You've got to have a dream.....

If you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?  You don't have to be a 'lutellen' to see the logic in that statement.

But what is an appropriate dream?  Here in Honduras I have met a couple of people who are following a dream.  The first is a couple who, 9 months ago, sold everything in Edmonton and bought a little coffee shop here iin West Bay.  She is the barrista while he manages things I guess.  She does some baking as they sell some pastries with the coffee.  There are also beans available, but the reason we walked in was the wifi -- $5 for half an hour, or a free half hour if you buy something totalling $5 or more.  No kids involved makes the move a little easier, but they were still easing their way into the Roatan way of life, planning some renovations (she wants to have a wine bar along side the coffee), but following a dream.  The other lady is also an ex-pat Canadian -- a marine biologist from St. Catharines (Brock U) who traded the Great Lakes for the Carribean where she does the commentary on the glass-bottom boat tours.  A knowledgeable lady who also has no intentions of going back.  Making the dream come true.

I admire these people almost as much as my Dad and Mom who at 39 and 27 years old respectively, left house, home, family, culture and language to follow their dream of their own farm.  And they had to drag 3 kids under 3 along for the ride.  I know it wasn't easy, but the dream was strong and so was their determination.  My family has now been 50 years on the farm outside Niagara Falls, and I have a video of my Dad doing a tour of his farm for his brothers and sisters who were in Germany and who I was visiting.  He was a man who achieved his dream!

So what is an appropriate dream for me?  I used to do 5 and 10 year plans, but reality shattered the planning out of life.  I am not looking for New Year's resolutions, because a dream is more a life-long thing.

It was a gorgeous day here with warm sunshine most of the day.  The ocean was calm and the water had settled after the storms of the beginning of the week.  In other words, the water was clear and bright and the view onto the coral, fantastic.  There were many of the fish that I have seen before, and even some growth on the coral that was new to me.  I swam through a large school of sargent majors and chased a couple of parrot fish.  Sometimes I came to the surface to laugh aloud at the sheer delight of the activity.  And then there was swimming this afternoon-- with almost noone in the water -- a whole peaceful world all to myself.  Joy, that contentment coupled with delight, is certainly a valid aspect of a dream.

And today I add:  Went for a nice long walk with a lady who came down on the same plane.  We checked out the end of the island and the gorgeous houses there.  She was most certain that it was her dream to retire there.  Turns out she is a doctor in Toronto, and so will probably be able to make that dream come true.  But I knew for certain, that is not my dream.  Certainly I enjoyed the sun, sea, surf and the magnificent structures, but the main thoughts are how the people that I love would enjoy this or that.  Richard, there were tidal pools like little craters in the coral.  Joanna, the water is lovely -- I have done more swimming in the last two days than in the last 6 months.  Ian, there are lots of places to sit and watch the world with a beer -- and the beer is relatively cheap, and talk -- LOTS of people love to talk.  Kieran, there is sand and lots of kids playing in the sand and the surf --even watched one eating sand today.  Shammie, there is fantastic diving and lots to see not far off shore.  Jennie, there are hills that would keep you happy running or mountain biking --and even a spot just around the corner to get a mountain bike for reasonable -- and a decent Schwinn!  Clara, there was a little one crying when placed in the water, but I think you would love the gently rolling water.

Dreaming?  yes and trying to come up with the essence of the dream.

Significant relaxation

OK, the resort is not the most landscaped that I have been to (though the grounds are mature and beautifully kept), the buildings not the most modern (though almost everything is authentic Honduran mahagony, polished to a beautiful sheen), the room not the most elegant (though it is immaculately clean and in great repair as this resort just re-opened before Christmas after a major renovation with an inroom safe and even a mini frig), the beach not the most expansive (though even at high tide there is lots of space and one can walk extensively in either direction), the bar doesn't serve Alphonso 13 (though there are 4 local beers and lots of rum based drinks that I have never even heard of and they have some of the most unusual shell-shaped glasses), the restaurants not the most varied (though they do different theme nights, last evening we were around a pool with flowers floating and tonight we will be at the beach bar and breakfast is here under the palm trees by the other pool), the food not the most interesting or varied (though there are always some salads, a couple of protein dishes and about 2 desserts and what they do, they do very well except for beef cuts and there was a fish at lunch today that has to be one of the best pieces of fish I have ever had), the entertainment quite simple (though there are local singers with keyboards most of the time at the beach bar and last night at dinner too), but this place is great for relaxation, which is just what Joan and I were looking for.

