Perspective

In order to see one, you must be able to see the other. 

Perspective. 

Many of us can't see the forest for the trees. And many of us forget that each tree is different, full of mystery. Each one has a story of its own...you just have to remember to listen in order to hear it, to ask to hear it, to be able to hear it. 

It's up to us to remember to see both priceless, one of a kind, and powerful perspectives.  

In my experience, getting stuck in one, leads to frustration, unhappiness and teeters on craziness. 

Let's all help each other to see both the bristly needles on a tree, as well as dancing horizons full of clouds and mountains, water and trees. 

Peace.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow...

One of the various reasons I love Burlington, VT:

One minute it is raining, another, it's so gorgeous out I have to remember to watch where I'm going as my gaze is fixated on the galloping clouds above. 

Outdoor seating with a view like this: 

Come and visit if you haven't!

The Choco-Banana

It is actually Choco-Banano, as banana is a masculine word in Guatemala...and it is obvious why. It is a phenomenon that inundates every city and town in Guatemala.  

The best choco-banano's that we discovered were full-sized bananas which were taken from the freezer in the ice-cream store and dipped directly in the melted chocolate that sat on the counter in a crock-pot. The entire place oozed of the thick, intoxicating smell of chocolate. 

After the chocolate dip, they are immediately rolled around in peanuts. Delicious! Naughty!

The smaller, simpler versions were found in little tiendas (aka the front's of people's entry way that gets filled with as much as possible, such as one-use shampoo, chips, pencils, pork rinds, bags of beans, razors, ... and you guessed it, choco-bananos!) No nuts, less pure chocolate. Just as delicious!

This woman in traditional Chichicastenango clothing came upon us as we walked out of the market town of Chichi toward a nearby hike. We told her we loved Guatemala because of the choco-bananos. She smiled and agreed. Everybody loves the choco-banano! 

Cooking in Guatemala

Cooking in Guatemala is easy and immensely enjoyable. 

Baking is almost impossible, so don't go expecting to roll out a new batch of cookies every week. If people have an oven, it is used to store dishes. 

Step #1: Go to the market. The market has more choices of fruits and vegetables than I've ever seen in one place. And they are truly fresh, most picked earlier that week or day, then brought in from the country-side. Choices, choices, choices. Cheap, cheap, cheap. All the food above I spend less than $8 buying!

Step #2: Go to the supermarket. Most Guatemalan cities have supermarkets where you can get most things. I love olive oil. I love being healthy when possible. Most Guatemalans cook with vegetable oil or lard. Lots of it. 

If you don't feel like slow cooking black beans you can buy them. In cans or bags. A small bag o' beans, a medium bag o' beans or a large bag o' beans. If you are a condiment user, you can also buy to your hearts delight...in lots of different sized bags. Don't forget about the hot dogs...for sale in mass quantities at both the market and the supermarket. 

Step #3: Cook! Yes, if you are not going to treat your raw veggies and fruits, but you are going to eat the skin, make sure to flash them in boiling water to kill any critters, bacteria, amoebas, or parasites that might be lurking on them. 

Step #4: Get daring. Try new things. (The above bowl is filled with small, intensely hot chilies that you buy in the market still in their husks). Talk to people at the markets. Ask them questions. Ask to try things. 

Ask your teachers or local friends to teach you how to cook a local dish...or two...or three. 

The above is a traditional soup that we made as a school activity. Served with tortillas, of course. 

Step #5: Enjoy!!!! Stray from the usual. Be creative with "usual" recipes or favorites. My friends Sarah, Monique and Robbie has Nacho Night at least three times a week. Mango salsas started evolving. Additions to the chips grew and grew.

If I would have continued living with a host family, I would not have been able to interact every other day with the sellers at the market. It enabled me to truly be a part of life in Xela. To be creative, to try new things, to ask new questions and to live like everyone else. Go shopping, bargain, cook, eat, be happy!

Summer at Stowe Pinnacle

It's important to visit the same trails and same peaks in multiple seasons. The last time I hiked Stowe Pinnacle was in the spring with snow covering everything. Snowshoes, layers, hats, gloves and sunglasses. 

Beautiful Jaime, her son Lucas and I made our way up this quick hike on a gorgeous, windy Sunday this summer. 

Everything was unrecognizable in comparison with the winter. 

It was a perfect summer day. We built up a good sweat, which made the snacks of cheese, blueberries and other Vermont summer nibbling's divine. 

But the truth: Lucas made the hike. He was nothing but smiles. People passed and started conversations with Jaime as Lucas engaged with his charming eyes and teeth of a smile. He was enjoying the ride as super-mom Jaime carried him up and down in her backpack carrier.

It was a perfect summer hike...a perfect summer day in Vermont.

A Man's Best Friend

True love, devotion, companionship...and not from a dog, but from a cat and to a cat.
This is a photo Dave took during a wedding down at the Burlington waterfront. The man on the bike with the cat is making quite a reputation for himself around town. We call him the "Catrider."

Makes you think...

The Bean - Part 2

From the tree to the cup, the bean's presence in everyday life...everywhere around the world...is omnipotent.

And if it's raining in Antigua, Guatemala, you have a limited budget, and you are going stir crazy in you hostel, what better way to spend the afternoon but in a super moderno cafe on Parque Central. 

Cafe Barista is a hip chain of high-end coffee shops in Guatemala. Not necessarily because their prices are extraordinarily high, but because the quality of their service is unwavering and the caliber of their beans stand alone. Oh, and the interior decor is quite modern/post-modern. 

Yes, it is true that one cup of coffee costs 3-4 Quetzales (about 40 cents) more than other places, but nowhere else has a French press for two, which gives you more and better coffee than any other cafe in town. And because it's large and shared, the price is actually as cheap as the cheapest.  Oh, how I love the French press!

So yes, what do you do when it's raining in Antigua and you are on a budget? Head to the coffee shop to sip on some delicious Guatemalan beans and have good conversation...until which you hit a point that all the caffeine rushing through your veins MAKE you walk joyously through the streets in the crooked rain.  

Salud!