Happy Labor Day?!

Well, I survived my first trip to the "real market" and I wish I had pictures... another time. I even googled to see if I could find one that did it justice and could not. But, I took some other pictures of life on the streets from my kitchen/living room windows and thought I'd share those at the end.

Early this morning, Chris headed down to Pettionville (or PV) to look for moto helmets. Since we figured that the moto may be a choice of transportation at times for our family, we should be as safe as we can. He came back with three moto helmets and a pate' he wouldn't share with anyone. The moto helmets look like we are now ready to participate in the Indy 500. (He did buy me a pate' later.)

Ready to rumble! 

We met Peterson (Simon's son) down by his dad's shop and walked up to the market. First, we needed to exchange some money at the Western Union on the side of the street. I didn't really like walking out of there, but it was a little off the beaten path. At the market we bought 5 potatoes and an onion from a lady that used to work up in Godet. We then went to another lady and bought some pinto beans, bouillon cubes and millet (ble which means wheat). The second lady measured out the pinto beans and gave us a heaping can full of it. I was so impressed that she wasn't skimping at all. She was very generous in fact. She measured it in one "ti mamit. The standard measurement is a "mamit" which is about the size of a coffee can. But, we got the small can size. I told her, "mesi" (in my best LouiNashvillian Haitian voice with a giant smile) and made sure she knew that I had recognized her generosity. I will go back to her every time I can. She had all kinds of other beans and things.

We were too late for bananas and we couldn't find any good tomatoes. Peterson says they take all the best tomatoes and bananas to the stores to sell.  As we left the market and walked back towards home we learned the best place to buy a 12 pack of cocas. Then I asked if there was a place to buy the little cookies they sell... cause, ya know... I've still got that sweet tooth and there's NO Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream on this island. So, we ducked into one of the shops that we pass every single day. It had many things that could be considered staples. But, we've been warned about some of these having items that are so out of date that they've accumulated some small critters... So, we only bought cookies.

Honestly, that was all I could handle. Weaving in and out of the crowd at the market was crazy. Peterson did a fabulous job of watching to make sure we were safe and out of the way of any traffic. He is going to take me to the market each week to make sure I can communicate effectively and get the best price... for a blan who is being accompanied by a Haitian, anyway...

Here's a couple pics from my window today:

Gerard - our "houseboy" - caught him
waiting on landlord's return

Gerard - waiting and watching

Tap-tapping it...

Always carrying things

Let us know what YOU did for Labor Day. Leave out all the juicy details of the food, though... We had yummy pinto beans and rice for dinner. Brynna fixed Mac and Cheese with powdered milk in it. (It was okay).

WAITING for the day I can catch another beautiful sunset AND 

the view of the ocean from our living room window for you.