Markets

This is actually a modified copy of Greg's letter of a while back.  A couple of weeks ago, we had a big storm.  Water seeped into the temple under the doors, and a large tree on the curb of the street outside blew down.  It fell into the temple grounds and took out a ten-foot section of fence.  Within three days a crew had come in with big trucks and cleaned it all up, but the marble base the fence was anchored to was cracked, and although the fence section has been replaced it is being held in place by heavy wires around the brick posts.

We had four heavy flowerpots on our living room windowsill, and one of them blew off into the grounds below.  The next morning we only found pottery fragments.  A couple of days ago everyone got a notice that flowerpots were not allowed on window ledges, as they were a danger to people walking below.  Woops!

Not long ago we visited three markets, mainly as sightseers rather than shoppers.  The first was a municipal market in downtown.  It was originally a place where housewives could buy fruit, vegetables, fish, and meat.  But it has been turned into a fashionable eating spot, although you can still buy all those things except the fresh meat.  It is classy, built of ornamented steel, with large picture windows.  The prices were very high.   I wish I could have shown you the pictures of the fish stalls, but the whole octopus, the fried squid rings, and the baby eels didn't show up well.  : )  Neither did the pictures of the fancy baked goods.

Mercado San Miguel

fresh fruit and vegetables

cheeses

hams

nothing but olives

 The second market was a street market near our neighborhood (we can walk to it in forty minutes).  It occurs every Tuesday morning.  Vendors set up stalls on the street for about a block.  There are also people who sell things they carry in their arms, like herbs and garlic and cosmetics.  A lot of the vendors call out their wares loudly, saying “Look, Dearie, at these beautiful tomatoes” or “I have Calvin Klein boys’ underpants in all sizes.”  I doubt that Calvin Klein ever designed those underpants, but his name is written all over them.  In this market there are fruit, vegetables, clothing, and beauty products.

The third market is near where we live, and is located in a large building, although individual vendors have their own stalls.  They sell meat, poultry, fish, fruits, vegetables, housewares and cleaning supplies, crackers, etc.  There are also a couple of cafes, a shoe repair shop, a jeweler’s shop, and a travel agency.  The customers tend to be older, more traditional people, who wouldn't trust a supermarket and like the fact that they know all the vendors by name.  We do most of our shopping in one of the several large supermarkets nearby.

Or in one of the Chinese dollar stores that carry anything that can be imported from China (or made by Chinese living here) at bargain prices.

This week in the temple we have had a group of French members from Bordeaux.  They had a great time trying to teach us French, and we had a great time trying to learn.  They were grateful we were trying, and were very friendly and loving.  It has been a good week.