Sitting Still in St. Croix, VI

Sometimes in life when you get all caught up in the busy, it is easy to forget to be still. By still, I mean it in the literal, figurative and spiritual sense. Somehow in March, with all of my comings and goings from Miami to Montreal to Monterey to Miami....then from Miami to Missouri and home again...I was tired in all sense of the word. I missed being at home on my couch with my Mr. Goodin…who seemed to criss cross me in the skies for the entire month. All it took was for some disappointing news for me to claim that I needed a time out...appropriately timed with Spring Break, I was going to take a "Life Break." It was time to reflect, readjust, relax, and reinvigorate my soul. I decided I needed a mental cleanse. Rid my mind full of the self-doubt and negative talk that so easily fills the space between my ears.

Mr. Goodin was on a flight from Las Vegas to Chicago, when I logged on and booked a trip to St. Croix Virgin Islands. It met all my requirements for a getaway: 1) was within a three hour flight 2) space on the plane and 3) it was a place that I loved. We had been visited here in 2013, so I thought we were due a return trip to this lovely island. As Mr. Goodin landed, he was greeted by a text announcing our plans....there was no arm twisting. He arrived home on Saturday morning at 11am and we were back at the airport at 4pm, bags in hand. No passport necessary for this island gem.

We took a night flight, which would give us two solid days on the ground to explore, dream or just lay around in the hot tropical sun. We landed close to midnight so it was to the hotel for a good night’s rest. We were staying on the Christiansted Marina this time (versus our trip to Frederiksted in ’13) and when we woke up, we decided to take a quick walk for coffee and provisions.

Christiansted Marina Harbor

View of the boardwalk from the pool balcony

                 

Unfamiliar with Christiansted, we asked a few locals how to get to the market....up the street past the church. Seemed easy enough. As soon as we passed the church full of parishioners singing hymns, we knew where everyone in town was.  Now...here is where I should mention that it was Sunday and absolutely nothing was open...except for a few restaurants on the Marina where we were staying. Sunday is a day of rest and worship. This was my first sign that being still was to be a part of my itinerary for the day.  Signs are good. This is the Universe’s way of speaking. 

On our way back home, I spotted the local Roti shop. Disappointed that it was not open, I made a mental note to return the following day.  I wasn't leaving without having some very local cuisine. So back to the pool. My goal was to spend the day watching the boats in the marina, looking at cloud formations and closing my mind to the clutter that had taken over. Reassess and reevaluate....be still and take it all in.

Hello, Monday morning. Rested and feeling rejuvenated it was time to take a morning walk for coffee. We found a coffee and pastries hut. Greeted by Alex at the Baked Cafe, we sat for a while drinking coffee, eating a bagel and watching the roosters chase each other in the courtyard. This is easy to get used to. 

Back to the pool, but anxiously waiting for lunch so that I could get my hands on some roti. My brain had quickly switched from my daily stressors to "What are we going to eat next? And is it too early for a rum drink?" The answer to the last question is no, by the way, in case you were wondering. Home to the Cruzan Rum and Captain Morgan distilleries, rum is a way of life here on the island.

As we approached Singh's Roti Shop, the line was out the door. I knew why. This was the place to be. I waited my turn and ordered two "doubles"...one with conch and the other chicken. A Trinidadian favorite, this warm sandwich piled high with curried chickpeas, potatoes and a heap of marinated conch on a special cornmeal bread was just what my soul ordered. I was about to become one with this local favorite. There is no good way to eat it other than sloppy joe style. It's messy and delicious. My eating partner in crime dove right in. I think his first double was a success.

A Conch Double

The evening highlight, besides the sunset views, was the hermit crab races...yes, hermit crabs. This event drew at least 75 locals and tourists alike to a local bar on the Marina. Dozens of hermit crabs hidden in Home Depot buckets turned upside down. Once the buckets were lifted it was every crab for itself...headed for the blue outer ring for the win. Maybe it was the rum, but this was some funny stuff. There was cheering and jeering...all in good fun. Tonight's lesson was being present in the moment. We cheered on Vera, an octogenarian whose crab was one of the winners. I was happy to be her cheerleader. I hesitate to share this tid bit but her crab was named Master Baker....she turned to me so innocently and said, "But I really am a baker!" Way to go Vera.

Ready?

Set.

Go!

Tuesday, our last day, came too soon. We only had time to hurry out for one more food excursion. On our way home from the Roti shop, we discovered Harvey's, a local diner.  Since they were only open for breakfast and lunch, we decided to return....greeted by a very friendly Harvey Jr. We asked for a menu and he gave us a yellow steno pad with five hand written homemade dishes scribbled on it. We discussed our options and ended up ordering the goat stew to share. You may be saying "eww" to the stew....but it was delicious. A plate full of love and a part of his family tradition.  Part of travel is being still and trusting in the recipes that have filled the bellies of local families for decades. Harvey Jr. was kind and hospitable as we found all the local Cruzans to be. 

As I leave this island, I am grateful for the moments of respite and for the stillness that I so desperately needed.  I go home with a renewed sense of self and a few more plans and dreams to realize. Until next time..... We are #GoodinsOnTheGo! Have a Good-un...

