Sketches of Life in Chile, 1841-1851 by Vallejo Jose Joaquin; Fornoff Frederick H.; Collier Simon

Author:Vallejo, Jose Joaquin; Fornoff, Frederick H.; Collier, Simon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2002-04-12T04:00:00+00:00

Outings

To tell the truth, this business of going out for walks still isn’t anything more than an imported activity in Copiapó, a way to overcome the general inertia of the people here. The siesta, that drowsiness brought on by overeating, still has its devotees and proselytes: it’s our way of keeping up the good fight against effective digestion by not going out for a little stroll right after eating.

It’s also true that, with regard to digestives served during and after the meal, we’re on a par with the most civilized countries: sherry, port, San Vicente wine, and other strong medicines help us ward off colic in the same way that an orderly society keeps us safe from anarchy, a democratic society prevents despotism, and the sign of the cross immunizes us against the spirit of both these plagues.

So you aren’t likely to bump into strollers everywhere you turn late in the day: if around then you see three or four gentlemen heading this way or that and you think they’re out for a walk, follow them and you’ll discover that they’ve set out walking because only by walking can they get to where coffee is served and a tertulia is in progress.

That young guy who, at sunset, climbs on his horse and sets out riding along the city walls, he’s not out for exercise either; he’s scouting; he’s a falcon looking for prey.

And what about those people walking toward Chimba in the cool of the evening?, you’ll ask me. No way! Nobody would go to Chimba, at any hour of the day, if there weren’t all those girls to look at, all that mate to drink, all those flowers free for the picking.

After a certain age, a man doesn’t walk below San Francisco, even if they invite him to a picnic without having to pay. “That’s O.K. for young guys, but I’m not up to it anymore,” he’d reply to the one suggesting he make the trip.

If a stranger comes to Copiapó without knowing what day it is, which could very well happen if he’s coming from the port and gets crazy from all the dust in Ramadilla; if he comes to Copiapó, I repeat, and sees a lot of women coming and going with white hats or handkerchiefs on their heads as if they were out for a walk, he should say: today is Sunday, today is a festival, because it’s sure that he won’t see them in the streets on any other day. To take a walk on a workday is an absurdity, you risk catching a cold, or worse, having someone see you. Jesus, what would they say, we’re walking for no reason, like people with nothing to do!

In light of this lack of enthusiasm, this non-custom of taking a bit of fresh air, our illustrious municipality has decided not to include plans for an alameda, a public walk, among the many projects for improving the comfort and appearance that have been drawn up so far, improvements

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