Discovering Old City

 Yesterday was warm and humid. The high got to 22C but the humidity was at 80%. This morning it is sunny and 23C. Today will be sunny with a high of 27C. 

Yesterday morning we caught the bus and headed to the Old City (city center). We were going exploring into an area closer to the water. When we got off the bus we were further away from Independencia Plaza and walking towards Mercardo De Puerto.

The streets we walked down were wide and for people only. There were people picking up orders on bicycles and one person was pushing his motorbike to pick up an order. 

Along the streets vendors had set up their tables with items to sell. This is a place where tourists go. We did look at some tables which had old licence plates and old house keys. While walking, we saw this lovely fountain. 

It was very interesting as there were flying dragons on it and water spouted out their mouths. 

Every time I went to take a picture, the water would stop. 

Not far from the fountain was this sign. 

The sign reads

    Around 1850, the square was popularly known as "vegetable square" because of the market that -- until the 1870's -- was held on its south side. 

We continued walking and saw this neat balcony. 

The man climbing up the balcony is wearing a Santa hat as the balcony is decorated for Christmas. 

The doors on the buildings were beautiful. Many doors are about 10 feet tall with European influence. 

We continued to walk and found this small square. 

On one side of the statue was a man with his horse and a flock of sheep. 

On the other side was a man, lady and child with a cow. 

There was a plaque to the side of the statue. 

It reads:
    The Patriotic Association of Uruguay 
    Of Field Marshall
    Don Bruno Mauraicio de Zabala
    Founder of Montevideo
    1726-1976

The square was full of magnolia trees and the blooms were huge. 

The petals turn a burnt orange and then they fall off the tree. Each petal was as large as my hand. 

We continued on to Mercado Del Puerto for lunch. I was hot and by the time we sat down I had turned beat red and then white. I ate some bread and had some water. We ordered baby beef for lunch. I think small but this is what we got. 

It was cooked over a wood fire and was seasoned only with salt and pepper. It was delicious and very tender. After lunch we walked to Mercardo de los Artesanos to look around. I did buy a gift for a friend. Once we were done, we walked a few blocks and caught the bus home. I was hot and tired when we got home. 

I did go out around 5 pm last night to look for candy for the boys across the street from me. I found 3 of the 6 recommended. It was cool outside and I enjoyed the brief walk across the street. 

This morning, we have been to the grocery store and the 6 blocks walk was enough for me. I am going to rest today and we will see what comes after that. We are to have 3 very warm days which I do not do well in. 

Until the next time..............................................................

Found - An Expensive Fabric Shop

 Yesterday was warm, windy, and humid. The high got to 22C. This morning it is mostly cloudy and 22C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 24C. 

Yesterday morning we cleaned the apartment and then packed up grandson's clothes to take to the lavadero. We walked a couple of blocks to it and went inside. It was hot and humid in there. We left the clothes there to be picked up tomorrow. His clothes weren't dirty but the washing machine in his apartment wasn't doing a good job getting his clothes clean. 

We decided to go and walk to a fabric store. On the way we saw a fountain in a front yard. It was the first I have seen. 

The water wasn't running in it and it needed a good weeding. But otherwise it was lovely with all the tiles and the cement fountain piece. 

We continued our walk to the fabric store and it was a small shop with this window display. 

The door was locked and the lady let us in. I can see why as it was full of very expensive fabric for formal gowns. We looked around the store and I bought 2 pieces of linen and some trim. 

I looked at some trim for daughter and loved these two. 

I did end up buying her this piece of fabric which was very expensive. 

I am sure the lady was thrilled with the amount I spent in her shop as there were no other customers. 

On the walk back to the apartment we both got really warm. The humidity was 84%. The one bush I looked at is a magnolia but the bloom I was wanting to take a picture of was gone. The other blooms were facing away from me and the yard it was in was gated and locked. 

I did take pictures of the hibiscus blooms at the apartment. They were not picked off and wide open. The wind was blowing so it was hard to get a shot but I tired. Here is the best one. 

I had an exciting time after we got home. Daughter sent me a text with a message I didn't quite understand. While she was on Facebook, she hooked up with a lady who knew about my parents. Her mom is my first cousin. She is 95 years old and still living in Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick. Her daughter was the person who contacted my daughter. I have now talked to her and she lives about 20 minutes from where I live. Hopefully we can connect when I get home. She is 5 years younger than me. She has 2 sisters and I am excited to learn about them. 