The wifi works fairly well, managed to skype and show K the palms, coconuts and me sticking my feet into the pool.  The tour we took today to a glass bottom boat, butterflies and birds, iguanas was great and we saw about half of the island. Some people are running to a different place every day, but we have spent most of the time here, except for the tour and a water taxi trip up to West End yesterday.

And I have been reading -- good recommendation for a book, Ian, and doing sudoku puzzles -- even have Joan trying some of them.  One dishcloth has been knitted and as for the rest of the time, it has been just relaxing and this week, that is the aim.

Talking to our tourguide this morning we learned a bit more about Honduras -- he readily puts the local problems of lack of education (only schools for about a third of the kids on this island!) planning and infrastructure (no island-wide purified water, poor roads), and poor medical facilities at the feet of a very corrupt government -- and we saw the elegant mansions to prove it.  We can be thankful to live in Canada -- and just vacation here.

A Rainy Day in Paradise

Or maybe it should be 'a rainy day at paradise' since we are here on Roatan at the Paradise Beach club.  But which ever preposition you choose, it is most definitely raining --off and on all day.  And when it rains,   it is the torrential type downpour that one associates with the tropics.  The island is one of the most lush places I have ever been.  We saw forests of palms and bamboo on the drive here from the airport.  The lady at the coffee shop where we are sitting is from Edmonton and she says that by now it should be hot and sunny.  And it will be, but the rain is not a hardship.

The Paradise Beach Club is actually the improved Paradise Beach Club, having just opened after a renovation.  The hotel is getting its act together.  It is small, and so has limited facilities, but the people are very pleasant and accommodating.  It will not, unfortunately work as a beach vacation destination with the kids.  The water from the tap is not purified and so you need bottled water to even brush your teeth.  There is a limited selection at dinner, but we are not here for the food.

But we do not wash dishes, nor do the cooking.  So, it is relaxing and time to stroll along the beach.  Life is good.

The Significant Adventure

It is New Year's Day and one of the readings at St. Andrew's this morning was about a 'significant' new year rather than a 'happy' new year.  And, though I do not subscribe to official New Year's resolutions, this is the time of year when one considers the important aspects of life......which brings me to today's post. 

Tomorrow morning (very early), I am off to Roatan, Honduras with Joan.  It's a place I have never been before and therefore promises to be a new adventure.  But sitting here, I know that I am on a much more significant adventure without leaving the house. 

This week we had the delight and challenge of Joanna and family visiting for 5 days.  Kieran has a bad cold and so the hectic schedule of visits in Toronto, Hamilton, Stoney Creek and Niagara took their toll on the little guy.  He had difficulty settling downstairs for his night's sleep and one time, I was the one down there with him.  He didn't want me to leave -- "another story", "sing Twinkle two times here", and finally "hold your hand".  He wanted to fall asleep, under his binket, with one thumb in his mouth and the other chubby little hand holding my hand.  The trust and openness of child tugs at the hardest of hearts.  Is it not amazing that this is the analogy of God's relationship with us, his children?

This adventure, first with my own children, and now with Kieran and Clara (who is becoming an engaging young miss), is a most significant adventure. 

I wish you a significant New Year!

One more airport, one less suitcase

Icelandair lost the little suitcase which meant that US border officials had no agricultural products to scrutinize, and neither will the Canadians, but I will need to fill out a claim once I reach Toronto.  However, everything else went as planned all the way from Gavle to Boston where I am now.  It is quite remarkable how easily one flits across the globe these days, and with a minimum of paperwork.

I know about the pollution of the planes and the big gas usage and huge carbon footprint, but being with family is important.  Yesterday Richard and I spent most of the day making cookies, but that is the stuff of life and real relationships.  Bit funny to go to Sweden to do it, but very satisfying.

So, I don't plan to stop.

Gavle -- a LOVEly place

Richard said it:  "I love our little town", and he is certainly right that it is a lovely place to live.

I love the river running through it.  Boats don't come up very far from the sea any more, but the waterway, nicely banked with stones and concrete walls, lends a gentleness to the centre of town as it divides the two older commercial areas.  It means there are people fishing and open green spaces in the bustle.  And in three weeks, the famous goat will stand there, watched by online viewers all over the world.