GoodinsOnTheGo

Eat, Pray, Love - A Tour of Sicily & Rome

I suppose along with age comes wisdom and maturity. We realized a long time ago that "stuff" to collect was not as important to us as the gifts of time and experiences. So as Mr. Goodin's birthday approached, we decided to make a trip to Italy to not only celebrate his birthday but to visit family that just happened to be living in Sicily (I know, I know...lucky us). After we finally figured out how to get there, I was still stuck on what to give him as a birthday present. Then it dawned on me like a brilliant flash of an idea. Early in our dating days, I decided to take a train ride up the east coast to visit my Mom for Christmas. At the time, I was reading Eat, Pray, Love. It was my companion book that spoke to my soul. Her life, her travels...especially her trek through Italy. I remember getting a text my message from my then boyfriend asking me what I was doing. I snapped a photo of my book. He was amused but it started a trend. I was hip long before Instagram. However, this distant memory was the inspiration to our trip to Italy....it would be the Eat, Pray, Love tour. I had a few things up my sleeve that I was sure would be memorable. We arrived in Sicily late in the day. Some sandwiches and a good nights sleep and we would be good to go in the morning....my plan was about to be enacted.

Day 2: Eat in Taormina
So back to my flash of brilliance for my birthday surprise. A couple of weeks prior to our trip, I did a little Internet searching an discovered culinary holidays in Italy. After conferring with mi familia, we decided on an cooking class excursion to Taormina...about an hours drive away. Everyone was in on the plan except for him. I finally revealed my surprise to my husband who was happy to learn what we were doing. We met the chef promptly at 9 am at the arches to the coastal city. After brief introductions, we headed to the local fishery and market. Chef Massimo spent a good hour discussing the art of picking fresh produce and fish. He purchased all the goods and for the next 4 hours we became his sous chefs.

We headed back to the restaurant and our private cooking class commenced. He was charming and relaxed, but he was a good teacher. We made fresh pasta to start, olive cappanade, blood orange salad, stuffed anchovies, fresh calamari, sea bass, eel filets...six courses in total.

We learned techniques, we laughed and we squirmed at the thought of some of the fish prep....but all in all it was a fantastic experience. As good as we were as students, we were much better eaters. To the victors goes the spoils. To end our day in Taormina, we toured the streets and went to the Theater of the Greek to look at the vistas of the beautiful waters surrounding Sicily.

Day 3: Pray in Palermo
We decided to branch out a little, but this was going to require a sense of adventure and a train ticket. We were dropped off at the train station at 7am for our three hour ride to Palermo. Once there, we jumped on the city tour bus (the best way to see the most in the shortest amount of time). We zipped to the top of Palermo to the church in Monreal. Stunning views from the highest points of this beautiful city.

What struck me most were the tiny streets lined with people and produce and all things traditional. A step back in time. We decided to grab lunch from a bakery and sit outside to enjoy the day.

After going back into the city we rode the bus from site to site. Mr. Goodin listened to the history lesson and I took pictures from the bus. So much to see, so little time. We capped off the afternoon with a traditional Aperol spritzer (an orange liqueur with prosecco and soda water). We chatted it up with a couple from Yorkshire who were there on holiday. She was just happy to learn the bar sold wine from a tap. Welcome to Italy. Palermo was a lovely place and a nice getaway for anyone visiting Sicily. Needed more time, but had a train to catch.

Day 4: Eat and Love in Aci Trezza
Time to stay local and see the sights in our host town. There are some interesting rules of the road here in this little town outside of Catania. First come first served. Driving is not for the faint of heart...if you get there first, nose in...you win. Pedestrians have the right of way even if a car is buzzing down the road....they will stop on a dime so the key is to stay alert. However, this particular morning, we took a lovely stroll along the boardwalk with the destination of Aci Castello "the castle" in mind. A round way trip of four miles with much to see. Men with time on there hands gather for a morning chat, fishing boats that look abandoned and unique structures coming from the water (aptly named the Cylcops).

The clouds which started out coolly warmed quickly as we walked. It was a beautiful day in Aci Trezza. A quick stop for gelato and café....life is good.

It set the tone for the day in which we simply relaxed in preparation for the birthday celebration. Later that evening, we left for a local seafood dinner. Food from the ocean straight to our plate. It could not have been fresher or more delicious. Mr. Goodin was promised seafood and this little town delivered. The culminating treat was a stop into a local bakery for birthday cake and a cannoli (because I wasn't leaving without having one). We picked up a pistachio cream cake....drop mic....done. Sugar coma.

Day 5: Eat in Catania
So it was our last day in Sicily, what better to do than go into the markets of down Catania. Not sure how to describe the utterly organized chaos other than it was organized chaos. Vendors barking, hawking their goods. Fish, fruit, produce, meat, cheese, nuts....you name it. I will have one of everything please. I convinced the family that we should buy local and make dinner....I had spied some mussels that needed to come home with me. I bought scallions that were triple the size of anything I had ever seen along with a loaf of fresh bread.