I have also emailed my cousin. I had written to her years ago and we lost contact. I have met her brother several times and use to talk to him a lot. He got mad about something and quit talking to me. I want to know more about him. 

Today we are going to go shopping for gifts in the Old City. I will need to find a few things for a friend plus some candy for the boys across the street. I am looking for items made by people in Uruguay. We decided to do it today as it turns hot tomorrow. 

Until the next time.........................................................................

A Blustery Day

 Yesterday was cool and windy with a high of 23C. This morning it is windy and 22C. Today will be windy with rain this afternoon. The high will get to 23C. 

I am fighting a cold so am feeling dull and tired. I think I am getting the upper hand but I could be wrong. Daughter-in-law has it and it has settled into her chest. 

We had to shop yesterday and after much discussion we chose to walk to the shop 3 blocks from the apartment. We took the granny cart and off we went. The shop was busy as it was almost noon and people were picking up lunch from the prepared food area. We walked around the store and got what we needed. We also did some snoop shopping. I bought sugar free mix to take home for summer. They are very good. 

I like the orange mango flavoured one the best but the orange ones are also good. I will buy the apple flavoured ones the next time we shop.

I bought these for grandson as he really likes them. They go in his stocking. 

I had a small taste and they are like a Reese's peanut butter cup but less sweet (still too sweet for me). I will buy more of them so I can give them to him for his birthday in February and put some in daughter-in-law's stocking. 

As we were walking to the grocery store, I noticed that more shrubs are coming into bloom. I saw two which will have red and orange flowers out in a couple of days. On our walk home, I saw another shrub that was coming out into bloom and I think it is magnolia. They do grow down here. I will be looking at that bush again to see if I am right. 

I had a nap yesterday afternoon to see if it would help the cold and went to bed fairly early. I am hoping that it will help me beat the cold though I am certain it will hit me hard no matter what. 

Today we are going to the lavadero which will do some laundry for us. They wash, dry, and fold it and we will pick it up tomorrow. From there we will walk to a fabric store and I will see what they have. I would like to get a couple of pieces of fabric. Once home, I will do a few things in the apartment and try to knit some on the socks. I have the leg half done and would like to finish the sock before we leave. 

Until the next time................................................................

A Beautiful Evening Sky

 Yesterday was cool and windy with a high of 21C. This morning it is partly cloudy, windy, and 23C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with wind and a high of 24C. 

Yesterday was a cooling off day for me. I didn't do much as I was tired from being so hot. The apartment was cool which was nice and I enjoyed the breeze a lot. 

We left to go to grandson's soccer game around 5 pm. I took this picture of the hibiscus hedge in front of the apartment. It had 2 blooms on it but it has grown a lot. It looks more like trees rather than a hedge. 

We have done this drive 3 times now and I am starting to look at everything. As we drove by places in the more rural part, I saw 2 hibiscus trees that had huge hot pink blooms on them. They were the biggest ones I have ever seen. The trees are now in full bloom with orange, red, pink, blue, and purple flowers. There are lots of potted plants like geraniums in window boxes and I even saw some huge cactus plants in yards. 

I noticed that most of the houses are made from cement or bricks. A lot of the houses have clay tiles roofs. There is a huge European influence in house styles. There are some big homes but most are smaller. There are a lot of apartments in Montevideo and they range in style also. Even where we went, there was a mix of houses and apartments. 

We got to the soccer field and when we went in, there was a different vibe this time. The police were at the gates and we were asked for our passport numbers. We didn't have our passports with us which is the first time I have been out without it. I forgot to pick it up off son's desk. 

The game started with the other team's fans setting off some fireworks. The game was intense with lots of cheering and hollering. One of the other team's players fell and hurt his knee. He was taken off via a stretcher and transported by ambulance to a hospital. Shortly after that, the coach of that team got a red card and had to leave the field. He misses the last game of the finals. The game ended in 0 - 0. We were let out 10 minutes after the other fans so there would be no issues. 

I did take a picture of the sky as it was beautiful. This is the first time I have seen a red sky at night. I think the conditions were perfect for it to happen. 