I love the old and the new, side by side, and sometimes, one inside the other.  A very modern walking/cycling system (with appropriate visual and audio signals) leads the people-powered transit safely over old plazas, under railways, and into new developments along the waterfront.  The city workers in their high-vis green overalls blow the leaves in the park between the two upscale old merchant streets, and then the mighty leaf sweeper picks them up.

I love the bakeries, yes, I am coming to appreciate the cardamom in the cinnamon rolls.  It turns out it was the viking treasure brought back from India!  And there are so many other fine breads (love the Epi sourdough apricot rye) and swedish cakes -- even princess torte under the layer of lime green fondant is a culinary delight.

I love the shopping.  A friendly "hay, hay" will greet you in a grocery store, clothes shop, outdoor store, home decor spot, or whatever.  And there is no snickering when an old lady points to something because she can't express herself in swedish.  Or, there is a whole flood of swedish greeting and when you admit you don't understand anything, they switch effortlessly to english and carry on.

I love the subtle differences.  Cookie sheets are the rack in the oven and thanks to the special non-stick sheets, one set of cookies gets pulled off the sheet and another onto the sheet, making even a little apartment oven, an efficient baking experience.  Heated towel bars -- oh my!  Bicycles accepted by the motorists.  Serious recycling with different bins for weights of paper and types of plastic.  Very little Sunday shopping and reduced shopping hours to help out the little retailers.

I love the heather in the planters.  Fall and winter are still garden seasons, just with different species.

I love the lights everywhere.  We lost daylight savings time last weekend and so it starts to get dark about 3:30 pm -- and they lose about 5 minutes of daylight each day!  But already people and businesses are putting out lanterns or candles outside at their doors.  Most curtains don't get drawn so you can see lights on in apartments and houses and they are left on even if the people are out.  Last evening at the outdoor facility -- like a conservation area run by a company who has a lodge and cabins and maintains trails, there was a lovely lit walking path through the woods so that the area is used even in the dark times.

I love the cheese.  The same lodge that has the lit paths, has a restaurant which was fabulous.  Lobster pizza appetizer -- super, veal tenderloin with chanterelles -- amazing, dessert buffet of mini samplers -- innovative and delicious , but the highlight for me was the cheese buffet.  There were 6 very different local cheeses with accompaniments of fruit, nuts and crisp breads -- WOW, and even the presentation (you served yourself onto slate tiles) was fantastic.  Must remember to put the chunk of Vasterbottensost) into the suitcase.

I love the weather -- we had a great week, were not rained on.  It was warm and still enough that even with the 93% humidity, walking was a great way to get around and see all the details on buildings and bridges.

And most importantly, I love that Richard and Jennie are so happy here!

The Stuff of History

It was a dark and stormy night -- no, just an overcast morning, but that was just right for two tourists in the historic city of Uppsala.  This area has been a popular place for quite some time -- Vikings lived here in the 7th century and left boat graves for later generations to dig up and analyse.  Very decent of those old Norsemen to think of us struggling to learn about them, so they left dishes and jewelry and animals and dog collars and weapons all neatly arranged in a boat and then covered it up to preserve it.  How considerate!  And how wonderful that there is a group of people hanging around there who delight in digging up stuff--they even went to Egypt to do it.

As you can guess, Richard and I loved the Gustavianum Museum with many of the treasures collected by the oldest university in all Scandanavia -- 1477.  They seem to have had a serious group of chemists and physicists walk down those halls, including Linnae of the classification of life.  You know those old movies where all the med students are sitting in a steep-sloped room watching a dissection -- well, it happened here.  And a civilized place it is, influencing the whole of the city which is clean, dignified, traditional in restaurant and hotel styling, and filled with cyclists.  It has a lovely gothic church of protestant persuasion, so quite stark in its decor.  There are plenty of parks and gardens and paths which would be much more impressive in warm weather -- make a note to self!

But we were off to Gavle by late afternoon and sped through the countryside.  It is a short walk from the train station to Richard and Jennie's apartment, but you are put to the test carrying your suitcase up the 3 flights of circular stairs. Checked out one of Richard's favourite supermarkets for supper -- korv and a dish with an impossible-to-remember name but made of potatoes and sardines -yum!

Richard and Jennie have done some redecorating since I was here last year and the place looks lovely.  With some strategic placement of shelving, they have modified a large living room into a semi-divided space which can be used more efficiently.  They also have a fantastic piece of art in the front hall which inspires me.  Must see what can be done!