Vintage or Retro

It's Just Stuff

It must be spring because I'm unloading my stuff. A couple car loads of donations, recycling and selling.  I was always a bit skeptical about kijiji because my first experience a couple years back was not pleasant. I came across a number of folks who I have termed 'kijiji flakes,' people who just play you with no good intentions. However, I've been cleaning and clearing this and that and had some real success and my faith is rejuvenated in selling my treasures!

What is vintage?
If antiques are things that are 100 years old or older, what are vintage pieces? According to Webster, the term vintage relates primarily to wine and is an altered form of the French word vendage, meaning "the grapes picked during a season." One of its secondary definitions is "a period of origin or manufacture" (e.g., a vintage 1960s Mercedes) or "length of existence: age." 

Ruby Lane provides a much more helpful explanation, noting that "an item described as 'vintage' should speak of the era in which it was produced. Vintage can mean an item is of a certain period of time, as in "vintage 1950's" but it can also mean (and probably always should) that the item exhibits the best of a certain quality, or qualities, associated with or belonging to that specific era. In other words, for the term vintage to accurately apply to it, an item should be somewhat representational and recognizable as belonging to the era in which it was made." Ruby Lane also suggests that 'vintage' should not be used in reference to objects less than 20 years old. 

Some of my stuff is definitely vintage. I've sold one of my 'vintage bikes' and keeping the other one with the banana seat bike to fix up. Yup, it even has a flower patterned seat...it's a future project. It was my first bike and I remember the day Mom and Dad bought it for me. I was so proud cruising around the neighborhood in my 'motorbike' with the gorilla handlebars. I'm pretty sure I rode that bike everyday....for years. It kinda looks like this:

What is retro?
According to Merriam Webster, retro is "relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past : fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned." Retro furniture may not actually be old but it references styles of the recent past. Retro can also mean something that is not very old but is old enough to be more than just "so last season". (i.e., the woman wearing the early 80s high-waisted jeans because she hasn't updated her wardrobe since the Reagan Administration is not retro. She is just outdated.)

So does that mean my wardrobe is somewhat 'retro'? Maybe I need my stylist and design consultants for an over haul. I'm reminded of my g-friend L who had their naked lady parties to trade or exchange clothes and other gently used items. No....it's not what you're thinking, it's like a swap meet!

On a more serious note, the images and stories from Japan breaks my heart. I can't watch the news anymore without tearing up and walking away. It's unbelievable what we have witness of the Japanese people with their courage, integrity and true dignity. I have close friends who live there and my heart and prayers go out to them and their country.

A song from my childhood that is definitely vintage, but timeless. 

Sabrosa y Deliciosa

It would only be a matter of time before I would slip back into a blog about food. Discovering local cuisine is when traveling is always a treat! When I traveled to Peru and Ecuador a number of years ago I discovered the ancient grain of quinoa and it has become a staple of my diet today. Central American food is so diverse. I have a couple of new favs when it comes to local food and drink.

In Chetumal, Mexico we got to enjoyed some local Mexican meals. Many would find Playa de Carmen an artificial play world for adults but we also stumbled upon a local fiesta complete with a carnival rides! We wandered around and found some food stalls selling some Tylaudas. I thought they were sabrosa y deliciosa!
 

Making Tlayudas (CC photo Paolita A courtesy of Flickr)

I found some more information on the web:

The Tlayuda, (sometimes mistakenly called “Clayuda”) originates specifically in the central valley regions of Oaxaca State. An age-old local specialty, tlayuda refers to the large, unique type of corn tortilla that’s native to central Oaxaca as well as to the dish using this same type of tortilla but topping it off with various ingredients. We might loosely call this dish “Mexican Pizza”, for lack of a better expression. The most important component of this dish is the big tortilla, which sometimes has a diameter measuring more than 40 centimters (16 inches).

The woman we got ours from grilled the tylundas over hot coals. The filling was of BBQ beef, refried beans, lettuce, Oaxaca cheese (the Mexican version of string cheese), and served with hot salsas. However, there are no hard-and-fast rules about the toppings. And you can eat your tlayuda open faced or folded in half, almost like an empanada or Italian calzone.

Here is a recipe from the web to try:

Tylundas

Ingredients:

2 cups black beans (homemade or canned) drained with liquid reserved

1 clove garlic, minced*

1 onion, finely chopped*

chile powder to taste

cumin to taste*

salt to tast*

fresh ground black pepper to taste*

1 cup of meat of your choice, chorizo, shredded chicken cooked, pork or beef

1 cup of chopped lettuce

1 Cup shredded Oaxaca or Mozzarella cheese
1 Cup meat of your choice, like chorizo or shredded chicken cooked, optional
1 Cup chopped lettuce
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 Avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
1/2 Cup crumbly cheese of your choice, like queso fresco or farmer’s cheese, optional
Salsa to taste

*Note: If you’ve prepared black beans from scratch and already added seasonings, these additional spices might no be necessary. If using plain canned beans it’s best to add these ingredients.
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Farenheit.

If using canned beans put them in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, chile powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Warm the mixture, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.
Place the mixture (or your homemade beans) in a blender. Blend after adding just enough reserved liquid from the beans to achieve a chunky-style purée. Place one tortilla on a baking sheet or pizza stone and spread half of the beans on it. Add 1/2 cup of the Oaxaca cheese and 1/2 cup of the meat. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with 1/2 cup lettuce, half of the diced tomatoes, half of the sliced avocado, and 1/4 cup of the crumbly cheese. Bake another 3-5 minutes, until the toppings are hot and the tortilla is crispy around the edges.
Repeat procedure with the other tortilla. Top them off with salsa to taste. Eat them open-face, fold them in half, or cut them into slices and serve.