We had torte fritas again. It is the last time we will get them as the last game is close to the apartment. The usual dogs were at the game looking for food. One even ran along the side of the soccer field while the game was one. A pup was in the stands and we fed him some frita. He was so cute and everyone loved him. 

All of the dogs have homes but run loose. They are there every time we go. People seem to know them and pet them and talk to them all the time. 

The ride home was just as interesting. We got to see the horse track building lit up and it was beautiful. It opened in 1874. I found a picture of it on Wikipedia. It is hard to get a picture of it when driving as you are so close to it when you drive by.

People are starting to put up their Christmas decorations. There were lights hung in windows and only balconies. Still not a lot but more than the last time we were out in that part of the city. More people will start decorating as today is the day they usually start. 

Today we have to go shopping and then we will do things around here. I am tired as I was up very late and I may have caught the cold. I did get cold last night and it may be my turn to be sick. Not happy about that. I know I will be going to bed early tonight to fight this cold. 

Until the next time...........................................................................

Tienda Inglesa

 Yesterday was hot and humid. It was 30C by noon. It started to cool off in the afternoon. This morning it is cloudy, windy, and 21C. Today is supposed to be cooler with a high of 23C. 

We decided to skip the farmer's market yesterday as we needed nothing and it was too hot to walk around. Instead we got an Uber and went to Tienda Inglesa (English Store). It is about 6 km from the apartment. We wanted to see what the "big" store looked like. We had been to one tiny store and one in a shopping mall. 

We went into the store (which was cool) to see Christmas decorations and two washers (hint for Christmas presents) at the entrance. There were 2 trees decorated and both were about 4 feet tall. There was a selection of ornaments but it wasn't huge displays like at home. 

We turned right when we got into the store and it took us to the liquor section of the store. We did look around at it as it was part of the wandering route. At the end of the liquor section was this machine. 

You can cool your wine in 30 seconds. We turned the corner and there was a huge selection of olives. 

Uruguay grows a lot of olives in areas where there are perfect microclimates for them. They sell a lot of olives and olive oil. 

The red and white signs you see are for sales. It was Red Friday and items were on sale for 30% off plus 15% if you had the store's card. It seems like this sale lasts for almost a week. We wandered around the store looking at everything. It was like a Walmart Superstore. You could get most everything you needed. 

We got what we wanted and waited outside for the Uber to pick us up. It was hot and we were feeling it. The Uber driver was excellent and had the a/c on in his car. He was a calm driver and got us home in excellent time. I gave him a good tip as he put our groceries in the back of the car for us and took them out. 

The afternoon was spent resting as the apartment was hot. We have no a/c or fans to help cool the place off and after 3 days of heat it felt like an oven. We read, napped, and just lazed around watching the hundreds of people at the beach. By late afternoon the wind came up and it cooled off. We were able to cool the apartment off and feel human again. 

Son went out to watch a soccer game and sent us the link to watch the opening. There were fireworks at the start of this game. He got home about 9:30 pm and when we looked out there were 2 people walking on the beach. Everyone had gone home. This morning the few people who are walking on the beach are dressed like it is winter.

The wind is strong this morning and it is cool. The waves are coming in onto the beach and there are not many people down there. The coolness will probably keep most people at home or out shopping today. 

Thoughts

    Yesterday was the 109th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion.  It is an event that is remember each year in the province. One of my great uncle's children died in the explosion and is in the Book of Remembrance. I do know that they lived in an area of Halifax that was affected by the explosion. 

    We are learning more about Christmas in Uruguay. The people party most of the night Christmas Eve and while they are out Papa Noel puts gifts under the tree. Most shops close early on the 24th though it is not a holiday. People want to spend time with their families. We also learned that there will be a lot of fireworks Dec. 24 and to watch them either on the balcony or the beach. 

    I am wanting to go shopping for a few items made in Uruguay for a friend and daughter. We will probably do that on a cool day as we will be walking the streets going in and out of shops. I do know that we have to go to the city center (Old City) to shop. Most of the shops that sell products made in Uruguay are in that part of the city. 

I am not sure what is happening this morning. We go out to watch grandson's team play tonight. It is, much to our surprise, out at the field where they played the last game. A long ride out and back again. I will need to get something to eat as it is an evening game. I would like to walk today as my hip is a bit sore. I did get a good crack last night and I know the soreness/tightness is from the couch (horrid to sit on) and being cramped in the car going to the store yesterday. 

