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We had these hors d'oeuvres at a waterfront cafe on the boardwalk near our hotel in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. This will be the last entry for delicious food from that sojourn. There weren't that many memorable meals on that trip. I would love to provide the recipe for the 10-layer cakes in all the windows, but I would not attempt that. Those wonderful desserts are saved for our memories. We really do often think of sitting by the water and thoroughly enjoying each bite!
The Canary Islands are just off the coast of Morocco on the western coast of Africa. It is famous for its nude beaches. I did not know this before I took my children there for an early winter holiday to get out of the dismal Irish weather. I had read in the guide books there were nude beaches, but they sounded like one had to seek them out. So I was not worried about "corrupting" my 14 and 10-year old children. Well, that was not to be. The first day out we went to the nearest beach from our hotel. We went early so there were not many people there yet. My children went off to investigate the dunes and play with a beach ball, but came back with eyes wide and winded from running to me with tales of nude people and activities. Before long we were among the very few on the beach with suits. Lordy, lordy. And like anything else, we got used to it for that environment and considered it part of being a "cosmopolitan traveler." That's how I portrayed it to my children anyway. I've never been to a nude beach since. At my age, the thought is a true nightmare!
I would like to share reaction--again and again--to my children and me by the European tourist community in Las Palmas. I will give one example to portray their observation. One day we went to the hotel pool instead of the beach. We got there later than everyone else and took the only chairs left on the other side of the pool--away from the sun. We engaged in our usual laughter and craziness, and the kids played games in the pool while I watched. We had a very enjoyable day by the pool. When we were ready to leave, a young doctor from Dublin vacationing, of course, at the hotel started a conversation with me. He said it was obvious to everyone as soon as we came poolside that we were American. I was a bit perplexed and asked what behaviors would so distinguish us from any European mother and her children. He said the closeness and the camaraderie and the genuine fun-loving interaction. I thought he was perhaps generalizing, but as the months went on and I observed more and more family relationships across the pond, I realized there was definitely an element of truth to his explanation. There is a vast difference between the way Americans and Europeans raise their children. We are more involved in our children's lives, more concerned about being role models, more protective. European children always seem to be around their parents, but at the same time are on their own. I'm not making judgments here, just observation. I think one result is European children are more independent at an earlier age, and again, I'm not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing.
And another observation was that Americans are so much happier than Europeans. I will expound on that observation in another post.
Erin and Eli on the dunes of Playa Del Ingles, English Beach.
Yours truly windblown in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, The Canary Islands, Spain. We always had our pictures taken in front of mailboxes. We could tell the country we were in from their colors and shapes. When my parents traveled in the US, they always had their pictures taken on the steps of state capitols.
Tragically, the other reason the Canary Islands are well-known is for the worst aircraft accident in history. The Tenerife airport disaster was the collision of two Boeing 747 airliners on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport (now known as Tenerife North Airport) on the Spanish island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. With 583 fatalities, the crash remains the worst accident in aviation history.
The collision took place on March 27, 1977, at 17:06:56 local time. The planes were operating as Pan Am Flight 1736 (the Clipper Victor) under the command of Captain Victor Grubbs, and KLM Flight 4805 (the Rijn) under the command of Captain Jacob Veldhuyzen van Zanten. Taking off on the airport's only runway, the KLM flight crashed into the Pan Am aircraft that was backtaxiing on the runway in the opposite direction. For both planes, Tenerife was an unscheduled stop. Their destination was Gran Canria International Airport near Las Palmas on the nearby island of Gran Canaria. The Pan Am flight had taken off from LAX with an intermediate stop at JFK. The airplane was Pan Am's first Boeing 747 (ex Clipper Young America. It had 380 passengers and 16 crew. KLM Flight 4805, a charter flight for Holland International Travel Group from the Netherlands had taken off four hours before from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The KLM had 235 passengers and 14 crew members. Among the passengers were 48 children and 3 infants. Most of the KLM passengers were Dutch; four Germans, two Austrians, and two Americans were also on the plane.
Events on both planes had been routine until they approached the islands. Then, at 1:15 pm, a terrorist bomb (planted by Fuerzas Armadas Guanches--a group promoting Canary independence from Spain exploded in the terminal of Gran Canaria International Airport. The civil aviation authorities closed that airport and diverted several of its incoming flights to Los Rodeos, including the two Boeing 747 aircraft involved in the disaster. Upon contacting Gran Canaria airport, the Pan Am flight was informed of the temporary closure. Although the Pan Am crew indicated that they would prefer to circle in a holding pattern until landing clearance was given, the plane was ordered to divert to Los Rodeos, along with the KLM flight.
