With lots of fresh grated ginger, craisins and not nuts. Thats how I love it!! Super sunny day on the new Swiss Bistro outdoor patio!
Even during a pandemic I managed to enjoy my bday! The day before (which is always Valentines Day) fell on a Sunday so I arranged for an outdoor luncheon with 10 friends. The best restaurant in Baos, Swiss Bistro, had just in their new location -- the gardens of a lovely hotel (Ali Samay) - centrally located but not (they mostly work with tour groups). I wanted to help the owner (my dear friend Patrick) his new and improved dining experience by our gringo group to this formerly favorite establishment. A couple of the attendees didnt dining at the same table with so many others, so we arranged for a separate table for them a few meters away from the group. It was a bright, sunny day as we gathered to celebrate Valentines my birth, rejoice in the restaurants and enjoy the fine cuisine.
Patrick had helped me put together a special surfnturf menu for $20 per person. We started with cream of tomato soup flavored with lemon grass, followed by a slab of gently grilled salmon with a balsamic glaze alongside a
hunk of perfectly cooked beef -- all served with sauteed veggies and potatoes au gratin. Pitchers of fresh lemonade & hibiscus blossom tea. The dessert was my creation - super dense, moist carrot cake studded with craisins and lots of fresh grated ginger. A delicious time was had by all. To use one of my Dads favorite quotes, The quality of the food was only exceeded by that of the company!
On my actual birthday Mario, Melissa & Joaquin arrived from Quito to celebrate with me! We joined some friends at a big table in a private room for a pizza party. My favorite local Italian restauant (Carpe Diem di Verdi) had just reopened in a beautiful, spacious facility. Owner Filippo was very happy to receive us! Of course, another carrot cake for the second celebration! The next morning we all went to the hot springs together and spent the day enjoying Baos. The following day we set off on an excursion to Puyo, a town just over an hour away that is considered the gateway to the Amazon. They had never been, so I was excited to show them all
Of course we had to stop and visit the crazy mosaic caves and the observation tower overlooking the jungle. Theres always something new to see there...this time huge butterfly chairs waiting to be mosaic tiled. We stayed at the best lodge in Puyo - El Jardin. My favorite part of the place (aside from the excellent food at their restaurant) are the wooden hot tubs located in the gardens of the hotel. Joaquin and I splashed around together before dinner, then he and his parents took a soak after the evening meal. Fun and relaxation!
Shanas grandson turned 18 during his visit to Baos. I asked if he might want to join me on a paragliding adventure to mark the occasion. His reaction was, Im afraid of heights followed almost immediately by, but I want to go! He was finishing up his at a fancy hotel in town, so we tried to coordinate our flight with his days off, but the weather would not
cooperate. Good thing he still had some time left before leaving because we had to wait more than two weeks for the rains to clear, checking in each day with the tour operator. Finally, the perfect day (if a bit extra windy!!)
We started off with a safety and information talk at the office in town. We tried a practice run using a harness hanging from the ceiling to get a sense of how it would feel...three steps forward, three steps back, then a short run. It was like wearing a huge backpack that formed a type of bucket seat which would be clipped onto the pilots harness. Of course we were going to fly tandem...it would take months and years of training before a solo flight.
Shana and Maricarmen came with to cheer us on so we followed Edgar in my truck. About a half hour away and up on a flat hillside we made ready for takeoff.
