This bike ride was truly just what the doctor ordered. My spirit and soul was craving a bike ride. I had been in the back of a pick of truck going to church, a shuttle van, and bus. However, I had been missing the motor bike or motorcycle. It's one of the best ways to explore with the wind threw your hair, the nature in front of your eyes, the sky changing colors, the waves of the beach on one side, and trees on another. It's not about seeing how fast you can ride rather it's about slowing down to take in the beauty.
As far as Stan, he was so kind and attentive he asked me where I wanted to go. I told him, "You know wherever you think is good." He said, "No where do You want to go?" You know this is a nice guy because sometimes gas is an issue. He owned some property and had a pretty good job. So we went off to go around the island and explore the unseen destinations.
The island has varying neighborhoods: some full of charm, some underprivledged, some Spanish, some Creole, some naturally stunning, and some just heartbreaking. As the bike went through these communities, I enjoyed the beach waves crashing, the pine trees, unexpected steep hills, and mountain areas. It was quite a diverse display of nature and also a clear display of poverty. The bike was suppose to be a joy ride, but unfortunately I take my work with me on the bike. We were laughing and having great conversation, but I couldn't help, but look in the eyes of those I passed by-sadness, in need of guidance, in need of a motivational speech or session. Clearly, he was not up for making stops on the bike to talk to locals-pictures yes-social work-no.
Hearing much about the Frenchman's cove, I was interested to visit.
He asked me, "Are you sure you want to see there?"
"Yes, can we please drive in?"
I knew it was a poor community and I wanted to see it. It was a Creole community with the crosses on the churches all in different shapes, the kids running through the streets, the houses built on a hill stacked up on top of each other, seeing the women cook through the windows in their big pots with clouds of smoke, the municipal building next to the basketball courts right on the water Unfortunately, most people looked at me like, " What are YOU doing here?" They were not very welcoming and I kind of got the hint that maybe we should leave. Instead of feeling sad, I just felt like this was a missed opportunity. This was clearly a community that needed me and I was not there for them.. it just felt like a let down on my part as I didn't explore the whole island to see the truly bad areas.''
Somewhere Over the Rainbow these people will fly... Fly far away into a safe place with no financial worries.
Being a nice teddy bear, he wanted to cheer me up so he took me for ice cream... well that is guaranteed to cheer me up. Mr. Stan took me to an Iguana farm. This is a farm of 100 plus iguanas just sitting around and staring at you. They don't bite you or attack you...they just stare at you. We were going to stop at a nice Hotel Casino/Resort, but the security guard would not let us through because it was after hours. Unfortunately, my charm does not always work and I did not get us through the gates. Iguanas, parrots, and toucans were just as satisfying. Nature beats out fancy hotels any day.
As we continued along, there were some familiar places that came up for Stan. We passed by the area he used to live in, which has now been taken over my hotels and high rise condos. Before, it was just a simple village where he lived with mother, father, and 4 brothers. We also stopped at his house that was for sale. The house had four large bedrooms, two living room areas, a nice kitchen, dining room-not to mention a full upstairs with two bedrooms and a balcony and two bath. I mention this because he was renting it out for just $700 a month. He was having difficulty selling and just needed someone to rent it for the time being. The economy is bad in Roatan and it's difficult to get someone to that location.
For me, I thought that a selling point would be it's location right across the church. Well, that would work for me, but perhaps not so much for others. I said, "How wonderful to live that close to a church." You just open your window and hear the music on a Sunday morning-inspired to get up and go with such lovely people attending. Unfortunately, He didn't seem that excited about it and nicely responded, "Some days you don't want to hear the music Priscilla." It's definitely understandable for a neighbor to want some silence from time to time.
After this long ride and my talking and talking about how much I wanted a delicious local meal. Looking for a small place with huge flavors. Let's eat.....
Blessed Food
When it comes to food, it's important. Sometimes more important than others, especially when it's my last day in a place. Usually, I have an idea of what I want to eat and I don't stop until I find it.
In this case, he was probably starving because he came to pick me up directly from work and only ate some grapes we picked off a tree. On the way back, he made a few suggestions(indicating he was hungry) and I turned them down. We arrived in town and I was on the hunt for this small local spot that is always busy at lunchtime. Apparently, they were busy during lunch because they were closed for dinner. Bummer!
Fortunately, he had another area in mind that I would like-what a patient soul. He sped down a few alley ways until we came to the pier. We walked down to see a sign that said, "Captain Fish." I jumped off to see if this place was open at 9:45 or closed for business. An old man who reminds me of Bill Cosby walks out and smiles, "Sure we're open."
We sit down and I look quickly at it and said, "My friend come over-how about you give the best fish dish you have in that kitchen."
With that request my friends orders the same thing. My friend orders a Coca-Cola and I order club soda(no caffeine and no Sprite-sugar). He says that he does not have Club soda, but he can go get some. I politely told him that he does not have it do that. His 10 year old niece is hanging out and he tells her to go and get a club soda from the store. After going to two stores she can't find it and while I'm talking he sneaks out to go get it. He pretty much find it on the other side of town. This is serious hospitality.
When the food comes out, it is actually what I was thinking about right on point. It was magic that melted right in your mouth- a fresh, local white fish with a garlic sauce, mashed potatoes, veggies, and coleslaw. This was like my last meal in Belize. This food is taken to another level- a level waaay up above. Clearly, Stan enjoyed it just as much as I did as his eyes never quite looked up past his plate.
Of course one may be wondering, "What is so great about this food?
This food is amazing because it is blessed. This man was a believer sharing how much the Lord -inspired him from his business, to his children, his marriage, and his cooking. He openly admitted that it was special because they cook it straight from the heart. It comes from ingredients of a life with God. This man, who looked like Bill Cosby, with a whisky in his left hand and a remote control in the other. He married a Spanish woman from Nicaragua and she was the one doing all the cooking. He runs the businesses and she handles the cooking side of things (another Power couple). He is 72 years old and she is 54. They met when she was working in a restaurant on the island and the rest is history. You can still see the love in their eyes and that love is present in their food. They have been through highs and lows as a couple, but they keep fighting. There food is representation of what God does for those couples who try, those couples who commit, and those couples who love.
God blesses this couple and he blesses their food.
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