"Home" again and enjoying getting back to North American food and customs. The experience of travelling in the third world, particularly Honduras was certainly a real eye opener into the poverty that exists. You can read about it, watch it on TV, but until you experience it first hand the reality really doesn't sink in. The strength of the people to survive and overcome and keep smiling is amazing. We, here in the USA and Canada, have so so very much to be thankful for! And yes, Dale and I would go back in a minute. We fell in love with the beautiful country, the friendly people and the relaxing life style. Too hot to be in a hurry so you go on "Honduran time" and enjoy each day.
On our return to Palm Springs, Joan & Paul were at the airport to greet us and get us safely home. Our travel day was not to bad, only about 12 hours, but we were travel weary and very glad to get into our own bed. After a relatively good nights sleep it was time to unpack..oh my goodness..had no idea how much "stuff" we had stuffed into our bags. I think they literally exploded when the zippers/clasps were undone. A day spent sorting, putting things away, laundry, getting groceries...and so it went.
On Monday, one of my kayak buddies (Jackie) and her husband (Jim) were passing through Palm Springs so stopped by for a visit. They are on a car trip down the west coast, across the USA, up the east coast and across Canada..will be back in BC in May!! I cooked dinner here on the bus for us and we had a wonderful evening. I know I talk a lot about food, but you'll love this menu: A choice of red or white wine; Watermelon Greek Salad, garlic/mustard crusted roasted leg of lamb, roasted white/yam potatoes, green beans,/carrots with maple syrup glaze and for dessert, chocolate fudge brownies with vanilla ice cream, followed by freshly ground Honduran coffee for those who drink coffee. Green tea for me! Now, doesn't that sound good. It was great to be back cooking with all the condiments that we take for granted and so readily available.
There is a spice they use in Honduras that is underlying in almost all the food prepartions. Haven't been able to figure out what it was but must say I didn't really care for it..sort of a cross between curry and cilantro, (and I like both), but then again, everything has a lot of MSG in it so could have been just that. Linda, on each trip from Canada/USA to Honduras, is bring more spices/condiments MSG free, to use in their restaurant. Just hard to find MSG free items in the stores there right now.
The rest of the week was a flurry of activity, getting the bus cleaned, getting some Christmas shopping done, spending a day doing some baking (gotta have homemade fruit bread for breakfast Christmas morning); visiting and reconnecting with all our friends in Two Springs.
Christmas Eve we had two couples in for a baked ham/scalloped potatoes and all the trimmings and must say the ham was spectacular in flavour. A little crowded with six of us but we managed just fine and we had a lovely evening.
After a Christmas morning of each of us being thoroughly spoiled, we were invited to an open house at 9:00 am, followed by a late delicious breakfast at another friends RV before it was time to get our offerings (brussel sprouts with a maple syrup glaze and walnuts) ready to take up to the clubhouse for Christmas dinner at 3:00 pm. There were lots of folks staying in the resort over Christmas and lots of families with visitors, so the clubhouse was pretty full. As usual, the food was plentiful and delicious and the volunteer cooks did an awesome job on the hams, turkeys, gravy and potatoes. No one went hungry that day!
At the beginning of the week we were experiencing torrential rain storms that did quite a bit of damage to some of the lots here in the park. We were fortunate to make it through unscathed, but one friend lost their retaining wall and washed a lot of the sand away, undermining the back of their lot. The amount of water that came down was astounding..a lot of roads were closed all over the city and after driving around the other day, the amount of sand that came through the washes and over the roads was unbelievable. So many people had their homes flooded and streets were impassable. Now, after several days of glorious sunshine, it is hard to believe the storm was actually here! Mother Nature is busy playing her tricks on us again.
Dale is still suffering the effects of his bad fall in Puerto Vallarta a few weeks ago. The bruising is now coming out and his left leg is bruised from mid calf all the way up his thigh and is a bright purple! He is still having difficulty with steps and says it is still very sore. Between his leg and my hip we are quite a sight! Ahhhh, the golden years!!
With the sun shining as brightly as it is and no wind today, it is time to get outside and enjoy this glorious weather. Hope this finds everyone hale and hearty and we hope you each had a wonderful, blessed Christmas. Till next time then......
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