Saying Goodbye is Hard to Do

So we say 'See you later!' instead. Yesterday my brother hit the friendly skies between Culebra and San Juan before a very early a.m. trip back to Florida. He'll be back and I'll be there but in the moment of waving farewell, it's a little less laughter and wishing it could go on longer. 

Lunch at Zaco's. Baby didn't try the hot sauces. Yet.

Friends in town staying in Punta Aloe gave us another view.
Thanks, Doug and Kathy!

A fiery dawning

The promised rain came. And went. Fast.

We took one more trip to Flamenco. 

All this sun and fun is tiring!

One last look at our gorgeous waters 

Then it was on to the airport. Time is so fluid...one minute it seemed like that last half of an hour was going on much longer and then suddenly names were being called. By the plane guy, not us.

It's a family affair.

I love our airport, where hanging out together has no tedious long walks to gates, where you usually run into someone you know, coming or going or picking up friends and family. 

It doesn't seem so long ago, growing up in Florida where it was almost the same. Except for the planes being bigger, you could wait to see people climbing or descending the stairs from the plane and walking across the tarmac to come inside. 

"Until the Jetway was invented, all passengers had to walk outside onto the tarmac and climb a set of portable stairs to board the aircraft. This was often inconvenient depending upon weather conditions, or on the passenger’s personal fear of flying. The first Jetway covered corridors were installed by Delta Airlines at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport in May 1961."  from a fun article on Mental Floss - 10 Things We No Longer See at Airports

The baby loves her Uncle Jonny

Until we meet again in California!

That was done! It was time to head up the hills to Krusty Krab and have another spectacular meal, with a spectacular view. I was driving the slowest golf cart on Culebra (not kidding, other carts have been passing me no matter how hard we pedal) and missed most of the sunset. That was okay, the view was family and islands, new and old friends. And the food was even better than the last time we went. Ceviche, conch salad, fish tacos, everyone was happy.

Another one in the memory books. Sharing Culebra is always good and family just makes it better.

Have a tapestried Thursday. Do something tranquil.

Culebra Randomness

As we get closer to the end of this year, it seemed a good time to tidy up a bit. 

Yesterday I decided a walk was in order. I like this neighborhood and there is always something interesting to see. There was no searching; this guy was waiting close by outside the gate.

I went back inside to get my phone and see if I could find who this rather intimidating pig might belong to, but by the time I came back he'd moved along. If you're missing a pig...I have no idea where he is now.

Places to go, people to see.

After that, everything looked pretty normal.

The other day I was going to be way too early for a meeting so a drive around to some familiar but not seen in awhile places was an excellent time filler. 

Just another beautiful winter day in Paradox

 Well, that didn't take long. Farther along was needed. 

Yes, it really is a great place to take a photo.
But pull up and over as far as you can!

Is there a farm theme going on here?

This row of brilliant bougainvilleas are always a smile making sight, even when needing a bit of a road side trim.

I left out the photo of the American Kestral who flew across the road in front of me, with a baby iguana in its beak. A quick landing in the brush only gave me a fuzzy photo and maybe a little too much of Nature at work. But it was pretty interesting. The iguana was almost as big as the bird, length wise. 

Some beautiful orchids

I'd never been to the new location for Krusty Krab. In fact, I've not been up that hill in years. Homes I never saw before and then the brilliantly placed location itself. Looking back, I should have tried to get a photo of the whole place but the view drew me like a magnet. How could it not? Guess I'll just have to go back!

Lots of people there, including some old friends.
Great to see you, Sandra!!!

The menu is a simple one, heavy on fish and everything good. It's BYOB and if you bring wine, bring along a corkscrew as well, as the one they have was about the only flaw found. There was a long wait but everyone seemed happy and content. Between the view and good company,  it wasn't bad. But if you go up there pretty sure you'll be starving? Maybe have some appetizers at home before you head out.

We also ran into some friends who had just come from the beach who'd ordered ahead for take home dinners. 

Red snapper

King fish (I could only eat half of this, it was big
(and will be a great lunch today)

This morning, out of a blue sky, came a steady but very light rain. The sun was back out in a minute, bringing an amazing double rainbow. You can't really see the double here unless you peer closely, but it's there.

