The first time around I went to the mall my camera didn't work, and there were several things I really wanted to take a picture of, just to share with you. For example...
I like to wander through grocery stores and absorb the major amount of culture that can be found there. Seriously, thanks to National Geographic or whatever we think of cultural foods as stuff you eat with your hands off banana leaves in India or sticks of meat you get from street vendors in Istanbul, but if you really want to get a gauge of what a culture's eating habits are like, go find a grocery store. And check out the junk food aisle.
Anyway, here the major franchise is Pick-and-Pay, so I took a wander around that. Just to give you an idea of what I'm talking about, let me give you something obvious: the fruit and veg area contain very different items than you'd probably find at Wal Mart. Etc.
Back in Dallas I have had a HELL of a time finding Rooibos. When I do it's always mixed in with a load of fruity crap, and I just want a decent straight up red tea for a reasonable price. (I've found ONE brand, in Kroger's, and it's excellent, though sometimes they forget to have it in.)
Rooibos is from this area (the name is from Afrikaans, and literally means red "rooi" bush "bosch") so of course it's easier to find. In fact, the tea aisle primarily consists of red tea, and "English" tea. Look how much there is! (I am so bringing this stuff home!)
I thought it was funny when I came across the "First National Bank".
What is it with names like beginning with "First"? (If I remember correctly, my mother used to work for an FNB in Oklahoma several years ago. Obviously very different bank.)
My brother Mat will be jealous of this, I think. Here's just a snapshot of a GIGANTIC arcade I found in the upper level of the shopping center. Tokens are something like two rand each (slightly less than a quarter. Can you imagine??
Back at university there's actually a violinist in my residence hall who's from Bloemfontein, and sometimes the two of us will get going on about "pies". Now in America a pie pretty much a pastry shell sitting in a disk-tin with a fruit filling, rarely with any covering unless it's apple, and rarely filled with anything besides fruit.
Here we have an example of how a "pie" can be so much more! I know them better in "Cornish pasty" form, but it's the same thing. Still a pastry shell, but instead of sitting in a tin the stuff in the middle is squashed so you can hold the pie in your hand and eat it on the run. Delicious and convenient! (Sort of like what "hot pockets" have become, actually.)
This is what we had for dinner the other night. I had a curried mutton one. It may have been halaal, I'm not 100% sure.
So here you've got it in fast-food form. (Check out those prices! (If you can see them.)
Okay, and I'm sorry, I'm terrible, but I just HAD to show you this.
So, later that evening we took a walk down the road to the Methodist church which Tony is minister of, and prepared to go out Christmas caroling! In the middle of summer, can you believe it?!
So here is Tony, tuning up his fancy-schmancy guitar.
And here are some of the congregants getting ready to go.
We went around the neighborhood and hit up several of the nearby retirement homes. They really enjoyed us. (I really need to figure out what part I'm supposed to sing. I get so confused. It's very emberassing, especially considering the company I'm now keeping!)
Dunno what this kid's problem was, but he made me laugh.
This young lady (Theresa I think was her name??) kept hiding her face every time I tried to take a picture of her. But I finally got a few!
And here is Tony again, demonstrating for us the effects of Cape Town's famous Southeaster! (Note the windblown hair and giddy expression.)
I seem to remember having more pictures to share, but I suppose that's all for this day!
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