BerryTreat

Blog 48 …

 

    



One of only two fruits with seed outside their skin, strawberries bring delight to the palate, especially perfectly sweet and ripe ones. They are delectable to the eyes and scrumptiously juicy at first bite inside the mouth. If you like, strawberries are quite easy to turn also into a smoothie drink, thick or thin. If you are adventurous, serve them thinly sliced as toppings on fluffy cakes along with cream.  Better yet, and only if you are looking for a really rare, mouth-watering, delicious and fantabulous treat, you must dig for a chef's chilled 'Strawberry Soufflé'.  It is absolutely festive for late spring or early summer ‘antipasti’!

Pack 'n' Go

Blog 47 … 

         Just when you think you have settled in one place long after moving around about a dozen or so times, life events change.  Taking roots in a place, you discover, is completely a fantasy.  You know that nothing is truly permanent in life, yet you insist on defying the changes that it dictates.  Why so?  Economics time and time uproot you and me, so do feelings of boredom and stagnating lives at our workplaces.  Desire to be closer to family uproots us too, but nothing as strong as fulfilling goals and dreams.  Packing up and going to someplace new is cumbersome, but when it hypnotizes us, when it promises to suck us up and regurgitate us to another place where we could be once more alive, where we could start out again, dream again, and aspire to go beyond what we could be, uprooting ourselves makes perfect sense! 

Costa Maya

Cruisin’ d Gulf of Mexico: Costa Maya
Blog 46 ...

     Situated on the Caribbean Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula near Mexico's border with Belize, Costa Maya, our cruise’s fourth port-of-call, leads to several lush interior and stirring Mayan ruins.  It boasts, and rightfully so, of the world's second largest coral reef system, 60 types of coral, and about 500 fish.  Costa Maya is famous for Mayan archeological sites, stews and ceviche, blue agave tequila, Mayan replica masks, and diving/snorkeling.  Looking ahead, Mickey and I see on the horizon Majahual town, looking laid back and pristine still.  Accessible about five minutes from the port pier, we and fellow travelers walk down a circle of local craft shops by Uvero Beach, newest and most popular of all beaches on the island. Like many cruise ship guests, we stroll and enjoy the warm sun and soft breeze; others in our crowd, though morning is young, begin tasting tequila. Still, others sit out, soak in the sun or simply relax on its powder-sand grounds. We walk a little bit longer on the pier's tourist village and take off ‘cabin fever' from our systems.  The village stores provide guests with samplings of food and craft products: chicle plants' chewing gum, chocolate, local candy, dried fruit, tequila, leather goods, and colorful serapes, hammocks, native dolls, toys, beach wear, silver and turquoise pendants, necklaces, rings.  Mickey and I went on and on with our non-directional browsing until we found the perfect memento, a silver&turquoise turtle pendant.  We shall remember our Costa Maya visit for a long while!

Slip 'n' Bump

Blog 45 … 

          As we advance in age we become protective of ourselves.  We naturally and intentionally heighten our self-awareness, but unfortunately we get lax.  From time to time and when we remember to so do only, we look at the safety nets of our environment.  Much as we build this safeguard, however, we still get on the slippery-slide side of accidents.  Yeah … an accident is just that though ... a force of natural incident added to our once in a while stupidity, clumsiness and inattention! 

          Accidents lurk often inside our living spaces, and they are ready to pounce, leaving behind fairly avoidable mishaps.  For starters, remember your toe encounter with a corner point of furniture while simply getting into a seat?  That yielded and left you with an awful pain for good five or more minutes.  Do you recall dropping a water-filled glass when all you want that moment was a perfect drink?  That too, created an uncomfortable mess.  Screaming as much and loudly as you did nothing to undo the situation.  And what of the time you forgot to pick up a pot holder to hold or lift a hot pan handle?  That left you a week or more of an excruciating burn.  Then just last week, you stepped on a doggie ball in an unlighted hallway and you fell flat on your butt!  That, definitely, was not anything to be glad-funny about.  Your tailbone really screamed in pain for a month or two. 

          So what then?  Nothing could really be a simpler precaution than vigilance, dear friend!  Do light up rooms, and look down and around where you are headed.  Best yet, have a mind presence and watch out ... always!