I like them folded in half! Yummy!

Also really enjoyed Jamaica. It tastes like cranberry juice as has so many health benefits too!


 Jamaica Flower Iced Tea (Agua de Jamaica)

4 cups water
1/2 cup dried jamaica flowers
1/2 cup sugar
another 3 cups cold water
more sugar to taste
1 lime, thinly sliced

If you prefer, you can sweeten with any natural sweetener of your choice including honey in place of granulated sugar).
First off, pick out a pot that won't stain. Hibiscus has the potential to stain just about anything it comes in contact with including your countertop, cookware, wooden spoons, favorite jeans, etc. So keep this in mind.
Bring the 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove water from heat and add the dried flowers and sugar. Place a lid over the pot and steep for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice along the way to break down the sugar granules.
Pour the infusion through a strainer into a pitcher or jug (this is usually where something gets stained). You are going to want to add about 3 more cups of cold water to the pitcher. Taste and adjust based on your personal preference. You can add a bit more sugar if you think you need it, or more water if you feel like the jamaica is too overpowering. This is usually just about right for my taste. I don't like the sugar to overpower the refreshing natural tartness of the jamaica flower.
Cool completely and serve with plenty of ice in glasses garnished with a slice of lime.
Serves 8.


http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/000172.html

Everyone eats and drinks; yet only few appreciate the taste of food.   

 

Doctine of Mean 4.2 Confucius

Ethical Dilemmas of a Traveler

Sometimes I don't realize how fast my life is until I go away and decompress. Really....decompress.  It's good for the soul.


The waters off of Little Corn Island are clear, glistening blue, green and azure. In the evening, you can walk out onto the pier where there is one bright light illuminating the waters below you. Looking into the waters you get a close glimpse from the creatures of the sea. From the pier you can see nurse sharks, barracudas, stingrays...zillions of fishes!

Little Corn Island, Nicaragua was once a haven for pirates and buccaneers in the 17th century. In fact, there are still shipwrecks and treasures that still lay scattered along the shores of these islands. The local Islanders were fishermen and harvested lobsters which some still do today. However, with new foreign owners looking for a piece of paradise,  their reality has changed. Everywhere we looked there was property for sale. You... too can buy a piece of paradise and beach front property!

The prices were affordable and throughout this journey to Nicaragua I wrestle with my ethics and values of what it really means to purchase foreign property. We met many local people who had seen their homeland change so quickly. Invaded by foreigners and their influences. I do try to tread lightly in my travels. A wise mission statement from a dive shop states, “Take only memories . . Leave only bubbles.”


This little island in the Caribbean Ocean is subject to instance millionaires. As the island is close to Columbia, sometimes, people win the Caribbean lottery and are building mansion homes the following week. The money can come quickly and disappears even faster. Still it's nice to visit paradise...

Some fond food memories of Little Corn...coconut bread and Cinnamon bread! Yummy grilled lobster dinners every night!!


 Quick Coconut Bread Recipe

1 cup flour
1 cup shredded coconut
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup mik
Preheat oven to 180C (approx 356F). Grease and line a loaf tin. Combine ingredients in medium bowl and mix until combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pan and bake for approx 30 minutes. ENJOY!

Corazón de la Selva

Las Islas del Maíz (Little Corn Island), Nicaragua
February 14, 2011

After a brief visit to Granada and a flight from Managua to Big Corn and a VERY VERY hair raising, air born, almost fall out of the boat ride... we arrived in Little Corn Island. No cars or any motorized vehicles. Peace.


Little Corn is a magical place and when we went beach combing we came across these beautiful sea hearts, which the locals referred to as the  'heart of the jungle,' (corazón de la selva). These pods were heart shaped and looked so cool! It was a nice way to start off Valentine's Day!

I found some more interesting information:

Sea hearts have a long and colorful history in fact and fiction. Early naturalists thought the unusual heart-shaped seeds came from strange underwater plants whose origin was shrouded in mystery. Christopher Columbus was fascinated with objects that drifted ashore on beaches of the Azores off the coast of Portugal. It is said that a sea heart provided inspiration to Columbus and led him to set forth in search of lands to the west. In fact, the sea heart is called "fava de Colom" or "Columbus bean" by Portuguese residents of the Azores. 
In Norway, a bitter tea was made from sea hearts to relieve pain during childbirth. In England, sea hearts were used as teething rings and as good luck charms for sailors embarking on a long ocean voyage.
If sea hearts could survive a long and perilous journey across the ocean, perhaps they could also protect their owner. Sea hearts were also carried as an amulet to protect the owner from sickness and to ward off evil spirits. Sea hearts commonly wash ashore on islands of the Caribbean, and in Jamaica they are beautifully hand painted and sold as lucky pendants.

These sea hearts ride the ocean currents of the world, sometimes drifting for months or years--eventually washing ashore on the beaches of distant continents or exotic tropical islands. Natural resiliency...

Here is the cute little yellow cabanas with some nice deck chairs where we enjoyed the breeze off the Caribbean Sea!

 
The sunrise on this side of the island was Spectacular! We also ventured to the other side and spend a few days in the village with the village people and watched the sunsets.....