As the contest indicates, today May 14, 2013 we are celebrating Mother's Day in my country, Venezuela, and it is a very important tradition for my family.
It is one of those days where we get together at my grandmother's house, it can also be at another family member's house and we prepare a special meal together, hand out gifts, listen to music and always remember funny family anecdotes.
She loves coffee, the first thing she does when she wakes up is to prepare the coffee pot, then she goes to the bathroom for her personal hygiene and then she enjoys the first cup of coffee of the day. This can be from her bed, kitchen or living room.
No matter where she is, she should drink coffee before starting any activity of the day. Then she goes back to drinking coffee to accompany her breakfast. When she comes to my house she brings her Greca or Moka coffee maker, so that she does not have to wait for me to get up (I do it after her) and prepare the electric coffee maker that takes longer to prepare the coffee.
So, the lady goes from one house to another with her coffee maker in her suitcase, even if it is only for one night. When she packs her suitcase to return home, she is more concerned about taking her coffee maker with her than anything else.
The reason is because Margarita Island is her favorite vacation spot in our country.
Being a tropical country, vacations are scheduled on the beach. The Caribbean Sea is the one that bathes our coasts and the island is no exception.
When the economic crisis and the shortage of products afflicted the country, Margarita Island was seriously affected. So much so that tourist activity decreased drastically. For these reasons, plus the loss of purchasing power of the Venezuelan working middle class, forced us to suspend trips to the beautiful island.
Today, spending a week in Margarita is expensive for my family.
The ferry ticket alone for the vehicle is over $200.00. Then you have to add lodging, meals, sightseeing, park entrance fees and the occasional purchase we might want to make.
If I were planning a vacation for four people, for 7 days, I could spend $3,000.00 or more in a modest hotel. Maybe I am underestimating the real budget.
The island is beautiful, it has plenty of beaches for all tastes. With big waves, medium waves, small waves, pool type, bays, jetties, lagoons. At the age I am, we are still missing places to visit. In addition, it is full of history and preserved castles, forts and fortresses declared national heritage.
My mother loves coffee and she loves Margarita Island, so if one of her 2 loves, I am sure it would make her extremely happy.
Enjoying the first cup of coffee contemplating the bay of Juan Griego, for example, would be more emotional, purifying and relaxing for her.
Then, strolling along its iconic avenues, sitting in an outdoor café, listening to her, asking for "A big, hot brown, please" would be music to my ears, while I would silently ask for the coffee to be really hot 🙏, because if it isn't , she sends it back to be reheated.
Going around tasting different coffees at each corner visited, would be great. She happy with a big cup of her favorite drink, at her favorite vacation spot.
Remembering our trips and looking at the pictures made me happy, while leaving a melancholy for the days lived and the time we haven't been able to enjoy as we did.
I am sure that sooner than later, we will be back in Margarita and my mother enjoying every moment with her hot coffee 🤗
All photographs are my own and edits were made in Canva with the free version.
