Easy Does It

 So now is the point in my blog where I begin to list mundane details about our life here in Oaxaca.  We seem to be slowing down which is sort of wonderful.  I guess today was sort of a kid choice day.  We left the apartment in early afternoon heading first to the zocalo to sit, sketch, and play.  There is always action. We like to watch the cute puppies lumber about, hear the squeak of the shoe shiners turning the dull into brilliant, and follow the marimba players carrying their sonorous instrument on their shoulders from restaurant to restaurant.  Penelope always has to greet the fountain and check to see if there are any new balloons for sale.  We have to tell at least five vendors that we don't want wooden combs or toothpicks, but secretly I want to buy something from everyone.  We often see our little friend following her mom who sells woven blouses.  She always waves hello.  After awhile we leave to visit the ATM so that we continue to exist here.  There is almost always a line ten deep.  This gives us a chance to decide what to eat.  The kids picked pizza, and there's a place next door offering a two for one.  We settled into a booth; the boys faced the flat screen which was showing the Argentinian/Swiss game.  After eating BOTH pizzas we rolled out for the market to replenish our tiny kitchen.

We stepped into the covered market in time to hear "GOOOOLLLLLLLLL!" A vendor had a small TV in his booth, and we were happy to see that Argentina scored in its final minutes.  Today's market trip was significant because it was the first time we purchased tamales from a small operation meaning there was a line of women selling tlayuda tortillas and tamales.  I bought four tamales de chepil from a woman who offered me a sample.  Chepil is a green that Oaxacans use in their rice and tamales.  It is supposed to be rich in nutrients.  She ladled salsa into a plastic bag insisting that Oaxacans eat lots of salsa.  "You need lots of salsa" she repeated.  (Her salsa was amazing by the way!) She remarked at how attractive the children are, and that the tamales are good for them.

 Pen was delighted to finally get a bouquet of fresh flowers, and holding them in both hands with her sweet smile on her face an older man at the market exit told me that she looks like a saint.  Finally after a few more veggies and fruits we picked out some broccoli and fruit from a vendor who told me that the avocados were too expensive as if to discourage me.  I bought them anyway--4 for 20 pesos (1.50 USD), and she threw a fifth in the bag for me!

The rest of the afternoon rained and rained.  I guess there is a storm off the Pacific.  Tomorrow we will be picked up at 8:30 for a hike in the cloud forest.  I hope the weather holds out for us, and that the kids' legs do as well.

Cathedral