After a long walk though the muck of the market, we were headed back to the car when we all saw it.....grilled artichokes being steamed on the roadside. The smell, the smoke...yes, we needed those too. After much debate about the cost, we ended up paying $5 for 7 grilled artichokes. We couldn't drive fast enough home to eat them for lunch. Ah yes, the lemons for my mussels...I would get those from the tree of the upstairs neighbor. I think it was at this point I said to Mr, Goodin, "I will miss you. Take care of the cats." I was kidding of course. Not kidding. I loved it here.

Day 6: Eat, Pray and Love in Rome
In order for us to be sure to catch our flight the following day, we got a head start by flying from Catania to Rome. That gave us about 7 hours of touring time. Again, with the aid of the city tour bus we did pretty well. We managed to make it to the Coliseum, the Circus Maximus, the Pantheon, Plaza Navronna, and the Trevi Fountain. Yes, coins were tossed (that was for the love part).

The drizzly, cold rain kept making an appearance. We dodged into a café  for respite at one point. We ordered our one and only pizza. However, the most impactful part of our day was making the decision to get to St. Peter's Basilica before it closed. We knew that if we could hop the Metro we might just make it there with minutes to spare. It is the Lenten season after all....how best to celebrate. We jumped off the Metro and walked as fast as we could. Vatican City was dark and nearly empty but the church was still open. He had never been and just to see his reaction was well worth the journey. We stopped, took a collective deep breath and realized where we were. It was all very moving. Then the sounds of the church rang, it was time to leave. We spent a total of 15 minutes in the church. Time well spent.

Day 7: Love - Home
There is no place like it. This was a memorable trip for sure. It was my third time to Italy and each time I feel a connection to my ancestral roots. Sicily was special as there was a mix of old world and new world...but old world ways were prevalent in all our interactions. There is a spark of sassy in most that you meet, but it's sassy in a charming way. I look forward to my return, sooner rather than later....Ciao! For now.

STOP! for a complete look at our trip (all 294 photos)....grab a gelato and just click on the Shutterfly link below! I hope you enjoy the virtual journey through Italy. Ciao!

Complete Shutterfly Album of Italy 2016 - Eat, Pray, Love

 

   

SnowmaGETTIN! 2016 - Vail, Colorado

So call me crazy. As I type, the northeast corridor is being pummeled and plummeted by Winter Storm Jonas and I am on a plane to Vail. Life as a pilot's wife is never boring. Yesterday, we were watching all day news reports about the impending storm and the thousands of flight cancellations. I can only be grateful he was at home at the time. As I shared with my mother who called to inquire as to his whereabouts...I told her the only threat he had at the moment was tripping over the cat as he was pouring coffee in the kitchen. Then the famous bling of the cell phone....flights coming into open time. Flights into the northeast were cancelled but MIA was business as usual. The bling led to a phone call from scheduling. He got a flight assignment to Vail, Colorado. So here I am....30,000 feet in the air and headed to snowy Colorado for a short twenty-four hour layover. I jokingly referred to this trip as SnowmaGETTIN!

A fellow crew member who rented a car generously offered us a ride and we were on our way to Beaver Creek Ski Village. He was off to ski....we were off to eat. After a short walkabout in the ski village, we stopped for a warm lunch at the Golden Eagle Inn. Now, if I can eat something that I can't eat at home, I will...today was no exception. For lunch we shared a Mountain Game Burger...made with buffalo, venison, wild boar, elk and antelope served with a side of parmesan garlic fries. It was just one of things I needed to try.  After stuffing our face, we were back out to the slopes to watch the skiers. I used to ski but thanks to a crash and burn fall in '95, I retired my skis. Now I just enjoy watching all the brave souls hit the slopes while I warm up at on outside fit pit. Sadly, I was on the lookout for celebrity chef Richard Blais (of Top Chef fame). All the tickets for the culinary weekend events were sold out but there was always a chance that I could run into him. No such luck.

I was given some insider information prior to my arrival. At 3PM everyday something special happens here at Beaver Creek....a team of chefs emerge with plates of steaming, hot and gooey chocolate chips cookies for all the skiers. Now the only way to describe this is that it was an onslaught of skiers trying to grab a morsel of homemade deliciousness from a man in a chef hat all at the same time.  Like bees to honey. They were that good. So good we went back for seconds.

Score!

Another travel tip (from the flight crew)  that I did not take advantage of this time was to keep my boarding pass. Apparently, if you show your current day boarding pass at the ticket window you can get onto the lifts for free! Who knew?! Now, remember our new friend who was skiing? This was the photo he texted from the top. I should have braved the lift! That's us...comfortably at the bottom of the hill.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Photo courtesy of J. Anderson

Waving from the bottom of the slopes

We drove back to the hotel when the slopes closed. I headed straight to the lobby fireplace to warm my toes. Armed with a hot apple cider, I kindly plopped myself there until our dinner at the world famous Moe's BBQ. After eating our way through this town, a good nights sleep was in order.

And just like that, the clock ticks down.  Twenty four hours goes by quickly and I am already headed back to the airport for my flight home.  Beautiful, majestic blue skies, white powdered mountain tops, great food and cozy accommodations...I will be back for sure and a little longer next time. 

#GoodinsOnTheGo