We had a most marvelous day yesterday at the World of Nations. We got there just a few moments after it opened and parked over by the PBS station. One of our goals was to go to the Africa section early - in years past, we always hit it last and couldn't enjoy it because it was so crowded. By parking where we did, we ended up entering the festival IN Africa! We got to walk around and enjoy all the sights and smells without being crowded.
Bear found a beautiful soapstone rhino dish for $3 and I bought a some really neat camel bone earrings. We saw the booth for the "new" Kenyan coffee that is being processed here in Jax and tried some for the first time. Mmm, it was so smooth and delicious. We promised we'd be back on the way out and buy some, and of course we did. (That was Sharky's present. LOL)
We left there and went through Central and South America, lingering in our fave places, smelling wonderful foods and listening to the music. The kids had some plantains and we all split a big stick of roasted pork & peppers from the Dominican Republic. We lingered a while in Peru, one of my fave stops, and Petunia bought the most adorable handmade cloth doll. We then went over to Venuzuela (after watching their dancers) and I bought an empañada con pollo (think latin chicken turnover). It was the BEST I have ever had - and I have had a lot of empañadas over the years. LOL (I believe it was from Don Angelo's Cafe & Bakery over on Cassat. Next weekend, I'm going over there to find out! LOL If we have a bakery like that, so close to home, I'm going to be in trouble... *wink*)
We then drifted through a small part of SE Asia and then into the Caribbean Islands. There was a beautiful lady greeting everyone at Puerto Rico with a microphone and music coming from everywhere. That is the point where you start to smell the fresh fruit. Mmm...
Just as we turned on the docks, we saw people getting onto the Lady St. Johns for their free riverboat ride! The old rides used to go from the dock, to under the Main Street Bridge, turn around at the Landing, and then back to dock. This ride took us the same route, but we passed the dock on the way back, went under the Hart Bridge and then turned around. It was great - we got to see a different section of the river, with lots of tugboats and other cool things.
Unfortunately, the rest of the Caribbean was really way too crowded for us when we debarked, so we went quickly through there and into the other part of SE Asia. I became quite tired so I went and sat on a bench under a tree and rested. Sharky and the kids went over to India and got a dinner plate and came back. We all shared tandoori chicken, saffron rice, some kind of chickpeas and what I believe are samosas - all from the Red Chilies restaurant on Baymeadows. (Yep, planning on going there!) Sharky also picked up some conch fritters for all of us to split. Mmm, it's been decades since I've had a conch fritter! It was delicious too.
Afterwards, I sat on the bench and people watched while Sharky and the kids went around and saw the countries that were in that area. By the time they made it back, I felt a bit better so I went back with them on a walk around. It was very crowded and noisy (and hot!) but still fun.
As we left (we had been there for FOUR hours lol, time sure flies), we swung back through Kenya and picked up a bag of that wonderful Kenyan coffee. All in all, we had a wonderful time. The sun was hot (and I got burned lol) but there was a wondrous breeze coming off the St. Johns River that made it all worth while.
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