Actually, the longest and best “day date” since we returned from the USA in January! April started with a bang…for a week. The sun came out, and after four months, I could breathe and feel the energy of the Earth! I was born on my mother’s birthday, and we celebrated over FaceTime.
Mom is 96 this year and was so fortunate to have a wild party at her Adult Care home.
My day was wonderful. Lutz took me to the Landhaus Hechtsberg Restaurant, and it was so delicious. I felt so special!
I had the beef cheeks!
Lutz had the lamb shank. Both meals were out of this world, and no, those are two different sauces, we checked!
We shared a Crème Brûlée for dessert that was amazing!
My son, Jarrod, headed north from San Diego to Washington to scope out a location for his new film. He was able to make my mom’s birthday celebration. Mom was so impressed with his kindness and thoughtfulness. They spend days together hanging out.
Easter rolled by with rain and cold, but Lutz made one of his mother’s special hard-boiled egg sauce recipes! This onion vinegar sauce is so delicious. It doesn’t have to be Easter to make this. Really, it’s delicious for breakfast, or as a snack, or as an appetizer. I posted it below for you.
I had such a tempting day in the sun, and then it was over. Back came the clouds and cold. I’d finally had enough. I began a hunt for a ten-day trip to the sun. Didn’t care where, just had to “get out of this place if it was the last thing I ever did”. I found a great vacation to Fuerteventura, Spain, all-inclusive by the sea! BUT…the day before we were to fly out, my knee, which I had been nursing for ten years, gave out. Off for another “D-date” to the doctor; MRI, X-ray, ultrasound all showed I was on my last leg, literally. I think I need a few more reading glasses. What do you think?
I was insistent that this would not stop me. Refusing crutches, I limped along in the line for luggage drop! That’s the line behind us in the photo.
We were off and limping to warmer weather and a ten-day date with the sun and sea. That is literally our hotel, Barcelõ Royal Adult Fuerteventura, off the wing of the plane. We stayed at the Barceló Royal Tenerife last year and really enjoyed it.
We settled in by starting with an 18-hole golf tournament! Lutz won naturally. I’ll blame it on the wind! The first two days were a bit windy. We were told that it is expected. But the sun was out, and it was warm.
The hotel was so relaxing, and the weather was superb.
The small town was nearby, and several areas for walking (or limping) and enjoying the sun and sea.
Mostly, we lounged by the pool with a great sea view.
Every night we had entertainment. These guys were great, the one on the left was an opera singer!
Sitting by the pool in the evening listening to music was so relaxing and warm.
We rented a car for two days and drove all over Fuerteventura. Some folks said Las Palmas was the place to stay, so we headed over the mountains to judge for ourselves. Too crowded for me! Hotels were mostly over the top of strip malls. I loved the art in the tourist towns we drove through.
This one especially!
We visited one of the oldest colonies on the island, Villa Historia in Betancuria. Founded by a Norman Knight, Jean de Bethencourt, in 1404!
Near the town was a monument to the two rivaling cultures of this area. Lutz finally found someone taller than him!
Lutz was fascinated with the abandoned hotels. There were so many that we stopped taking pictures.
One of the coolest things on these islands is the windmill structures that dot the countryside.
The other unique items are the signs that indicate which district you are entering. Pretty cool signs.
The next day, we took the car on the ferry to Lanzarote.
We made a tour around the south of the island. It was quite barren. The different colors were due to sand, volcanic rock, and a bit of vegetation.
So much volcanic rock really gave this island an eerie feeling. We decided to take the bus tour through the heart of the Parque Vacional. Click here to explore more about the volcanoes on Lanzarote.
And yes, it was a huge travel bus that made it around the corners.
At the end of the bus tour, a demonstration showed how hot the Earth’s surface is beneath the ground. They threw old, dead branches into a hole that caught fire.
One of the guides put water down, and another hole, and a fountain of hot steam shot out, and I kinda had to wonder if the volcano is still active?
At one point, we passed a field of camels, which gave tours into the volcano.
We went to a popular location, Hervideros. with amazing cliffs and volcanic caves hanging over the sea.
