When planning a trip to the Bahamas years ago, my travel agent leaned over her desk and whispered, “Can I tell you a secret about the Bahamas?”
I was a young girl, just over twenty-one years old and planning my first trip out of the United States. Eager for adventure, I nodded and scooted closer.
She said, “Ever heard the expression, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do?’ It’s a trick to traveling. Wherever you go, you ask the locals where they eat, where they shop, and what beaches they like best. That’s when you see the true essence of your destination.”
In the Bahamas, I walked with my friends down a dirt road to the most fabulous seafood of the trip—all based on a tip from the pool waitress with the ebony skin and bright yellow nails. In Jamaica a year or so later, the bellman sent me and my traveling companion to a waterfall behind the resort where the staff took their afternoon catnaps in the sun.
I have a bag of stories like that and so every time school breaks (even for a long weekend), I look forward to traveling with my family, so that we can all take turns asking questions that lead to the serendipity that only a local can provide.
On Friday, when the dismissal bell rang at Saint Paul Catholic School, the students exited the building with the unmistakable electricity that travelers feel before departure. Kids yelled at each other, “Have fun in Disney.” “Can’t wait to hear about the cruise!” “Take pictures for me!” “Text me when you land.”
My kids approached the car with a disappointed look of missing the boat. I understood. I would have been happy to be in a chair on a beach somewhere too, or in a cab flying down busy streets. But, a few months ago, we had all agreed that we’d sacrifice spring break travel this year for a big summer trip next year. It made sense at the time—especially financially. But when we watched other kids flushed with excitement, the three of us looked at each other is dismay. Next summer never felt further away.
“We could go to the movie tonight,” I suggested tentatively.
“Sure,” my son answered. He shrugged and put his forehead to the window.
As the cars filed out of the parking lot—many of them on their way to the airport, I watched my kids in the rear view mirror. I felt bad—for them and for me. What would we do in Valpo all week that would make spring break feel like a real vacation? I thought of the seafood restaurant down the dirt road in the Bahamas and I wondered if still exists. And then I thought , “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Spring break in Valpo didn’t have to be a punishment for choosing a more expensive trip 447 days away. It could still be fun if we made an effort to seek out unique things about our community.
“Hey!” I shouted, feeling energized by my idea. “How about a Squishee from Family Express? We can get the biggest one!”
“No, thanks,” my daughter grumbled. “But how about a cupcake?”
It took less than five minutes to get downtown. And as luck would have it, there was one parking spot right at the front door of Designer Desserts.
As I maneuvered the car as close to the curb as possible, the kids were unbuckled, smashed against the window, and marveling at the facade of chocolate Easter rabbits and paper flowers.
Inside, the whimsical colors, the penny candy station, and the cupcakes of twelve different flavors felt like a big city bakery—not to mention the display of specialty cakes—vibrant in color and over-the-top on the originality scale.
“Is this guy on the Food Network,” my daughter asked. The counter girl laughed, but I could see why she asked. Adam Wiltfang, the owner and head Bakery chef, makes incredible cakes that rival any dessert seen on the popular cable show.
Right off the bat, we bought a dozen cookies. We bought three cannolis, one strawberry banana cupcake (as big as my palm!) with a cherry on top, one red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing (just as big), and two bags of old-fashioned penny candy sold by the pound.
At home we dumped the bags and stared in awe at the huge lumps of green, blue, and pink rock candy. We lined up the root beer barrels, played “Pick Up Sticks” with the pixie stix then put the Sweet Tarts and Swedish fish side by side. But best of all we had Pop Rocks! I showed my kids what my friends and I used to do—put a bunch in our mouths then open wide to watch and listen. We choked with laughter as the candy popped and crackled.
For dinner we ordered Greek’s Pizza—feasted on the famous garlic butter knots and devoured all but two pieces of a large House Special. We looked up the history of pizza on the internet and found a few other interesting Italian food facts. For dessert we ate cannolis—a traditional Italian treat that we also looked up on the internet.
A few hours later, when I tucked my daughter into bed she said, “Mommy, today we went to Charlie’s Chocolate Factory and Italy and we didn’t even have to ride on a stinky plane or sleep in an uncomfortable bed.”
I guess spring break in Valpo does have its advantages, after all.
Dena has lived in Valparaiso for twelve years. Her husband, Eric is a dentist at Valparaiso Family Dentistry and her children, aged 9 and 7 attend Saint Paul Catholic School. Dena is a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County and a member of Tri Kappa, a local women’s charity and service organization. In addition to writing a monthly column for the Post Tribune, Dena blogs about life and motherhood at www.dena-out-loud.blogspot.com