Until the next time...........................................................

Beautiful Hydrangeas

 Yesterday was sunny and fairly calm with a high of 29C. This morning it is sunny and 26C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 28C.

Yesterday was another quiet day for me. Family worked in the morning and I sat around looking at the beach getting busier by the minute. I was amazed at how many people come to this beach when the weather is nice. 

At noon family went out for lunch with a friend they have known for about 10 years through son's IT work. They were gone for a couple of hours. I stayed home and watched YouTube, cleaned some of the apartment and tried to stay cool. It was more humid yesterday. 

The afternoon was quiet with daughter-in-law going out to deliver a parcel from Canada. When she got home, we talked about dinner. I was hungry and they weren't due to the large lunch they had. At 7:30 pm we decided to go out for dinner. We walked along the street and I took a picture of a hydrangea bush that was flooded with lights. 

All the hydrangeas here are the pink/blue ones and are beautiful at this time of the year. As we walked, I noticed that more trees and shrubs are coming out into bloom. The hibiscus hedge at the apartment is starting to bloom. 

Where we wanted to eat outside had all the tables reserved. Son went home and we crossed the street so I could buy chicken wings and spring rolls. I was hungry. We went into this small shop called Woori Chiken which does Korean food. Son had wings from there the night before and said they were good. These were the best wings I have had and the spring rolls were excellent. Come to Uruguay for the best Korean wings and to Sweden for the best Sweet and Sour Chicken. 

People across the street put up the Christmas tree. It is about 4 feet high which is common here. We did see a few Christmas lights on porches the other night. They were all one colour and only one string. People spend more time outside at the beach at Christmas so decorating is done in smaller doses. 

Another thing we have learned here is that when we pay using a debit card, we get a discount on everything - groceries, restaurants, clothing, etc. It is about 9% to encourage tourism activities. It confused me a bit to start with but I got it figured out. We only use cash at the farmer's market, food booths that have no debit machines, and the farmer's market. We also use cash to fill our bus passes.

This morning daughter-in-law and I are going to the farmer's market to get our weekly produce and eggs. If we don't get meat and cheese there, I will go to the grocery store later on to get those. What else we do depends on how much work daughter-in-law has to do and how hot it gets. The humidity is high today which I do not like. 

Until the next time...............................................................................

 

Quiet Day Busy Evening

 Yesterday was sunny and hot with a high of 31C. This morning it is sunny and 24C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 29C. 

We caught our first plane for Montevideo 3 weeks ago today.

Yesterday was quiet as son and daughter-in-law had to work. I did dishes, started sock #2, and napped. It was too hot for me to go out and walk by myself. 

Late afternoon we went to see grandson's team play their game at the field which takes 30 minutes to get to by car. Though everyone else's tickets were good, mine wasn't but they let me in as we were together. I did have an email saying it was good for this game. We were lucky and got to sit on the shaded side of the field. As we sat waiting for the game to start, large sprinklers came on and watered the artificial turf. 

They water the turf so ball moves better when it is hot. This is grandson's team warming up. Grandson did not play. 

The game was quite good as both teams wanted to win the game. The referees missed some calls. Both teams would have a player lie down longer on the field so all the players could get something to drink. They do not take water breaks in the heat which is hard on the players. 

There was some issues and the warm up coach got a red card and some of the players had to escort him off the field. One of the players did something to another player and also got a red card and had to leave the field. Grandson's team did win the game with the last goal going into an empty net. They play either tomorrow (hopefully not) or on Tuesday. 

We had torte frita again and it was hot out of the deep fryer. We sprinkled some sugar and cinnamon on ours and it was delicious. That was dinner for me. I also tasted Pepsi Twist which had a nice lime taste to it. 

I am not sure if is in Canada or if it has been discontinued. We were talking about pop flavours and we know you can't get the flavours like you can in the US and even here in Uruguay. One of the things we have noticed is that Orange Fanta has a different taste in Canada, Sweden, and Uruguay with Sweden's Fanta having the best flavour. 

As we were getting ready to leave, we saw the very top of the moon coming over the trees. It was a full moon. We stood and watched it for a few minutes and I finally took a picture. 

It was very orange and I was worried it wouldn't show up as the big lights were on at the stadium. 

