Sauces & spices, we miss you

Ok I need to vent this... Today I was doing a smaller photography job for a "gringo" friend who lives here in Medellin as well. We were discussing local food. My friend was complaining about the lack of sauces served with fish and any dish. Rice, meat, salad. No sauce, no dressing, no spices. Fish, rice, lettice. No dressing, no sauce, no spices. Only tomato sauce (ketchup) and occasionally "pink sauce". No onions, garlic, herbs, butter, nothing... and no deserts. "If they have so many fruit, why don't they at least make pineapple pies?" my friend complained. Yes, I've almost lost my appetite too... but it was good to find a companion in my suffering...