While there is disagreement about their relative importance, the investigation concluded that the major factors of the accident were: KLM mistakenly took off without a takeoff clearance. The sudden fog greatly limited visibility. The control tower and the crews of both planes were unable to see each other. Pan Am mistakenly continued to exit C-4 instead of exiting at C-3 as directed. Simultaneous radio transmissions, with the result that neither message could be heard. Use of ambiguous non-standard phrases by the KLM co-pilot ("We're at take off") and the Tenerife control tower ("OK"). The airport was (due to rerouting from a bomb threat) forced to accommodate a large number of large aircraft, resulting in disruption of the normal use of taxiways. Many air travel regulations were altered as a result of this crash as sea regulations were changed after the Titanic sinking.
These hors d'oeuvres were served on a platter similar to a deviled egg dish. There were indents to hold the avocado halves. In the center of the platter was chilled jumbo shrimp, lemon, and cocktail sauce. This makes a very nice presentation, and I often have it at a summer patio party with a Bellini Bar.
Irish Stuffed Avocado Hors d'oeuvres
Ingredients:
6 ripe avocados
Fillings of your choice such as:
Shrimp salad
Crab salad
Deviled egg spread
Roquefort cheese spread
Marinated mushroom caps
Kidney bean and sour cream salad
Ham salad
Chicken salad
Lobster salad
Marinated olives and capers
Homemade chunky salsa
Cucumber salsa
Preparation:
Cut the avocado in half lengthwise and remove pit. Place fillings of your choice into each and place in a pretty pattern on a platter. I still like to fill the inside of the platter with jumbo chilled peeled and deveined shrimp with lemon wedges and cocktail sauce. The only limit to the filling is your imagination and taste preferences. In Las Palmas the avocados had been removed from their "shell" and eaten with a fork, but when I make them, I like to leave the outside on and eat them with a spoon. That way your guests can mill around holding an hors d'ouevre and not have to eat at a table.
We had these hors d'oeuvres at a waterfront cafe on the boardwalk near our hotel in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. This will be the last entry for delicious food from that sojourn. There weren't that many memorable meals on that trip. I would love to provide the recipe for the 10-layer cakes in all the windows, but I would not attempt that. Those wonderful desserts are saved for our memories. We really do often think of sitting by the water and thoroughly enjoying each bite!
The Canary Islands are just off the coast of Morocco on the western coast of Africa. It is famous for its nude beaches. I did not know this before I took my children there for an early winter holiday to get out of the dismal Irish weather. I had read in the guide books there were nude beaches, but they sounded like one had to seek them out. So I was not worried about "corrupting" my 14 and 10-year old children. Well, that was not to be. The first day out we went to the nearest beach from our hotel. We went early so there were not many people there yet. My children went off to investigate the dunes and play with a beach ball, but came back with eyes wide and winded from running to me with tales of nude people and activities. Before long we were among the very few on the beach with suits. Lordy, lordy. And like anything else, we got used to it for that environment and considered it part of being a "cosmopolitan traveler." That's how I portrayed it to my children anyway. I've never been to a nude beach since. At my age, the thought is a true nightmare!
I would like to share reaction--again and again--to my children and me by the European tourist community in Las Palmas. I will give one example to portray their observation. One day we went to the hotel pool instead of the beach. We got there later than everyone else and took the only chairs left on the other side of the pool--away from the sun. We engaged in our usual laughter and craziness, and the kids played games in the pool while I watched. We had a very enjoyable day by the pool. When we were ready to leave, a young doctor from Dublin vacationing, of course, at the hotel started a conversation with me. He said it was obvious to everyone as soon as we came poolside that we were American. I was a bit perplexed and asked what behaviors would so distinguish us from any European mother and her children. He said the closeness and the camaraderie and the genuine fun-loving interaction. I thought he was perhaps generalizing, but as the months went on and I observed more and more family relationships across the pond, I realized there was definitely an element of truth to his explanation. There is a vast difference between the way Americans and Europeans raise their children. We are more involved in our children's lives, more concerned about being role models, more protective. European children always seem to be around their parents, but at the same time are on their own. I'm not making judgments here, just observation. I think one result is European children are more independent at an earlier age, and again, I'm not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing.
