Stay with the locals. It is sort of obvious. You traveled a long distance to go somewhere else. You wanted a change of pace and a new experience. Stay with the locals. The people that look like you that come from the same place, lead similar lifestyles and create microcosms of where they come from here, the things you were wanting to get away from, won’t share the magic with you. Not because they are holding out, but because they don’t know it. There will be shared experiences of course, of travel, of frustrations, of challenges, of life in paradise. But the magic, the windows into a different way of life, won’t be opened for you. Language barriers needn’t stop you. If you are learning the language, immersion is the best way to practice. If you aren’t, it is the perfect place to start.
Today I was introduced to the Mamey Sapote Fruit. I was sitting down to lunch and noticed a vibrant smooth fruit with a hard shell on Dona Gloria’s plate. What is that? I asked. And so she shared a slice or two. I wasn’t prepared for such heavenliness. The sweet smooth flavors melted on my tongue. I swore I just ate pudding made from condensed milk, apricots, and peaches, whipped smooth and chilled for a few hours. And the shell, while easy enough to slice, is a naturally built in bowl. Mother nature just continues to floor me with her ingenuity. I am grateful to Dona Gloria for introducing me to the Sapote Fruit, another delight amongst the bountiful bounty for tasting here in Nicaragua.
How much happier could my taste buds be? Living in a country where Cacao, Coffee, and the Mamey Sapote fruit does grow.