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Travel Tales from Ethiopia
In the summer of 2005, Danette Shaw and her husband Don Pazetta needed to get away. Their Mississippi home had been destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, their beloved city was a shell of its former self, and Don and Danette just wanted to leave it all behind, at least for a while. Fortunately, months earlier, they had booked a Travcoa journey to Ethiopia, and, even in the wake of the Katrina devastation, they were determined to join their fellow travelers and focus their attention on something other than the hurricane. "Ethiopia was an interesting place. It was eye-opening and educational," Don explained. While exploring the unique facets of the Ethiopian culture, Don and Danette were also reflecting on their own culture. In the tradition of the 7 Continents Club, the Mississippi couple decided that this was their opportunity to share a bit of their southern roots with their fellow travelers. They decided that they were going to make gumbo. "I’ve been traveling with Travcoa for more than 30 years, and they always do an excellent job, but this time they went above and beyond," said Don. "Miss Sharon (Zimmerman), our Travel Director, arranged for us to have the hotel kitchen, and we just did the rest." |
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With the exception of okra, Don and Danette were able to find all the ingredients they needed in the hotel and local markets. Then the adventure began. They set out working all afternoon, boiling chickens, chopping, dicing and mixing. There was some guesswork when it came to proper oven temperatures and the use of some unusual spices and cooking utensils. Fortunately, Don and Danette’s outstanding culinary skills helped them adapt to the Ethiopian kitchen. "Most of our fellow travelers and quite a few of the hotel staff stood around and watched," Don recalled. "It was an event! Danette and I fixed a green salad with asparagus and artichokes, gumbo with rice and a fantastic bread pudding." The feast was a welcome treat for the entire group, which included travelers from Australia, New York, Chicago and California. For Don and Danette, it was the comfort food they needed, and exactly what they were craving. For everyone, it was a delicious end to a thrilling and unusual day. |