Our drive home was quite interesting as we took more back roads due to a concert at the big stadium we had gone to the first night we were here. There were 60,000 people at the concert and there was no parking. They closed off part of one road so huge buses bringing in people could park on one side. On the other side of the lane they parked cars. The buses were parked long wise due to their size but the cars are backed in so they can park more cars. No one complains about this as it is a regular occurrence. A soccer team was out on the street practicing. They go with the flow. 

I am not sure what is happening today. Son and daughter-in-law are both working so it will be another quiet day. Daughter-in-law is out for coffee with someone from her language class this afternoon. 

Until the next time.................................................................. 

Hot vs Cold

 Yesterday was sunny and warm with a high of 27C. This morning it is sunny and 25C. Today is going to be hot with a high of 31C. 

Yesterday was a day mainly spent at the apartment. Both son and daughter-in-law had to work. I was fine with that as it was going to be hot. 

We went out in the morning to get groceries. We go most days as it is customary to shop daily. The stores seem to have daily specials which people look for. Also I enjoy the walk as it isn't far. As we walk we do get a breeze off the water which is nice. 

The water was beautiful yesterday as the wind wasn't blowing as hard. At 1 pm, there weren't a lot of people on the beach. 

By late afternoon it was super busy with people enjoying the water and lying on the beach. 

Son and I went for a walk in the evening to buy ice cream. I was a bit more observant this time as I am getting use to the sidewalks and people. Across the street from us we have a Kinko which is like a 7-11 without hot food being served. We go there if we need something quick. As we walked up the street to the ice cream shop, I saw another convenient shop called Frog. I loved their sign which was on a post at the street edge of the sidewalk and on their store. No pictures so I found one on the internet. 

Son and I looked at all the flavours of ice cream and bought strawberry and vanilla. Son tasted pistachio ice cream and said it was good. I am sure we will be buying more and have talked about having ice cream as part of our Christmas dinner. 

On our way back, we stopped at the Beef House. Most of the beef is from an area of Uruguay that produces some of the best beef in the country. 

I had my neighbour text me yesterday around noon showing me a picture of the storm and my house. It looks like there was 4" of snow on the ground and it was still snowing. 

Her youngest is shovelling the driveway and is having fun in the snow. It seems to be that we have a good snow storm early in December most years. 

My thoughts turned to chicken noodle soup when I saw the picture. I was almost craving it. You can get chicken noodle soup here but it is imported and expensive. It doesn't seem as if they make it at home. We have had homemade soup here twice when eating out at the restaurant near the farmer's market. The first soup was corn and the other one was made from a green lentil. Soup is served in a cup with no handle and you get about 3/4 cup which we found was a perfect amount before having our meal. 

Today is another quiet day at the apartment. Both son and daughter-in-law have to work. I will knit, watch videos, and relax. We are out tonight to watch grandson's team play their game that was suspended the other night. We have a 40 minute Uber ride out to the soccer field. I am taking water with me to keep cool and we will have the torte frita and will be bringing some sugar and cinnamon to put on it this time. We will be sitting on the side which is shaded by some big trees. 

Until the next time.........................................................

An Interesting Evening

 Yesterday was warm and sunny with a high of 22C. This morning it is sunny and 19C. Today is going to be sunny with a high of 29C. 

The water yesterday was incredible. It was quite clean looking and sparkled in the sunshine. 

In the morning I did laundry and then we walked to the grocery store.. As we got our items, I looked at the big pan of hot food you can buy and have put in containers. It looked delicious. The meat seems to be beef and the vegetables are zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, and eggplants.

After lunch we both had a nap as we were going out to grandson's soccer game after dinner. 

We went to the soccer game and got there a bit early. We sat with grandson's girlfriend. She was with a lady who had 3 children. Her husband is the goalie's coach. The little girl was really cute and after I had a sip of mate, she wanted some. 

The oldest boy decided to sit between daughter-in-law and I while the youngest boy was full of energy. We sat and visited and the two teams left the field. A man came to the bleachers and started talking. He was telling us the game was suspended because one team did not have on the right uniforms. We sat and waited and finally found out the following:

    Grandson's team came back onto the field as they had the proper home uniform on but didn't know the game was suspended. They hung around on the field for almost 45 minutes. 

