Prices and Pickleball

The other morning Elder Robison and I decided to take our morning walk to a place called Craves.  It's a little bakery that we were told had  some pretty yummy pasteries.  As we started out for our walk it looked a little cloudy, but decided not to bring our umbrella.  It's only a mile or so down the road from our apartment.  As we walked along, we passed people walking to work, or coming home from work.  They would stop just to shake hands and say hello.  We have our name tags on so they know who we are.  Some tell us that they are mormon, and what ward they belong to.  They are so sweet and friendly.   When you drive down the street, they all waive and smile.

When we got to Crave's, they had a special on for 6 pancakes with syrup for 350vt ($3.50 US).  We decided to share an order, and got a banana smoothie in addition.  They had tables outside, so I went outside to wait.  Pretty soon, Elder Robison came out with this little container small enough for a hamburger.  Inside were 6 pancakes the size of a quarter each!!!  The smoothie was pretty lame too! We cracked up laughing.  So, we shared our breakfast and headed back home to make a little more breakfast.  On the way home it started to lightly rain, then it would stop, then it would pour, then it would stop.  We ducked inside a little shop to wait for the rain to slow down.   As we walked around the shop, we saw that they had umberellas so we bought one for 500 vaut/$5.00.  Although it helped, we were soaked when we got home!  That's what you get for living in the tropics and not taking an umbrella.  We're learning.

The groceries are pricey here.  100 vauts = $1.00. Here are prices of a few things  bought at the Au Bon Marche (grocery store).  This is where we do most of our grocery shopping.  They probably get their goods from Austrailia and New Zealand. There is also a huge outdoor market called Mama's.  It has fruits and veggies locally grown by the hard working people.  There are some fruits and veggies that aren't  grown here, so you buy those at the Au Bon Marche. They can be a little pricey.  

Here are a few examples:

1 head of romaine lettace (size of a cantaloupe)  $2.90

1 small tomato   $1.80

4 small apples  $3.00

1/2 bunch celery  $7.00

2 small potatoes  .75

1 whole raw chicken $20.00

I will never complain about grocery prices again!   We'll just have to take a chill pill and go with it!  I'm just kidding.  We're happy to be here and pay whatever is needed.

It is winter now, which goes from April to September with the temperature averaging 73 F, and humid.  Summer is from November to March, the average temp is 82 F and will be hot, wet and humid.

Today, we learned how to play pickleball.  It's a cross between tennis, and ping pong.  The court is shorter than tennis thank heaven.  It was really fun, and it gives you a good work out.  In a few hours we're all going (4 couples) snorkeling.  We've snorkeled in Hawaii, but that was many years ago.   Saturday is the day off for senior missionaries.   Well, I'll close for now.  We hope all is well with you and your family.  We love and miss you all very much!  

Love, Elda and Sista Robison XO