And another observation was that Americans are so much happier than Europeans. I will expound on that observation in another post.
Erin and Eli on the dunes of Playa Del Ingles, English Beach.
Yours truly windblown in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, The Canary Islands, Spain. We always had our pictures taken in front of mailboxes. We could tell the country we were in from their colors and shapes. When my parents traveled in the US, they always had their pictures taken on the steps of state capitols.
Tragically, the other reason the Canary Islands are well-known is for the worst aircraft accident in history. The Tenerife airport disaster was the collision of two Boeing 747 airliners on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport (now known as Tenerife North Airport) on the Spanish island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. With 583 fatalities, the crash remains the worst accident in aviation history.
The collision took place on March 27, 1977, at 17:06:56 local time. The planes were operating as Pan Am Flight 1736 (the Clipper Victor) under the command of Captain Victor Grubbs, and KLM Flight 4805 (the Rijn) under the command of Captain Jacob Veldhuyzen van Zanten. Taking off on the airport's only runway, the KLM flight crashed into the Pan Am aircraft that was backtaxiing on the runway in the opposite direction. For both planes, Tenerife was an unscheduled stop. Their destination was Gran Canria International Airport near Las Palmas on the nearby island of Gran Canaria. The Pan Am flight had taken off from LAX with an intermediate stop at JFK. The airplane was Pan Am's first Boeing 747 (ex Clipper Young America. It had 380 passengers and 16 crew. KLM Flight 4805, a charter flight for Holland International Travel Group from the Netherlands had taken off four hours before from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The KLM had 235 passengers and 14 crew members. Among the passengers were 48 children and 3 infants. Most of the KLM passengers were Dutch; four Germans, two Austrians, and two Americans were also on the plane.
Events on both planes had been routine until they approached the islands. Then, at 1:15 pm, a terrorist bomb (planted by Fuerzas Armadas Guanches--a group promoting Canary independence from Spain exploded in the terminal of Gran Canaria International Airport. The civil aviation authorities closed that airport and diverted several of its incoming flights to Los Rodeos, including the two Boeing 747 aircraft involved in the disaster. Upon contacting Gran Canaria airport, the Pan Am flight was informed of the temporary closure. Although the Pan Am crew indicated that they would prefer to circle in a holding pattern until landing clearance was given, the plane was ordered to divert to Los Rodeos, along with the KLM flight.
While there is disagreement about their relative importance, the investigation concluded that the major factors of the accident were: KLM mistakenly took off without a takeoff clearance. The sudden fog greatly limited visibility. The control tower and the crews of both planes were unable to see each other. Pan Am mistakenly continued to exit C-4 instead of exiting at C-3 as directed. Simultaneous radio transmissions, with the result that neither message could be heard. Use of ambiguous non-standard phrases by the KLM co-pilot ("We're at take off") and the Tenerife control tower ("OK"). The airport was (due to rerouting from a bomb threat) forced to accommodate a large number of large aircraft, resulting in disruption of the normal use of taxiways. Many air travel regulations were altered as a result of this crash as sea regulations were changed after the Titanic sinking.
These hors d'oeuvres were served on a platter similar to a deviled egg dish. There were indents to hold the avocado halves. In the center of the platter was chilled jumbo shrimp, lemon, and cocktail sauce. This makes a very nice presentation, and I often have it at a summer patio party with a Bellini Bar.
Irish Stuffed Avocado Hors d'oeuvres
Ingredients:
6 ripe avocados
Fillings of your choice such as:
Shrimp salad
Crab salad
Deviled egg spread
Roquefort cheese spread
Marinated mushroom caps
Kidney bean and sour cream salad
Ham salad
Chicken salad
Lobster salad
Marinated olives and capers
Homemade chunky salsa
Cucumber salsa
Preparation:
Cut the avocado in half lengthwise and remove pit. Place fillings of your choice into each and place in a pretty pattern on a platter. I still like to fill the inside of the platter with jumbo chilled peeled and deveined shrimp with lemon wedges and cocktail sauce. The only limit to the filling is your imagination and taste preferences. In Las Palmas the avocados had been removed from their "shell" and eaten with a fork, but when I make them, I like to leave the outside on and eat them with a spoon. That way your guests can mill around holding an hors d'ouevre and not have to eat at a table.
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