I Guess I Wasn’t Too Very “Naughty”…

Look what Santa brought me for Christmas this year!

Though (after 13+ years of living in various Asian rice paddies and atop a lofty mountain in the South American Andes) I’ve managed to make-do w/o some of the tasty treats that those in my native land take for granted…

This year I managed to unearth a trio of sorely missed eats right here in Cuenca. None of them cheap mind you, but hey – whence buying yourself Christmas presents… one doesn’t quibble about the rubles.

1. Spam! Why Spam you ask? Remnants of my (failed) quest for such on my recent stay in London. There, they apparently serve the (undeservedly disdained in my native land) concoction of ground pork/ham smushed into the iconic-shaped can as delectable “Spam Fries”. But alas, I never managed to find them there. Now – for a mere $7, I can deep-fry some of my own British “Spam Chips”.

2. MOLASSES! Nowhere (before) to be found ANYwhere in Cuenca. As an avid cook, I often run across recipes that call for a smidge of it (e.g. gingerbread, cookies, barbecue sauce, etc.) and have always had to make-do with a (far inferior) brown sugar substitute. Now… for a mere $9, I have plenty of the authentic, gooey-thick, bitter-sweet stuff to last me 10 years!

My first heavenly sip of Guinness in Dingle, Ireland

3. And finally – I saved the best til last: A tall can of that legendary “G” lager that I swooned over in Ireland. Seriously. This brew is truly the stuff of the beer-gods. And I managed to snag the ONE and ONLY chilled can of it on this mountain-top in Ecuador! A “mere” $12 for the single “última” (“last”) can. Clearly the most I’ve ever spent on a (didimention?) SINGLE can of beer.

All three “regales” (“gifts”) unearthed at the (gringo-owned, natch) specialty food shop on Plaza de San Sebastian in El Centro.

Needless to say, I can now look forward to an especially tasty 2025 here at Casa Rio Vista.

Wishing All my dear TL readers – good health and happiness in the New Year. And remember – take it from the lips of the TravelnLass:

“This sure ain’t no dress rehearsal.”

January 1, 2025 is the first page in a blank book: So… whatever your passion – do write yourself a fabulous tale of your own personal derring-do!

Dyanne

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About the Author

Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!