Monday, August 18, 2014

         We hit the ground running this morning with our exercise, as usual; and then the “barbershop” was open for Glade’s haircut—and mine.  I don’t mind cutting is hair, but it is somewhat of a chore to do my own.  That’s one thing greatly anticipated when we get home—the beauty salon where Jenn can put me back together!

         A young couple who are friends of ours and who work occasionally in the temple, invited us to lunch today.  They picked us up at noon and we drove for about 30 minutes traversing the meandering streets of our city.  We ended up in a nice area near the mission home and came to a stop at a restaurant of their choice for a treat to us.  It was spacious with large openings to the outside on two sides which allowed a comfortable breeze to flow right through and keep the temperature just right.  We ordered grilled kabobs—Glade had pork and I, of course, had chicken.  The appetizers were yummy and came in two small hot clay pots with a heating system of some kind underneath that kept the cheese and re-fried beans with butter simmering.  (See photos below.)  They provided toppings for tortilla chips and it was all very tasty.  The atmosphere was very relaxed and music played in the background.

         At one point a mariachi band of two—one who played the guitar and one who played the accordion—appeared and began to serenade the family at the table next to us.  No--mariachi bands are not Honduran but Spanish as you would expect.  Anyway, it was quite expensive to pay for your own serenade, but we were close enough to get the full effect anyway.  

         On the way back to our apartment, the car window was down because I wanted to take some pictures.  When we stopped at a stoplight, he told me to roll it up since it was very dangerous to drive with the windows down.  So up it went and the photo-shoot with it!

         This couple has four children ages 15, 9, 7, and 3; and they are making plans to move to the United States permanently.  They don’t want to raise their children in this dangerous place and have been getting their papers ready to move for some time.  Yes, they are going legally!  She works at the immigration office and he is an electrician.  They will be moving to Provo where they have a friend who will let them stay with him until they can get a job and a place to live.  He leaves on September 1 and she will leave with the children about September 15.  They both speak pretty good English but are a little nervous about finding a job.  They are a super couple and have confidence and good skills.  They will fit in well and do just great, but they will be leaving extended family behind and that will be hard.  Glade has already invited them to come and stay with us next summer when he wants to take them to Yellowstone.  

         Hope you all had a successful Home Evening.  Good Night, everyone.  Love you all!

Glade and the Diaz couple.  Her name is Gloria; I can't remember what his name is--he is just Brother Diaz :)

My turn :)

Just a look at part of the interior of the restaurant

These guys were "stationed" in the center of the room

The mariachi band--sorry there is so much back-light;  it isn't a very good picture.

Inside looking out into the parking lot--again, sorry about the back-light

These are the little "hot pots" with the appetizers.  They actually got so hot that the fillings were boiling and steam was
coming out of the holes on the sides.  You could feel the heat radiating from them and they were untouchable.
We had bottled Sprite to drink.

I think these were cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes in a salsa for the meat.

Ahh--a photo together.

I was a little slow to get this photo, but they are all holding the kabobs by the ring on one end of the metal stick and
pushing the food off onto their plates with a fork.   The yellow food in the bowl is rice.

Entrance to the restaurant

View of the restaurant from the street

Leaving the restaurant

This is just an example of the scarcity of parking places for homes and businesses.  Notice the gate on the right.
Everything is gated here and most of the homes we have seen have this size of a courtyard and that is all.
You can tell this is a high-end area because of the care and the neat and clean appearance of eveerything.
This is not typical of what we see here since this is a very poor country.
There were so many things I wanted to take pictures of, but because of the safety issue I was made aware of,
I didn't get to take them.  I thought it wouldn't be conspicuous inside a car, but forgot the close proximity
of other vehicles and people on the street.  Oh, well.  "Come what may and love it!"  :)