Karma

Shopping is always an adventure here in the tiny town of Fronteras. There is only one paved street & traffic is horrendous, semis, busses, motorscooters, pedestrians, bicycles, cars, trucks, unbelievable. There are no sidewalks and to get to another store, you sort of scoot down the edge of the street between the traffic & the vendor stalls. I prefer to go into town with James, as hes saved me from being squashed a few times when I've forgotten to walk behind him rather than next to him! Today i went to town with little J, the other half of the J's that run the Vista Rio where we are stayingfor awhile til Karma is ready. I follow, hugging the side of the road, slipping a little, and thankful I have my flat closed toe shoes on. Everything moves very quickly here and in a blink of an eye you can easily miss a store as they all bank on top of each other. THere are people selling baskets full of avocado, open veggie stands, women with their grills selling pollo ( chicken) with rice and mixed veggies. Stores with many Zapatos ( shoes), a mish mash of small stores with their wares hanging out to entice you in, and all the while they are calling for you.. enter.. come buy.. see what I have.
I scoot into the small, narrow stationary store in search of carbon paper. I buy two sheets for 10 quetsals, that would be 1.25. We head back out into the swarms of people to make our way to the BAM bank. I head indoors, wating or J, the A/C feels wonderful after the heat and thick air in search of the second hand store everyonen has been telling me about. I find it,. Sadly it was just closing for restocking, I'll be back tomorrow! Where else can you find little skirts and tops for less than 10 Q! My adventure ends with J advising me of the best place to buy fresh avocado, from a boy who has a huge basket, 3 for 10 Q. We head back in hopes that the grilled chicken place is open. This tiny place is well known as the best chiken on town, split and done in an open fire. I am not familliar with the currency nor the way of dealing with then yet, and I of course changed my mind and got whole instead of half! I've gotto learn the lingo! We head back to the Rio, lunch will be avocado, tomato with lime. James will be happy to know I am confidant now that after this excursion I'l be able totown, perhaps on my own tomorrow!!