East meets West

Blog 44 … Cruisin’ d Gulf of Mexico: Down Miami Port

Air travel, layovers, and port transfers altogether alert everyone’s patience.  Yet, people from all walks of life gather at Miami port-of-call.  No doubt, like us, they are united by a goal to get away from the work grind and the hustle and bustle of life anywhere, everywhere - east or west!  Packed with grand expectations, and memory-making hopes, we all merge at the doors of cruise ship, the Carnival Conquest.  Suit cases dragging could be heard all around.  Anxiety, eagerness and mixed other emotions strongly building up could also be felt.  Finally, all head to cruise ship gangway and queue, may be for the last time until the adventure really begins!  So we thought.  But soon after official check-in, unlocking of the fastest routes and mazes of floors, central gathering places and assigned "staterooms", an emergency siren drowns all ears.  Safety drill is first protocol- a must for sea travel and adventure!  Briefing complete, all heave a sigh and in every which one’s merry heart-way, cruisers split in many directions. 

          Fashionistas get pulled in by shops on 5th floor to check out the latest vogue for ship get up.  Pros and curious adventurers of liqueur go straight to bars and order their first dry martini, whiskey or rum.  Luck gamers rush their feet to the casino; they spot their favorite game of chance or try their second best choice to raise adrenalin for hypnotic greed.  Patrons of art peruse the board for auction gatherings and check bargains for notable prints and original works.  Music lovers lounge where drifting or bolstering sounds suited their ears.  Comic entertainers spice up the Punchliners’ Stage, and begin to crack either their lame or belly-filling laugh lines.  Wet sports enthusiasts head fast to their cabins, change and hit the pools or lounge and catch the late rays of the sun.  Of course, cruise ship service staff could be spotted everywhere; all begin their task to please and satisfy guests who have gathered all throughout the ship, at the stomach and pallet-filling restaurants, especially.  They serve in humble stances 12 hours each day of a weeklong voyage on ship and at ports-of-call, careful to not show tired backs or achy feet. 

          Though hard to support with honest to goodness motives, people take in as much of what they thought they purchased, the coveted freedom of movement and activity in an environment of pampering at beck and call, and cruisin’ along Gulf of Mexico aboard Carnival Conquest!

 

In Belize

Blog 43 ... Cruisin’ the Gulf of Mexico: Belize

          Our second port-of-call by Carnival Conquest started with a 33-mile coach drive along main Highway and seamless viewing of roadside orchards.  Miles and miles of cashew and guava, fruit trees let out sweet ripening smell.  Soon, we arrive at Chhen Cave entry where our river tubing trek would begin.  On foot, we head out first to explore the remarkable 700-foot canopy and luscious rainforest.  All team participants couldn't be more thrilled to discover dense flora that the jungle offered, including rare spices and medicinal plants/barks.  We stopped next at one sacred Maya underground cave worlds, and learn that long ago elites of the Mayans searched for the best hidden places inside it to offer sacrifices and buy their safe passage to heaven.   We walked a few more meters of what seemed a growing trail, exercised our almost jelly-forming legs; soon after, the awaited water treat!  We grab a tube float, a safety vest, a headlight, and then our guides tied Mickey and me to six other tube floats.  All at the ready, we then began to river-cruise down small rapids and through the caves.  We hand-paddled some while our guide pulled us in into the river that formed from the hillside flowing spring water.  We listened to stories of Mayan adventures in the river-caves, spotted fruit and insect bats, hand-paddled more and played with water until we beheld crystal-like and fossilized formations dripping from the high walls: a sleeping woman, a turtle, a diamond pendant, and soon enough, the prized jaguar-like formation guarding the only cave opening!   We last made our way to a mini- waterfall and got refreshingly tickled by the cool waters!

Cozumel

Cruisin' the Gulf of Mexico: Cozumel

Blog 42 ...

             As Clemente, the local head guide to a caravan island drive shouted out, "Let's go amigos!" we cranked our transformed VW-bug and gave it a screaming, vrooooomm!  We traversed city traffic and then smoothly cruised miles and miles of scenic drive along the coast, passed ancient rock formations, turquoise waters and swamp vegetation. 

          After what seemed a couple of hours hair-blowing and wind surfing-like drive, we stopped at one of the whitest sand beaches in the locale.  It turned out that the buggy tour-ride included a breathtaking and relaxing wade-swim in addition to communion with the sea.  Next, we safely raced the buggy through waterside roadways and made another stop down quaint El Cedral pueblo, town of three crosses, where we were treated to an authentic tortilla and seviche prepared by a local Mayan lady.  Hernan, our Mayan-Mexican guide, shared the community’s recently-concluded celebration of honoring ancestors with a ceremonial altar and procession; Clemente completes the conversation with information on the traditional "pig head" and maypole practices.  An icing on the cake, I had a sweet interaction with local girl, Victoria! 

          In El Cedral, away from the touristy crowds, we walked through a local company's tequila processing plant.  There, we were given rare, yet authentic tequila selecting, buying expertise and tasting one of the town’s best produced drinks. Mickey and I agreed that the smoothest of all smell and taste were those of soursop and pineapple brews!