"Christmas On The Isthmus"
The Canal Zone was a very special place in the world, and I would like to preserve some of these unique "zonian" memories and recipes.
Christmas in the Canal Zone was very special---and somewhat unique from the rest of the world. The Christmas trees were shipped down to the Canal Zone on cargo ships. The lines, waiting for the trees to unload---now, that's a memory all in itself. The smell of those pines, unlike our many palm or mago trees, was so very special. Many of us Zonians, would leave our tree up many months after December---making the memory last.
Screened porches--the smell of foods cooking, drifting their wonderful scents outdoors. Dinnertime, when those streetlights came on, there was always something great to look forward to for dinner. We had our random banana snacks, right off of the stalk of bananas hanging in our basements. Or a ripe mango right from the tree. Most of our fresh vegetables, came from the Chinese Gardens, and the Commissary was the place to get the rest of our food needs. The Mecha rolls bought in Panama, made a meal perfect. But, Christmas time, extra smells of Christmas cookies and cakes baking....those scents coming right through those screened porches....mmmmmmm...
I truly hope that you enjoy these "Christmas On The Isthmus" memories and recipes, and your visit to "Wonderland".
CZ Memories
"Wonderland Website"
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