The beauty abounds in the diversity of flowers, plants, butterflies, and birds. For example, the other day while waiting for my doggie to find the perfect place to do "his business" I noticed a critter that looked like a miniature hummingbird fluttering around a lantana plant. I stared at it long enough to realize the critter in question was some type of moth or butterfly with the speed and flight pattern of a hummingbird. After Googling my imaginative description I found out that the flowers were being visited by a "hummingbird hawk moth," otherwise known as macroglossum stellatarum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroglossum_stellatarum).
I have also learned from our local herb man who I always visit at the Friday morning farmer's market that there a a number of interesting plants used for natural remedies. We recently purchased a Juanilama plant that apparently is useful for helping with digestion and upset stomach when the leaves are steeped in a tea. We were also introduced to the Carao bean yesterday, also known as the Stinky Toe Bean. From what I have read, the odor of the contents of the bean can have a pungent smell like some types of expensive cheese, or plain ole stinky feet! However, the taste of the nectar is supposed to be pretty good when mixed with milk or served in various concotions. The bean is touted as aiding in circulation, anemia, and is even considered an aphrodisiac.
I am always surprised at all the new fruits, vegetables and plants that we are introduced to during our daily lives here. The double pleasure of learning about them is that they are readily available and very inexpensive.
During one of duties playing tour guide to relatives last month we also visited the wonderful Cafe Toledo here in Atenas. We all enjoyed the very informative tour provided by Gabriel, the son of the owner of the coffee farm. We not only got to sample some extraordinarily good coffee, but also learned about the importance of biodiversity of plants and weeds in the farm. We even discovered another new favorite fruit, mamon, a green large queen olive size fruit that has a great tangy taste.
Now, for the scary. Probably the two biggest fears that many expats like ourselves have in common living here are home robbery/invasion and close encounters with a fer de lance snake. Both of these items seem to be common topics of conversation....and where to find certain imported items that we miss having readily available at the local grocery store. Last week we heard the scariest story yet about an encounter with a fer de lance. A couple in a nearby neighborhood found one of those dreaded, poisonous, aggresive snakes in their bed of all places. Fortunately, the couple were able to dispatch the snake to a better world before the snake bit either of them.
We have so much more to learn and explore here. We also have to learn to adjust our perceptions of norms and customs, but as long as we have great friends to help us navigate the maze we will continue to be more blessed than we deserve.
My husband asked the other day if I felt we had a mistake by moving here. I responded, "absolutely not!" Happiness is a choice and state of mind. I had a couple of rollercoaster months that had nothing to do with this place, but rather circumstances and it all just caught up with me emotionally last week, but the good here far outweighs the bad. The natural beauty here renews me everyday and I look forward to the small surprises that abound in this paradise.
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