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In Appreciation of Water and Gallo Pinto

By Jo Stuart

I was wondering at lunch the other day why water never became a god. My companions reminded me that some people paid homage to a rain god (mainly when they wanted rain), and there are sea gods in the person of Neptune and Oceanus, and Osiris is considered a river god and therefore a water god. But I was thinking in terms of plain old water – all we seem to have is the eleventh sign of the Zodiac, Aquarius, the Water Bearer. About the only notable time water was mentioned in the New Testament was when Jesus changed it into wine

Water is a necessary condition for life to even be possible. And it is primary, next to air, in keeping life going.. It is necessary to grow the crops we eat, to keep ourselves clean and sanitary. Too little of it and we get sick and die; too much of it and we die. In short, it can give life or destroy it. Seems a pretty powerful element to me to have been overlooked when the status of god was being given out. Perhaps because it comes in so many forms –but isn’t that one of the properties a god should have? And finally, when it comes to the concept that god is within us all, if that god were water, it certainly would be true. Whatever, I think water is the Rodney Dangerfield of elements.

However, since no one else seemed that interested in the subject, our talk turned to food. Early this week I had an early morning appointment at the Clinica Duran. I was out of there by 9:30, waiting for the bus and looking forward to breakfast. I have not developed a taste, and certainly not a craving for it, so I was surprised to feel like having some gallo pinto.

Across the street from the bus stop is a little soda, Soda Miriam – I mean little. I had noticed it on my other visits to the clinic and thought it looked rather inviting. With its white table clothed tables in front of each of the two large windows flanking the entryway. On impulse I crossed the street and entered. As soon as I walked in I had second thoughts. There were only five tables in the place. The white chairs, plastic as were the table cloths, were quite dirty. The people sitting at two of the tables were drinking only coffee (bad sign – no food). There was a counter with a steam table and a young woman behind it as well as very tall, solidly built young man nearby.

Since all eyes were upon me, I felt I must forge on. Fortunately in the steam table was gallo pinto – that mixture of rice and beans I thought I wanted. I ordered that. Being queried further, I added, a fried egg, café con leche. Y “nada mas.” I added firmly, and sat down at one of the tables in the window. I wanted to order as little as possible so what I knew I was going to leave, wouldn’t look so insulting. I pulled out my book and lost myself in “The Transit of Venus.”

Shortly my plate of gallo pinto arrived – a small mountain of it, and on a separate plate, a fried egg. The white looked like it had been deep fried and the yolk as if it had escaped cooking altogether. I asked if it could be done over easy and the tall fellow who was my waiter, dutifully took it away. It came back hard fried. He also brought a cup of watermelon chunks and my café con leche and some hot sauce. I cut up the egg and added it to my gallo pinto, sprinkled on some hot sauce and took a bite. It was exactly what I had imagined that I wanted. My coffee was hot and delicious, and the watermelon refreshing. I finished everything. I was even brought a glass of water. The only disturbing aspect was the tall young man who hovered, about three feet away, watching me eat. I am accustomed to this in stores, but not in restaurants.

My life has changed a bit since that breakfast. Having heard of the dangers of dehydration, I salute the ungod water by drinking a glass of water every morning, just to get the day started, and I think about having a plate of gallo pinto again, soon. I am even thinking of buying some black beans and making it myself, but it is a lot of work, and that whole breakfast cost only 750 colones ($1.65), and I didn’t have to wash the dishes.

Jo Stuart is the author of the popular book about life in Costa Rica entitled, “Butterfly in the City.” To order a copy of her wonderful book please contact her at: jostuart@amcostarica.com