Sat, 23 Jan

Sat 23 Jan: since it was Sat, and Madi 'sleeps in'; i.e. 7am :) ....by the time the chores were done, it was after 10am and i was hungry. Eddi and i went for breakfast. only my second breakfast out ... and i was not going to repeat the experience of overpaying like i had the first breakfast. we ate at The Agave, nice place i had passed by many times. my breakfast included eggs anyway i wanted them, 2 pancakes (with fake maple syrup); fresh fruit, bananas, papaya, pineapple, watermelon; AND fresh squeezed orange juice ... ALL for B$10, USD5 ! what a deal ! are you all aware how lucky we are that we get fresh REAL maple syrup? i didn't know this until my second visit to South Africa. i had pancakes and they served this clear syrup with them .... like white Karo syrup, yuck! i asked Jonathan where's the maple syrup? he was astonished and added, "we don't have maple syrup here, we have no maple trees; you are the only ones that have maple syrup!" wow, aren't we fortunate ! at least the syrup here kind of tastes like maple syrup, and it is maple color. the most memorable thing i did today is that i did NOT participate in 'chores' this evening. since Eddi was here, i gave myself the evening off. instead in went to The Split to have a few happy hour drinks and watch the sunset. this is a real treat, because we are usually deep into chores and do not see the sunset, nor do we make happy hour :) the sunset was pretty, not as colorful as the other one, but more picturesque because of the sailboat that coincidentally crossed in front of the sun, just as it was setting me, at sunset at the Lazy Lizard at The Split ... do i look happy ????????? i found a place at the bar next to a man that i started a conversation with. i don't usually do this, but i needed some 'different' conversation. Mike was another retired 'American' from San Diego area, who has been living here for 2.5 yrs ... and has not returned to the States since he got here. wow, huh? we had a great visit ... i think i missed being able to converse with someone! he was very nice,interesting and easy to talk with ... translate: he didn't tell me what a 'beuuteefuul booddy' i have and try to pick me up :) .... i was home by 7pm. Eddi and i went to dinner on the street. this seems to be the 'thing' here. someone puts up tables and a grill, right on the side of the 'street', and brings the food. it's a set menu, lobster or fish, 2 sides, 2 drinks, and dessert ... B$25 .. that's USD12.50 ... a good deal. we chose Fran's, cause she had cherry cheesecake. :) i had barracuda for the first time. i didn't like it. it was rubbery and had no flavor, other than whatever seasoning was on the outside. since then i've talked with others who say it is good, and that maybe mine was overcooked .... i MAY try it again sometime. Fran, the Chef, is on the right: