The friend of my oldest daughter has been two weeks in Nicaragua doing a service training thing with elderly locals as part of her JPT program, phys therapy. Today I ordered in more propane, more tanks of water, etc so we don't run out over La Navidad. Hard to imagine in the sun that it is Christmas. With all the gals here and they all being interested in cooking and foods and local foods there is talk of a fresh leg of pork for dinner. Ohmigod! I've been getting by on rice and meats and veggies with no mess in the kitchen. They can cover the kitchen in chopped foods, liquids, and empty containers......none of which is cleaned up as they go and much not after they're done. I have been doing the washing of the dishes with help on the drying and putting away. But holy cow! Gracias a dios there aren't all that many dishes in the house and the kitchen floor and counter areas are somewhat small so the mess in almost limited..... Six of us went out to a nice place with linen and silver and waiters in vests this morning for breakfast. Paid more propina, tip, than was added into the bill...10% is added to all bills....but the service is excellent there, the mesero very agradable and the food good. Cost about 440 Quetzales for breakfast, about fifty bucks for six...in a beautiful courtyard, in the sun...or shade depending on preference...hash browns, bacon, fancy egg dishes, huge fruit plates all peeled and sliced, etc., teas, coffees, agua puras. A fine experience. Due to food allergies I can't eat eggs myself, nor the wonderful hand made tortillas, etc which precludes the 25Q places for b'fast.
The rest went off the the central market, everything you can imagine in fruits, veggies, carrots the size of large parsnips, covering mebbe one to two acres of small booths under cover and in the open. Pickpockets happen there but with a little caution it's a grand experience for the gals who want different flavors, fruits, veggies, etc. I confess I like broccoli, brussels..but I digress.
When I was in San Antonio, Guatemala on the Lake Atitlan I should have bought TWO coffee/tea mugs for gifts but only got one. Right after b'fast I was passing a nearby tienda and found ceramic cups, etc from San Antonio and Solola' recognizable from the designs. Got the second mug and a small dish for tea bags just the match for the one I bought at the lake. Whew! Bullet dodged.
Doing laundry.......my daughter has a flea bag dog who likes to get on the beds and short of shooting the dog..................most of our laundry we take out by the pound but I prefer to do the sheets here. I am SO domestic, eh? Shudder.......