Another part of this "department store" was across the street, and carried some large and small appliances, a few linens, some office supplies, and children's toys ~~ a few board games, puzzles, and toys for small children.
Just around the corner from mfs was the Mutare Mart, but it was closed on Sat. and Sun. So we proceeded up the street to each of the three main grocery stores. Most carry similar items, even including some familiar labels such as Lays potato chips and Oreo cookies!! OK and TM are some larger than SPAR, and OK seems to have the best meat. Since I'm not doing much cooking for myself, I didn't make a lot of purchases, but I was looking for pickle relish to put in some tuna salad. I found sliced pickles, and the price told me that it is considered a luxury item here! Also found some hot chocolate mix which is quite tasty!! Everything, including food, carries a 15% sales tax, and if you haven't brought your own bags to carry items home, you will pay $.10 for each one you purchase! No grocery baggers, either, so must remember to put the heaviest items on the bottom!!
Just across the street from SPAR is only one of several outdoor markets where lots of fresh fruits and vegetables are sold ~~ apples (4 for $1.00), oranges, mangoes, huge bags of potatoes, tomatoes (lots for $1.00), carrots, onions, lettuce, bananas (5 for $1.00), and very large heads of cabbage, etc. Along many of the streets individuals either sit or lie down on the concrete as they wait for customers to purchase their items, whether food or trinkets, or copies of the government-run newspapers. Still other street vendors are hawking belts, sunglasses, pirated DVDs, jewelry, baskets, etc., etc. I'm aware of the amount of litter on the streets and sidewalks, and blowing in the alleyways. City services are at a minimum, it seems.
Dr. Ab and Dr. Chris Abercrombe from South Carolina have also been shopping and showing me around, so we join them at the Burger Bar for hamburgers and ginger beer to celebrate Chris' birthday! The bun was huge and very fresh, the burger almost cooked to my satisfaction, with tomato, lettuce and onion. I also had some chips (fries), which I haven't had since leaving home! Not bad for $1.50!!
We decide not to wait 45 minutes for the AU bus, and climb into a "combie" for the trip back to campus. Combies are 15-passenger vans which usually carry upwards of 26 folks each trip, for $2.00 each! We wait on several corners for others who want to come toward AU, as people are packed into the seats ~~ flesh upon flesh!! There were five of us in one set of seats, which were meant for three! A young girl sat on my left next to her mother, who was nursing a young baby as we rode along!!
A teenager was the last passenger on, and he actually stood right by the door for the entire trip. As we approached the line of cars again waiting for a green light to travel over the Pass, our combie was motioned to the side of the road by the Police. . . likely because of the young man standing! The driver pulled over, but then took off again, lickety split, turning left off the main road to get away from the Police. We made several more turns on very rutted, dusty roads before arriving back at the juncture of the road over the Pass! The kind of trip every American should experience at least once in their lifetime!!!
As we proceeded toward AU it began to sprinkle, and rain came in large drops! It was still raining when we reached our exit point on the main road (not at the AU gate!). Fortunately, I had taken an umbrella, but it's a small one for only one person! So, we trekked down the well-worn path made by many coming to this campus, until we reached the concrete brick residence of Ab and Chris. By this time our shoes were caked with red mud, and we were quite wet. Ab invited us in for some tea and biscuits to warm up a bit and dry off! We sang Happy Birthday to Chris before heading on back to the main part of campus! A very memorable Sat. shopping trip, to say the least!
Random Thoughts . . .
- I'm getting really tired of the clothes I brought, and have put together about as many combinations as is possible, even with jewelry, scarves, etc.!
- I've put on a few pounds, despite all my walking around campus. Clothes still fit, but a bit more snuggly!!
- Still haven't mastered the necessary wrist action for flushing the toilet and not having it run continually after that!!
- My hair is longer than it's been in a very long time, and much lighter brown/bleached!
- There's no reason to be obsessed with the weather because most days are usually sunny and warm ~~ some are windier than others, but usually very pleasant.
- With no TV or radio, I try to read some CNN news very early in the morning to stay abreast of world/U.S. events.
- Still having some issues with my iPad, but have figured out how to send photos. Perhaps having a modem right in my Flat this weekend will make it a little easier!!
- My days are always twice blessed when there is hot water for a bath, and I don't have to take time heating water on the stove!!
Mary Beth, I finally figured out how to access your blog. It all sounds interesting, yet I am not surprised by the strange shopping experiences. Things are so different abroad yet the random superfluous things ( like coke, McDonalds and Lays ) crop up everywhere. I hope you're enjoying your adventures. Bubba is doing well, although he got into a bunch of burs today, routin' around the garden.He and Kidd have become good friends. Their favorite game is to wildly chase each other ...either in the yard or in the house. He is careful to duck so he doesn't get run over by the big ox.
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