    The other team left and went home as they didn't have the proper uniform on as they were the visiting team. As the visiting team, they were to wear a light coloured uniform. 

    We sat and waited for over 90 minutes to find out the game is Thursday afternoon at a stadium we were at for their first game. A 30 - 40 minute drive and it will be 30C that day. 

    We all agreed that grandson's team should have been given the game or that the other team should have worn a pinny over their shirts. 

We met one of grandson's team mates who speaks amazing English. We had a lovely visit with him and then we left. 

The home news:

Nova Scotia got hit by a nor'easter yesterday afternoon. It snowed hard and about 3 cm fell before it turned to a "wintery mix". Then there was freezing rain and finally rain. As of 8:30 am, it is, once again snowing. 

The weather report last night:

There were a lot of accidents with a couple in our area. The power was out this morning but not in our area. Cause was fallen trees. The roads are in poor condition, schools are closed, and I am sure that snowploughs, snowblowers and shovels are busy as can be. 

I am not sure exactly what we are doing today as daughter-in-law is not feeling well. She has caught a nasty summer cold. If I go out, it will be for a very short walk as it is going to be at the top of my heat range today. If I don't walk during the day, I will try to walk this evening when it cools off. 

Until the next time.................................................................

Tres Cruces

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds and the high got to 19C. This morning it is sunny and 18C. Today is supposed to be mainly sunny with a high of 22C. 

I started the morning out doing my balance sheet and paying bills. It was a bit difficult as what I really needed was at home. I can finish it off when I get home but was happy to get what I could done and bills paid. I will have to do it again in a week to 10 days though my entries will be just recording money I put on my Wise card so I can convert it to pesos. 

Later in the morning we caught a bus to another area of the city. It was a good 14 minute ride. 

Red dot is the apartment and the blue dot is where we went to. 

The area is known as Tres Cruces or Three Crossings. This is where three major transportation routes intersect in this area of the city. There was little traffic until we got close and then it became congested. Bumper to bumper with a lot of buses. We got off at Tres Cruces shopping mall for an hour or two of snooping around and going to the TaTa grocery store. 

This grocery store was interesting but not as big as I had expected. Prices were slightly cheaper than the big store we go to (Disco). The shopping mall has a lot of stores in it that are from around the world. One thing I have noticed in the three shopping malls I've gone to is how clean they are. They have cleaners stationed in the washrooms and cleaners moving around in areas doing garbage and cleaning floors. 

The malls have started to decorate for Christmas (Feliz Navidad). The colours are more traditional (red, green, white, and gold). The city center mall seems to be using nutcrackers as their theme while the mall we were at yesterday has a Grinch theme. 

Outside the mall down the curving walkway was a tree that lights up at night. Simple but elegant. 

I don't know if the stores decorate for Christmas. Most of the stores were having "Black Sales". It will be interesting to see what they do. So far I haven't seen any places around us that have decorated for Christmas. You will see signs saying Feliz Navidad and decorations for sale in the stores. Dec. 25 is known as Family Day and begins on Dec. 24. 

There are some monuments in the area but we didn't walk to them as it wasn't recommended. We didn't see them on the bus so missed them. 

The afternoon was spent resting. Son and daughter-in-law went to a soccer game. I stayed home and rested. I watched videos, knit, and read. I also looked at the water which became calmer late in the day. The flags on the lifeguard building were yellow with red flag below it. From a bit of reading it means it is supervised. 

Today we are staying home to start with. I need to do laundry. We will nap in the afternoon as we are going out to a soccer game late tonight. Kick off is at 8:30 pm and we won't get home until 10:30 - 11 pm. 

Until the next time................................................................................

Plaza de Las Lavanderas

 Yesterday was windy and cool with a high of 19C. This morning it is raining and 17C. Today is supposed to be a mix of showers and sun with a high of 20C.

Yesterday morning we cleaned the apartment so it will be clean for the week. It doesn't get real dirty but we want to keep it clean so we don't have to do much before we leave. 

In the afternoon we went for a walk. We saw where son wants to buy chicken wings but it was closed. Then it was up further another block and then across three blocks. When we came down we stopped at Plaza de las Lavanderas. 

