Miraflor
Wow, was miraflor spectacular, and i saw the pictures from the website and they do not do the place justice. i got a lot of great ones, but nothing but being there can truly describe how wonderful it was. The day we got there we had breakfast, met a wonderful couple named Josh and Becca and then went for a long walk with them and our guide, Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos might have been one of the best things in the place, although it is hard to say because everything was so damn spectacular. He is 20 and just the nicest guy. We got back to the farm and had lunch. Me and hil stayed in a wonderful little hut and it was just a blast. I took a long nap after lunch, and then got up freezing (a new experience for me in nicaragua). Not only was it freezing, but storming as well. We had dinner and a long discussion with the guests (all 6 not counting us) and then went to bed. The next day we had breakfast – all the meals were great by the way – and then went horseback riding. This being my first time i was a bit apprehensive, but it was one of the most rewarding experience of my life. The views were just wonderful, and we stopped and went swimming in this beautiful place under a waterfall. The trails that we took these horses on were crazy, and i have to admit i was a bit scared as we were galloping down them. Although by the end i was able to gallop without holding on for dear life. Got some good pictures of miraflor and hil took some of me on the horse. Just a great experience in general.
At the moment i don’t exactly know where my family is, as they are not in their house and the door is locked…… the little girl next door just said No esta aqui…. so I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do. I expect they will be home sometime soon though. Yes, i expect we will pamper ourselves in leon. God that hot shower will feel great. Anyway, much love from here in nica. and i will talk to you later
Much love
Mateo
P.S, not really all that homesick, and the spanish is getting easier, thank god.
Adios
************
Dear Matt & Hil,
I rode a horse once, or should I say I got on the beast and it walked around while I tried to steer it. I pulled the reins, kicked its side and twisted its ears, but he acted as if I wasnÃt there. When I finally dismounted, it stepped on my foot. IÃm glad your horse was better behaved.
Yesterday we, with Mark, Ginger, Adam, Tricia and Dan, drove to the QueijoÃs in Hubbardston for an all day barbecue. We arrived at 1 PM and sat and ate and drank and talked until 7. It was then that Jan forced us to get off our ìLazy butts,î and onto the pond. They have two kayaks, one canoe, a rowboat (not unlike the one your uncle Peter and I used on Big Cynthiana Road) and a sailboat. We played on the water for another hour and then headed home.
Below are photos of our incredible desserts: a raspberry cheesecake Mark S brought and JanÃs homemade blueberry crisp. As good as they were, the best dessert was waiting for us at home – your email.
View larger image
View Larger Image
Feasting on the above
Wow, was that email spectacular, and I still can’t wait for the pictures, however inadequate. You take us there, though, in words, and I can’t tell you how psyched I am to hear you so enjoying this experience. Grand, too, that everyone is so giving and open there. I wonder if it’s just the nature of the Nicaraguans to be so warm and welcoming, regardless of their guests’ origins, or do they somehow know, or sense, that only through the untrammelled youth of the United States will future change there be engendered that can spread to all affected by this disproportionately consequential country?
Comment by uplifted — July 19, 2004 @ 9:51 am
There were a lot of “wonderful’s” in Matt’s email. This combined with his P.S. leads me to believe this will not be his last trip there. As for the dessert, perhaps you Jan could be pursuaded to share that recipe. Looks fabulous.
Comment by chris — July 19, 2004 @ 10:03 am
I am so happy for you, Michael and Diane, that you arrived home full and content to receive an e-mail from your Matt!! Sounds like he is having a wonderful time and it is a beautiful place and a magnificent experience. How on earth did Adam get a photo from above us? I know he is tall, but………………
Chris – if you mean the blueberry cobbler, here goes:
JAN’S BLUEBERRY COBBLER
1 Cup suger
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
3/4 Cup Water
1/4 cup Butter
3 Cups Fresh Blueberries
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/3 Cup Milk
3 Tablespoons Salad Oil
Mix sugar and cornstarch in a sauce pan; stirr in water and boil for one minute, stirring constantly.
Add berries; pout into 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
Dot with butter or margarine and sprinkle cinnamon over the top.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine mil and oil, and add it to the dry mixture. Stir with a fork until mixture forms a ball. Drop by spoonfuls onto berry mixture. Bake at 425 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.
Yield: 6 Servings
I must run and take my blueberry/banana bread out of the oven!! -Jan
Comment by Jan Queijo — July 19, 2004 @ 11:36 am
Wow, Matt. You write wonderfully…your emails are great reading. Perhaps I should hire you to write some of my travel brochures!
