We returned to the US for
the holidays expecting to stay for 2 weeks before heading to Vietnam for rest
and to catch up on paperwork, but this job changes at a moments notice and we found
ourselves booked to go to Peru at the end of January. Not wanting to go through 13 hour jet lag
twice in 2 weeks we opted to hang out in the states for a few extra weeks and
visit friends and family. Chattanooga
had a cold front coming through unexpectedly so Greg took one look at me over
the morning paper and said “let’s head south”. South we did… Cocoa Beach and Melbourne to
visit our daughter Anna along with an impromptu cruise to the Bahamas to escape
the cold front that was threatening Northern Florida.
We were lucky enough
to be invited to spend a few days with friends and our first stop was in Boca
Raton at the Miller household. Two days
turned into five and we had wonderful meals and laughs. Maureen came home from a scuba diving
expedition with a huge lion fish that was speared by a fellow diver. Greg Miller carefully removed the venomous
spines and fileted the fish and pan seared it perfectly with white wine, lemon
and capers… picatta style.
The lionfish is a
beautiful but invasive species that is killing the fish in the coral and pose a major threat to reef ecological
systems. We are happy to do our part for the cause by
eating as much of the tasty flaky mild fish we can when visiting the area.
On our last night in Boca
we were invited to join the Millers in a beer tasting at a local beer, wine and
liquor store. A great variety of beer
was available, but unfortunately I’m not a beer drinker. The store owners did allow me to buy a bottle
of wine (and provided me with a glass) so I had something to enjoy as I went
from beer vendor to beer vendor with the others. After the event it was suggested we continue
the party across the street at a local hookah and beer bar. Nothing on the menu caught my eye to drink
but then Maureen tells me they offer Kava… now in my head I heard “Cava” which
is Spanish sparkling wine. I should
have known better, but I order it and I am served what looks like mud in a
bowl. I come to find out “Kava” is a
root ground into a powder then mixed with water and traditionally served in a
carved wooden bowl or coconut. Kava is
known for its sedative and anesthetic properties…. Not exactly what this girl
needs after a night of beer and wine tasting.
Not knowing what it is I take a sip and grimace as it tastes like the bottom of a
creek bed. I end up gulping Greg’s
beer just to get the taste out of my mouth.
I share the kava with the rest of the table and several strangers at the
bar and chalk it up to one more new taste.
We continued our
Florida trip south making fun memories drinking some excellent rum, playing Trivial Pursuit, eating great seafood, steaks and have the occasional dolphin siting.
Good Travel!
Next Stop –Lima, Peru
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