There now. On this Christmas Eve and first day of Chanukah, enjoy your celebrations. If you don't have religious feelings, just enjoy the season with gifts of kindness and love. 

Light and light

Have a scintillating Saturday. Do something seasonable.

Free Range Friday ~ Goin' Out and Havin' Fun~~~

(I can't help it, life is so often like a stage play with word bubbles above the action, the dialogue often, in my head anyway, being made of song lyrics. Luckily for me, I didn't grow up when the song lyrics suggested killing everyone I don't care for. Yet another reason to love the 60's and 70's music and times. Peace and love, baby.)

There isn't much cooking going on by me lately, as I pull all the little last bits and pieces together involved in moving house and leaving the rock for awhile. But that does not mean missing out on awesome meals, with seafood as the unplanned theme. 

New and old friends, thanks for good food, good company and did I mention good food?

First up was a nicely done dorado at Dinghy Dock with some old and new friends - dorado or dolphinfish or mahi mahi  or...if you want to make yourself a little crazy over the name of a fish, this one would be where to read yourself dizzy. 

I was always told, growing up in Florida, that the reason what we called dolphin fish was called mahi mahi was for marketing in restaurants. Too many didn't want to eat Flipper, i.e. the mammal one never would eat of the same name. But apparently and not really surprisingly, region also has a lot to do with what you call this fish. 

All I can tell you with sure authority is that I called it delicious. And that I didn't take a photo of our meals. Sometimes that happens.

Next was a really wonderful home (away from home) cooked meal of shrimp and pasta with a perfect sauce, including plenty of garlic (a good thing in my book), like a scampi but not. I'm not sure what all the ingredients were, but it looked good and tasted even better. Thanks, Ned and Joey, it's always a pleasure to meet new men friends who know how to cook well in a unfamiliar kitchen!

Mucho ceviche - like potato salad, everyone makes it differently.
This one is very simple and very fresh. That works.

Last and far from least, with the birthday that keeps on giving, I was taken to lunch at Krusty Krab (next to the Post Office) where everything lived up to and beyond expectations. Ceviche, so much ceviche! Shared by two people, cold and fresh and delicious, we really couldn't finish it all and ate more than we should have, knowing it was just an appetizer (it would be a full entree for one, and more than plenty for two as an app). 

We both ordered grouper filet - it's a hard menu to choose from but that sounded really good - and asked for it to be grilled. Perfection! The seasonings were light and didn't overpower the fish, the fish was cooked exactly - and I mean exactly - the right amount of time to leave it flaky and hot and still wonderfully moist, seasoned well without overpowering this mild, almost sweet tasting fish. The plantain cups were also good, not overdone and pretty cute. I guess cute isn't really a very good descriptive food term but, hey, they were.

We also ordered salad, but it was just too much - we were pretty much groaning by that point, without quite going to licking the plates. Luckily, along came another friend who made sure it wouldn't go to waste and we avoided using a styro to go container.

Krusty Krab, 5 stars! 

Editorial blah blah blah - (remember during the end of a newscast, the station manager might come on and it was a big big deal to preface his minute or two with some terrible graphics saying THIS IS AN EDITORIAL COMMENT, it does not reflect etc. etc. I miss that fair warning of - hey, this is my opinion! It is NOT news. Long gone days, what a loss).

With all the froohaha about various meats these days (unfortunately more true than we ever hear about), I'm thinking more seafood is a very good way to lean. Yes, there are absolutely seafood issues too, but they can be more easily avoided than chicken, pork or beef contaminants, especially if you live in a place like Culebra, where you can't get organic  meats by running to your local organic store or go to a true free range farm. Fish gives the 'bite in the tooth' that meat lovers crave and if chosen with care, is a fine filler-inner until safe meat is sourced. 

Why has eating well become so damn difficult?

Anyone who reads this blog or knows me knows I'm an unashamed carnivore, but deferred pleasures will be more in my life now until more sanity is in our procured  and sold food chain. The USDA has sold us up the river and I hope it's not a river of no return.

Have a fishin' for feasting Friday! Do something food favorable.