Chris, John and I think about you often (and talk about you more!). Glad to hear the trip is going so well. Chris’s email is somewhat toasted now….but we love the blog entries.
Cheers.
Comment by Karen-Chris's Mom — July 19, 2004 @ 11:47 am
Jan…thank you!
Comment by chris — July 19, 2004 @ 2:58 pm
We are also wowed by Matt’s emails, and not just because their arrival means he’s still alive. Btw, did Chris tell you he almost pushed over the second floor deck we were working on? I didn’t think so.
*********
Wait a minute. Hold on. This blog has been used for many things, but to trade recipes??
I
Comment by michael — July 19, 2004 @ 5:20 pm
Admittedly, those pictures and that recipe gave me an overdose of calories and cholesterol today just looking at them. They should be banned from the blog.
Miraflor sounds great! And from the jpegs of the horses there that I’ve seen on the web, the Nicas tack them up in the same strange way the Costa Ricans do–there’s a tie to the the base of the horse’s tail, believe it or not. Galloping down those rutted, looping trails probably educated Matteo in horsemanship in much the same way that learning Spanish is done there–total immersion, learn or die!
Comment by rakkity — July 20, 2004 @ 9:59 am
Howdy, yes miraflor was one of the most uplifting experiences we have had yet. Just the most peaceful and serene setting.. wow, the horse riding was a bit intense, and yes learn or die. I figured out that it was definitely a possibilty of dying as we climbed a mountain on those horses… with a large drop to our left. God do i love heights as most of you know…. Wow, that dessert looks so good… i wonder if it would ship well. lol, jk
In other news we are thinking of going to leon this weekend along with poneloya (i think that’s the name) which is a beach near to leon. We are in the prosess of making reservations, not something you need to do often around here.
Anyway, im getting the sense that hil is a little homesick, as am i bit. It is more that, while i like the school, getting up in the morning is a bit trying. Along with the fact that the cloroquin is definitely not helping. My dreams are becoming very…. difficult to deal with and i kept waking up last night because my alarm clock kept going off…. in my head. It is strange to hear an alarm clock that isnt actually going off because it makes such a distinct sound. Maybe last night just wasnt meant for sleep. Anyway, that is all so that i don’t fill the blog. Have a wonderful day
Much love
Mateo
Comment by Mateo — July 20, 2004 @ 3:25 pm
well, i know matt talked about miraflor a bunch, but i wanted to get MY two cents in too!
it really was the most beautiful place iÂ¥ve ever been, and juan carlos was great. Josh and Rebecca, our fellow travelers and hikers, were the best people we could’ve been with. i don’t know if all of you know this, but i got LOCKED OUT OF MY HOUSE FRIDAY and COULDN’T GET IN IN THE MORNING BEFORE WE LEFT. meaning, none of my stuff. rebecca lent me shoes, matt lent me clothes, and it was fine. minus the fact that i didn’t have my baby, my camera.
as matt and i walked up the road from the bus station and on a path, and through cafe plants and banana trees, and into an opening with this nice little house and kitchen, and to the right the forest,dressed in fog and rows of cafe beans, he said quietly to me ®thanks for making me come®. that was practically the best part.
and after the horseback riding, he said that it was worth it. even though he’s complaining ever since he got off the horse about how sore it is. ®hil, if it still hurts tomorrow iÂ¥m going to… to… gah!® was what he said last.
my favorite part was waking up sunday to find the fog enveloping us all, and to get on the horses and just gallop. rebecca described it as feeling like she was a princess. i felt as if i could leave the world behind. matts horse could tell he was apprehensive — when me and rebecca and josh were galloping as fast as we could, matt was trotting and our wonderful juan carlos was just chilling with him.
the waterfall was beautiful, and i managed to make a fool of myself. be warned: do not jump onto slippery rocks. i won’t do that again. i cut up and bruised my elbow like crazy, and got all my clothing soaked. ®whatever®i thought ®doesnt matter now!®and took off my shirt and went swimming in pants and a bra.
wonderful.
the pictures are great, and i made matt take lots of flowers, knowing that all of you would like to see those.
much much much love, and especially to cortney for being THE CUTEST girl i know.
i¥ll write you an email later.
love and light (amor y luz), Hilary
Comment by LaChica — July 20, 2004 @ 6:31 pm