January 19, 2007
I’m in Culebra with Kathy, Patty, Julie. We are visiting Kathy’s twin brother Richard and his wife Luz. I am sitting on the porch over the sea and it feels like a villa in Italy. We arrived yesterday after a day of travel, a lot of it waiting for a plane. A little raggedy-butt old jalopy of a tin plane flew us from San Juan to Culebra.
Once we arrived and were embraced in welcome, the big beautiful time began. Their house is a tropical dream, open to the sea, comfortable, colorful and filled with art. Murals on the walls, sculptures and paintings of life near the sea and mermaids. Mermaids everywhere. I know that Luz is a mermaid. It shows in her life, her style.
Well we drank champagne when we got here, a little wine and then we walked down to their two shops. The Dive Shop turned gift shop that is fun and colorful, with treasures and magic. It was designed by a mermaid. I want things from there for my new life.
Next we walked up to the restaurant El Eden. This is Richie’s rule designed beautifully together with Luz. Again you can call the interior mermaid inspired. There is a bar, a great deli case full of imported meats and cheeses and specials. They are only open until 6:00 PM. You have to admire that they close at that time to take time to have a life, to enjoy the rich life they have created because they could really make a fortune if the restaurant stayed open for dinner. Rich is a great chef.
They put out wonderful cheeses and bread from Germany, and prosciutto and then a salad, rice with pigeon peas and a Puerto Rican special, roasted pork. We all ate way too much. We were hungry after not eating all day. It was marvelous.
Now it’s morning, I’m sitting out with Kathy and Julie on the verandah. I'm going off to get us all some coffee.
Later, The Same Day - Bedtime
We eat, loads of lovely foods. We drink an abundance of wine, with cheeses, great delight to the taste buds, prosciutto, German bread, pear and cashews, mussels steamed in wine with herbs and heavy cream, the pot liquor lapped up with buttered bread, eggplant parmesan, the eggplant and zucchinis grilled first on an open fire, brushed with olive oil, then layered with cheese and sauce, passion fruit mousse and I can’t even begin to get into last night. It’s an Esser’s dream. Oh my god I can hardly move.
And oh yes, we saw the island today and even went swimming. It’s very beautiful here and calm and comfortable with the lovely family of Richard and Luz. Tomorrow we will snorkel. I hope we get a chance to take a long walk on the beach (that is what I really want to do) and find some beach stuff. I am happy and well. I love my good life and my good friends.
January 20, 2007
We all went to the house of the artist Sue Zinkowski. I bought a beautiful pastel of a Queen Conch Shell. It is very sexy. She gave me another piece for getting the shell. Pastels will die on the island. We loved her work. I bought a painting by another artist, Dana, as well. It is of the pink fence and the estate of my fantasy Italian widow, who lives there. I am thrilled to buy the art. I am HAPPY.
January 21, 2007
Our last full day in Culebra. We leave tomorrow. It has been a fantastic trip, a fantasy comes to life. I am learning the art of preparing food from Ritchie. I wanted to write some of it down before I forget. When I’m doing it with him I get it. It’s kind of like I cook, open to ingredients, with a basic start, but his is way refined and gourmet and fragrant and the best part is Exotic.
O.K., the mussels we cooked, I am the sous chef… I chop.
1) ½ bottle of white wine in a big pot
2) Half garlic (sliced),
Basil
½ onion
Thyme
Parsley for later
3) Add 5 pounds mussels to the wine
Add chopped herbs
Butter on top
4) Cook until mussels open
Add pint heavy cream
also
Good way to cook greens
Olive oil
Anchovies with oil drained
Add greens, heat
Add roasted pine nuts
The food is incredible. We don’t go out to eat because Richie’s feasts can’t be beat and he loves cooking. What a great treat it is, what a truly good, fun ,lovely time we are having. It is my NEW Life. I am loving being alive and making the most of it, being with my great friends that I love.
Saturday Pat, Julie and I went snorkeling. Pat and Julie went the most. I had a look, beautiful but it is really not my thing, I would like to explore it more but I prefer to walk the beach and we did. Not much beach picking. Lots of coral. Today, our last day on the island, we are going for a boat ride.
Indeed the Esser dream of fabulous food. The world was Lorelei’s banquet and she relished every taste, smell and sight.
Wonderful entry
Really enjoyed it