Our assignment for the party was to wrapped the children's gifts, so that didn't take too much time and then I cleaned the condo extra well and got the extra bedroom and bathroom all ready for the sisters. We have had a dog walk all over our walkway and back porch with it's muddy feet so I got all that cleaned up well too. I found out my hands had gotten too soft from not working with them much and I got a blister from all the sweeping and mopping!
While I was cleaning, Dave was back at the church overseeing yet, another problem with the air conditioning. This has been an ongoing issue. We have three units in the church, the kitchen, office and "chapel" and each one has had to be fixed twice in the 9 months we have been here. The electrical system on the island is not stable and so it has spikes which cause a surge in current which burns motors, fuses and other things out.
Friday, We picked the sisters up at the airport at 11 am and took them to one of our favorite restaurants, "Shore Things" and had a great lunch. Then we took them to the beach to get on the glass bottom boat tour to the Nylon reef. We didn't go with them because our Christmas party was later and we didn't want to miss it. The sisters had a great time on their excursion.
The party was good. It was supposed to begin at 3 pm but in true Caribbean fashion didn't get started until 5. Sister George did a great job in planning. We sang Christmas carols, had a couple of solos, one singing and the other a "mouth organ"or harmonica. Both were wonderful!
The meal was ham, turkey, potato salad, fried rice, green salad and callaloo, which consists of a green leaf plant called "dasheen" or taro. Taro has been cultivated for thousands of years, in China, Japan, Africa, India, Tonga, Polynesia, West Indies and many other countries. Each country has it's own name for the dishes that they make with Taro. Callaloo is the National Dish of the twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The leaves of the taro plant are used to make the dish known as callaloo (which is made with okra, pumpkin, sweet peppers, dasheen/taro leaves, coconut milk or creme and aromatic herbs) and it is prepared similarly to steamed spinach. It is toxic when raw and needs to be cooked to remove oxalic acid. The leaves look like huge elephant ears and then are cut up, boiled and then blended together with all the other ingredients. We love it and I make it at "home" sometimes. It has been very fun and interesting to get to experience all the unique foods and dishes of this part of the world. I really hope I can still find dasheen or taro leaves when we come back home.
Saturday, Dave and the sisters took an early morning walk around the golf course and through the mangroves. They returned, and we left at 9:30 am to drive the island coast line to get to the very best restaurant in Tobago " The Such Hole" It's located on a beautiful cove where I am guessing has a very strong current that "sucks you in" hence the name.That is totally a guess. We will ask next time we go to get the true answer. It's a stunning drive and we stopped along the way for pictures. We got to the restaurant just as it opened at 11:30 am. The meal was fabulous! If you were to come visit us in Tobago, we would take you there. After we ate we headed for Argyle Falls. It's a short walk to the falls and Dave hiked to the top and the ladies stayed at the lower pool to swim. We enjoyed that and then drove back, got cleaned up and took the sisters to the airport. We had a lovely visit with them.
Sunday, we started church late cause only 3 other people were there at 9 am. Brother George played another beautiful harmonica solo. It was a song I didn't know but I could hear some of the members singing along with it. It was really sweet.
I am grateful for the birth of our Savior. I am grateful our Heavenly Father was willing to give us His Son. I'm grateful the Son was willing to give us His life. His life makes our lives more than we can comprehend. He truly has brought JOY to the world! Merry Christmas to us all!
Dave and the Jolly Good Santa Man in the Caribbean
Getting ready to wrap presents. I quite enjoyed it.
I haven't wrapped Christmas presents for a long time.
Fixing the air conditioner
We discovered a new creature along the beach.
We think it's some sort of jelly fish that has washed up on shore.
The beach was covered with them and there are many different colors, blue, pink, and purple.
I feel badly that they died but they did provide a little fun entertainment.
When you step on them, they pop loudly like bubble wrap!
It was quite fun although, I had to keep telling myself I wasn't killing them, they were already dead...
Showing the size. Some were a little smaller than this, but still popped pretty good!
These are Taro leaves or elephant ears. I didn't know that's what dasheen was cause you can buy it already cut up and ready to cook in the store.
Here is callaloo. Some may not think this looks yummy but we think it's yummy!
Boardwalk in the mangrove going out to the ocean
Trees along the golf course
Dave and I with Sister Locke and Sister Ray
We stopped at the Sugar plantation water wheel along the way
Another view of the drive along the coast line.
and another....
and another....
more scenery along the coastline
Sister Ray and Locke in front of the best restaurant in Tobago...in our opinion....
Fried seasoned potatoes, broiled plantains, pasta salad, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots
steamed to perfection, green salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and avocado
with a yummy garlic sauce to put all over it.
Dave got all that plus onion rings and a yellow tailed tuna steak in a yummy sauce.
Presentation is fabulous!
Argyle falls looking up
Argyle falls looking down
some cool vegetation along our travels
and always flowers
Flower and an ant
Merry Christmas from our home to yours! If you are reading this, we love you!
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