They live in a tree house...an actual house built around a very large, very old tree...and it's really kind of cool, although extremely unconventional. The bathroom is a structure separate from the house, very rustic, with an open shower area on one side and a raised floor containing the commode and sink. Picture it as the opposite of a sunken bathroom.
The stairs leading to the main floor are poorly spaced and difficult to climb. A roomy kitchen/dining area and small bedroom are on that level. A ladder and tree branch take you to the third-floor sleeping quarters. I found it very difficult to maneuver, but Rena and the girls are young and agile and apparently have no difficulty. Although rustic, there are all the amenities, including air conditioning. Rena is a throwback to another time. She enjoys living off the land, shuns doctors and traditional medicines, and uses only raw milk, whole wheat products and no sugar. While not for me, this lifestyle suits her perfectly.
If you walk to the top of Pumpkin Hill, you can look down on the entire island and surrounding ocean. Friends Kate and Daniel took a hike up there and reported an "awesome view". I didn't make the hike this time, but will return another time and take pictures to share here.
Last week I opened my apartment door one morning to find a tiny orange tabby kitten curled up in a ball on my Welcome mat. Being a cat lover, and missing the cat I had to leave behind in the states, I couldn't resist picking him up and petting him. I asked Victor, the caretaker, if he knew where the cat came from and he motioned (not being able to speak English...and I not able to understand Spanish) for me to bring him inside my apartment.
The poor little guy was so tiny and scrawny looking...although cute as a button! I had no appropriate food for a kitten, so I took a piece of whole wheat bread and broke it up into small pieces and soaked it in a little milk. He devoured it instantly. Because he is the color of a Halloween pumpkin, I named him Pumpkin, deciding then and there that he should be my new companion.
Once Pumpkin's belly was full, he took up residence in the spare bed in my bedroom for a nice, long nap. I used that time to walk to town for cat supplies...food, litter, litter box...and the bonding of pet and pet owner began.
I believe divine intervention brought Pumpkin to me. He was a starving kitten without a home, and I was alone and in need of a friend. It was serendipity that he arrived at my door that morning. Now we are both joyful in our friendship. He snuggles with me at night, plays with me during the day, and...being a frisky kitten...sometimes gets into mischief.
It's all good. We were meant for each other.
Last weekend there was a Lionfish Cookoff in town. I had never heard of lionfish before, but apparently they have migrated here from Florida. An invasive species, they are a poisonous spiky fish with few predators. For this reason, Lionfish Derbies are often held to help keep the lionfish population under control. This is especially important to help preserve the habitat of the reef.
Following the early morning Derby, chefs from several restaurants in town prepared some exotic lionfish samplers for the people of Utila. We all gathered at Tranquila, a local restaurant/bar for the free, tasty treats: seviche, fish spread & crackers, baked fillets with aromatic herbs, croquettes and curry. The lionfish is a mild-tasting white fish, so added herbs and spices is what gives it flavor.
There were shoulder-to-shoulder people, and it was difficult to even get close to the food, but well worth standing in the long lines for a taste. This is a photo of my friend, Linda, with her daughter, Sarah, who was visiting from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Utila is a small island and...with the exception of short-term tourists...you get to know most everyone, so it was an enjoyable afternoon visiting with island friends as well.
I've been invited to join Dustin and Kate, Managers of Rio Coco, for Thanksgiving dinner. We will all gather at Sondy's, since she has the largest table seating. We're still working out the details...who brings what...but it will be nice to be with some of my Utila family for the holiday. Skyping with my biological family will definitely be on the agenda! It's a little difficult for me to wrap my head around the holidays this year because of my location. It's far too warm and tropical to be thinking about holidays I equate with snow and cold!
Despite this being the rainy season, we have seen numerous sunny days. The rains come sporadically and...thankfully...mostly during the night. Sometimes there are showers during the day, but then the skies clear and the sun comes out. One morning's shower ended with a beautiful double rainbow...only the second one I've seen in my lifetime. The island continues to enthrall me!
