and leaving the day’s heat behind.
Al terminar, nos dirigimos al centro comercial Parque Costa Azul para entregar las facturas de la semana. Ya es casi una costumbre pasar por allí después de trabajar en el hotel, y siempre se siente como cerrar el ciclo del día laboral. Con todo cumplido, emprendimos el camino de regreso a casa, pensando en descansar y dejar atrás el calor de la jornada.
On the way, we saw a man selling guarapo. The funny thing is that, even though I’d seen guarapo stands many times, I never stopped to drink it because I never saw them grinding the sugarcane right then and there. And for me, that’s the key; I like to see the process, to feel that the drink is truly fresh. That’s why I hadn’t had guarapo in over eleven years.
En el trayecto vimos a un señor que vendía guarapo. Lo curioso es que, aunque muchas veces había visto puestos de guarapo, nunca me detenía a tomarlo porque jamás veía que molieran la caña en el momento. Y para mí, esa es la clave; me gusta ver el proceso, sentir que la bebida es realmente fresca. Por eso llevaba más de once años sin probar un guarapo.
I walked over and explained to the man that I’d only drink it if I could watch him make it. With great kindness, he began grinding the sugarcane right there in front of me, explaining that many vendors grind it ahead of time and store it in thermoses to save time, but that he prefers to please his customers and serve them the drink fresh. That gesture of his made my day.
When I tasted the guarapo, I felt it was completely worth the wait. It was delicious, refreshing, just the right amount of sweet, and had that natural flavor that only freshly crushed sugarcane has. It refreshed my body and my spirits, and left me with a sense of unexpected joy.
Me acerqué y le expliqué al señor que solo lo tomaba si veía cómo lo preparaban. Él, con una amabilidad enorme, comenzó a moler la caña allí mismo, delante de mí, explicándome que muchos vendedores la muelen antes y la guardan en termos para ahorrar tiempo, pero que él prefiere complacer a sus clientes y entregarles la bebida recién hecha. Ese gesto del señor me alegró.
Cuando probé el guarapo, sentí que valió completamente la espera. Estaba delicioso, fresco, dulce en su justa medida y con ese sabor natural que solo tiene la caña recién molida. Me refrescó el cuerpo y el ánimo, y me dejó una sensación de alegría inesperada.
Happy to have enjoyed that simple yet special moment, we continued on our way home.
I'll see you again in another one of my posts.
See you soon.
Bye.
Contenta por haber disfrutado ese momento tan simple y tan especial, continuamos nuestro camino hacia la casa.
Los volveré a ver en otra de mis publicaciones.
Hasta pronto.
Chao.
The photos were taken with a Redmi Note 13
Translated with DeepeL
Photos was made with Inshot
Guarapo? Wow, I've just learned a new word! 😍 Was the taste amazed you and would want to try it again? Well, you're truly right that any fruit meant to become a drink is best when freshly prepared. I like that idea, too. I hate to take drinks out of fruit juices if they were already prepared hours before I drink them. We're not even sure if they were carefully prepared. It's best to witness preparing them face-to-face. It's more refreshing. 😀
Yeah, gurapo! 😄
The truth is, I was also surprised by how delicious it turned out, which is why I always prefer to drink it fresh. There’s nothing like watching them grind the fresh sugarcane right in front of you. I love how natural it is. I’m not a fan of those juices that have been sitting around for hours either… they lose all their nutrients. Thanks for your comment.
Have a great week.🌹🌷🥀🪻🌺🌻🪷💐🏵️💮🌸🍀
Great post!
Sending you an Ecency curation vote!
Thank you for your vote. Have a great week.🌹🌷🥀🪻🌺🌻🪷💐🏵️💮🌸🍀