One afternoon Danni was aboard the Adamo after trading Phil for a dugout canoe (But that is an entirely different story to be told later). A small fishing boat pulled up on our port side and wanted to trade fresh fish that were still flopping around in the bilge. We traded a box of shelf milk for two large cat fish. Danni then offered to cook the fish and invited us over for dinner at his "casa".
We all knew that this would be an unforgettable experience and gladly accepted the invitation. In the late afternoon, we dinghied to the village and docked up at his house.
We all knew that this would be an unforgettable experience and gladly accepted the invitation. In the late afternoon, we dinghied to the village and docked up at his house.
Danni and his wife were busy cooking on their wood burning stove. The stove consisted of a wooden base on pylons that was detached from the house itself. Yet it was close enough to still be under the extension of the roof. On top of the log base was a dried, six inch high clay cooking surface, three by four feet in area. Split firewood was arranged in a star pattern on top of this surface, with the center lit. The cook can then adjust the cooking temperature by pushing the split logs closer or further apart. The clay retains heat as well, so the entire contraption is quite functional and can get very hot if needed. I thought it was an ingenious solution for houses which are built on stilts over the water and are only made of wood and palm fronds.
Word had gotten out in the village that we had printed photos of Danni's children for him. While our hosts were preparing dinner, a procession of children entered his hut, dressed in there finest clothes to have their picture taken. Over the course of our five day stay at the village, we printed over 75 pictures of children and families. It was a huge hit with the Indians and was a fantastic ice breaker for these quiet and reserved people. Kids and adults crowed around during picture time and then again the next day when we distributed them out. They analysed and discussed every photo with each other. Then as quickly as the crowd had gathered, it would disperse until the next photo op or picture delivery.When dinner was ready, Danni offered us each a bowl filled with stewed cat fish, plantains and onions in a most tasty sauce, with a side of fresh flat bread that had just been prepared on his clay stove. We liked the bread so much that Susan got the recipe so that it can become part of our cooking repertoire.
Dinner was eaten sitting on the floor. The men and guests eat first. The guests each received their own bowl while Danni and his sons preferred to share out of a community bowl. Susan was the only one who got a spoon. Everyone else ate with their hands.
We communicated in our Tarzan Spanish using our dictionary and sign language. Despite the language barrier, we were able to converse about family, travels, culture etc... At night, power is provided by a generator (courtesy of Chavez). When the power can on, someone showed up with an electric keyboard and asked us to play. Sue and I played Heart and Soul as a duet. Then I played the little bit I could remember without having practiced in over a year. I don't think Mozart was too well received. Boogy woogy jazz seem to go over better.
The next evening, we cooked pancakes for the village on Danni's stove. I'm not to sure how well they were liked. But I did point out to Susan, that they ate them all and that the maple syrup was all gone. It must have been OK. We then brought the TV and DVD player from the boat and played a movie for them (Too Fast, Too Furious) The younger guys really liked that one. Sue sat with a group of kids and taught them some English. It was a wonderful time. 