It is just a tiny space which pays homage to the washer women of African and Afro descent who were of the first residents of the area. They would travel from the "Old City" (city center) in to the clear waters of a now vanished stream that flowed into the sea. They would wash their master's clothes in this stream. They did it as the places they would wash the clothes became very busy. 

I found these pictures on the internet as I couldn't take pictures. 

From the plaza we walked up to the grocery store to look at items. We did some calculations and imported foods are very expensive. We did get a few snack items. 

Dinner last night was gnocchi with marinara sauce. It was good and I may buy it when we get home. I would add chicken to it as I do like my meat. 

We watched a soccer game on TV last night. It was an intense game that went 30 minutes into overtime. When the game was over, we could hear people cheering in the streets, flashing lights in an apartment, and fireworks. 

I did a lot of knitting yesterday and got the gusset done on the first sock. 

It keeps me from snacking which I am trying not to do. 

Today we are going to a different mall in the north part of the city. I will get myself something for dinner when family goes out to a soccer game. I will watch videos and knit. 

Until the next time.............................................................

Market Day

 Yesterday was cool and windy. The high got to 19C. This morning it is cloudy and 18C. Today is supposed to be cloudy with some rain and a high of 21C. 

Yesterday morning we left a bit late for the market. We walked up the street our apartment building is on as it takes us one block below the market. I walked half way without a rest and then rested twice after that. We waited for grandson to arrive as his bus was late. 

We wandered through the market looking at all the fruits and vegetables. We were late and some of the vendor's stalls had less than the week before. But it all looked good. When it was time to buy, son and I went and sat down by the meat and cheese trucks while daughter-in-law bought and grandson helped. He delivered the eggs to us to hold. We spent just over $25.00 CDN on what we needed including the eggs ($8.75 CDN for 30 eggs). 

Everyone buys eggs at the market and they pack them around while shopping, on the bus, walking home, etc. The wrap on them is heavy and there was about 4-5 layers on the eggs. 

We also got the biggest green onions I have seen in a long time. 

We also got strawberries, oranges, carrots, potatoes, ginger, and spices. 

From there, we went for lunch at the same restaurant we went to last week. It was time to find something smaller to eat on the menu. We laughed a lot about that. 

Son and grandson had milkshakes. Son's was strawberry and it tasted like the strawberry ice cream we bought. Not like what we know as milkshakes. It had bits of strawberries in it. 

Grandson's milkshake was chocolate and he said it tasted fabulous. I had water as I was hydrating. 

Next up was the food. We thought we made good choices size wise but they were still big. The server brought us out hot soup which was delicious. You get about 1/2 cup in a small cup with no handle. 

Grandson had a chivito which was loaded. He ate it all.

Daughter-in-law had a Caesar salad that came in a big clear glass bowl which is common here. She said it was very good and really liked the dressing. It is lighter than we use at home.

Son and I had a "grilled cheese" sandwich which had ham and cheese between the thin slices of bread which was topped with more cheese and tomatoes and put under a salamander. 

We ate it even though it was a lot. It was less than the chicken cutlet we had the week before. It was delicious and I may make it as a treat during the winter at home. A nice dinner but I'd only make on vs the two we had at the restaurant.

Grandson and I walked to a quiet street and ordered a uber drive. We had a great driver who drove us safely home. Son and daughter-in-law walked home looking in a few shops on the way. Daughter-in-law bought cookies and my favourite one was the shortbread cookie that looked like a pig (I ate none of them).

We had a quiet afternoon and evening. The weather was not nice enough for us to walk. It rained and the wind came up. The beach empty except for a couple of brave people who walked in the sand. Even the rambla was quiet due to the weather.

I have been waiting to the end of the month to order a free pattern from Pixie Faire. I decided to order the Bicycle Jacket to go with the Edwardian wardrobe I have planned. 

Next month I will order the Bicycle Skirt pattern and then the Edwardian wardrobe will be complete. Once home, I will start sewing all the clothing I have cut out plus these two pieces. 

I have also been knitting on the socks and am decreasing the gusset on sock #1. This is the slowest pair of socks I have knit but I am fine with that. I sit and knit when I have time or am resting. Yesterday I did 10 rounds which is the most I have done since arriving here. 

Today is going to be a quiet day due to the weather. It has rained already and will rain off and on all day. We may go for a short walk but everything depends on the weather. I will knit on the socks and help where I can. 

Until the next time...................................................................