I had taken so many pictures of Lutz hiking around the cliff, and when I got back to the hotel, all I found were selfies of me. The sun was so bright (I’m not complaining), but I couldn’t see my display, and apparently took them all with the camera facing me, not Lutz! But, below you can see where he stood. Use your imagination!
The volcanic stones against the clear blue water made a very dramatic shoreline!
We decided to check out a winery in Lanzarote. They plant their vines in volcanic ash holes, surrounded by stones that retain rainwater, protect them from the wind, and support their growth.
The wine itself was extremely dry for us; I’d call it sour! We tried white, blush, and red, but the appetizers were delicious!
There were several hotel restaurants where we could dine, which were included. The evening meals rotated, featuring different cuisines. Lutz was in heaven once again. His favorite ham on a Spanish cuisine evening.
The night they served Mexican food, I had to go.
I have to say I am done experimenting with Mexican food on this side of the pond. When you have had the best, there is no comparison. Enrique Lopez (my son-in-law’s father) is my standard, and it’s hard to beat. I decided on fish tacos. Here is what I got. A deep-fried fish patty with coconut sauce on top? Never have I seen this at a Mexican restaurant, nor have I ever seen Enrique serve anything like this. I have learned my lesson. Don’t ask about the pineapple on the rice!
Lutz was thrilled with the octopus, fried calamari, and especially the guacamole.
My favorite was fresh grilled fish with verde mojo. Delicious!
Having all-inclusiveness can be dangerous. After all that eating, exercise was important. So it was off to the pool for daily water aerobics.
We even managed to reach the sea on a hot afternoon.
The water was a bit chilly, but so refreshing. Clear and gorgeous. Ten days wasn’t enough for me, but it was time to face reality.
This trip was the longest “Day Date” We’ve had for a while. And one of the best, since it wasn’t a doctor’s appointment. It was sad to have to leave, but it was time to face reality and get back home to schedule my knee surgery and go to the dentist. I decided to start with a few months of PT to try to schedule it after Christmas. Since Lutz is scheduled for his knee surgery on June 11th, having both of us on crutches would be a major task. We arrived safe and sound, but our luggage was the last to come off the carousel. UGGGG!
I was so excited to find that the sun was out in Wolfach, and it was so beautiful. My dear friend, Shuki, from our International Group, had Lutz and me over for dinner the following Sunday, and oh my word. I felt like I was still in the hotel. Her husband, Christian, did most of the cooking. It was a four-course meal! I so enjoyed chatting with them and getting to know Shuki’s husband and daughter, Luna!
With the weather so great, I decided to have a few of my friends for a salad luncheon on our patio. Shout-out to Lily, Shuki, Julie, Anita, and Angelica (she had to leave for Oma tag day).
Anita and I were the only brave souls to hit the water!
Thanks for following along. Check out this new recipe below, and an interesting resource! I’ll chat with you all next month. Until then, be safe, be kind, and remember to breathe.
Fave New Recipe: Easter Egg Sauce
Delicious and easy. It’s good year-round, but Lutz’s mom made it special for Easter. Give this a try and brighten up your hard-boiled eggs! Click here for the recipe.
Fave Resource: The Best I’ve Read This Month!
This month, Resource happens to be two of the best books I’ve read so far. Both have caused a shift in my sleep and also in my thinking! Check them out here!
I'm Melinda Stevens and living the life of a beach bum was inevitable since my father was a lifeguard for the city of Los Angeles. My memories of growing up on John Street in Manhattan Beach, California were filled with joy, excitement and adventures; until my world, as I knew it, fell apart when we moved to Del Mar, California. My father was offered the position as Captain of the lifeguards and we started the slow migration to the small deserted stretch of beach in 1963. At twelve years old, this seemed like the end of my life. Remember, I’m writing with clear hindsight now, ok somewhat clearer… Little did I know this would be the beginning of a new journey and give a bit more clarity to many of the events that led me to this new cooking adventure.
So sorry about your knee! Uggh. But you had a beautiful trip!! Love Jerrod’s picture and so glad to hear he is still film-making!!! I am so happy you still have your mom. What a gift!!