What a day in Cartago!

As I was waiting for the bus Katherine and Lexi came over and she let me know they would not be able to make the Thanksgiving dinner as they always go to a friend of her husband. I decided I would invite Janet from the senior center. I left on the bus at 9:45am and called Emilio when I got there to see if he was already there or coming. He was coming so I said I would head for El Rey. I had to of course stop at ABC Bazaar and bought some shiny, sparkley decorations for the trees. I headed for El Rey and talked to one of my students from the English lesson. I picked up more containers of silicone glue for the classes and headed for the tin cups. I got 6 more of the little ones and 4 of the biggest ones. Back to get a cart and see what I could get for some additional silverware. That's where I was when Emilio called looking for me. He came and we headed back to the dishes. I now have 2 glass bowls, one very large mug for my coffee each day ( I only have one cup with lots of milk and some sugar but it is a doozey.), 6 small tin mugs, 4 larger tin mugs, silverware and silicone glue. Oh yes I forgot, 18 glasses. I can't carry it! Emilio is so great! We head down the street to the other store but there is nothing I desperately need today. Off to the yarn shop to see if we can leave the big bag there while we do the rest of our shopping. Ziomara is there. I haven't seen her in ages. I invite her to the Thanksgiving dinner and show her the tin cups which set the color scheme. She says they play a very big part in Costa Rican history. Men would use them for their coffee on the job or in the fields and kids were given coffee with lots of milk in them at a very young age. I loved that I had decided to use them. She has to see what she can do to get off work to come.

Off we go without the big bag and the next stop is for Emilio. He is a large man for Costa Rica but there is a shop right near the yarn shop where he has good luck finding shirts. Found a couple today too.

We hit several craft and frabic shops I had not been to before. Ziomara has suggested we go to Mayca and oh my goodness. I got a big bag of frozen cranberries that we are going to split, butter, artichoke hearts, sea salt and saw all kinds of things for a future visit. It is a restaurant supply place so they have big packaging. I tried to explain to Emilio that now I need to find packages of chopped, cooked, frozen spinach. His logic tells him that I could just chop and cook and freeze the spinach myself. I really can't argue with that.

We were both hungry so we went to the little soda across the street. I was surprised, it was young women running it and doing the cooking. Usually it is older women. He said if we asked them it would probably turn out their mothers used to run it and taught them. We had beef in a sauce, great beans and coleslaw type salad and fruit drinks. His was pineapple and rice and mine was mixed fruit. It was very very good.

More shopping and then back to the yarn shop to get the big bag. Heading to the bus I saw the seasonal store where I thought I got the pom poms. Sure enough I found them in two sizes. They work great on the trees and I took all the packages. I asked if they had anymore. I was told if I come back on Friday they would have more. I may not make it Friday but at the latest Monday when we start buying the food for Thanksgiving. I may finally make the feria in Paraiso to see about squash. I have mango and papaya for the bread if I ever stay home long enough to bake. I have enough rum left for a batch or two. Not for me, for the raisins.

It was raining hard most of the way home but not bad in Orosi. We stopped at a bakery and picked up some fresh rolls and came here to make coffee. I split the rolls and toasted them and had butter, peanut butter and guayaba jelly. I offered my meatloaf and explained I eat it cold because I don't like the taste of reheated hamburger. He decided to try it and loved it. We also had yogurt.

It was a good, fun day and tomorrow it is back to the pools. I am even getting a little color but I am being very careful.

My mug and the glasses.

The tin cups and the ribbon I will use to decorate on top of the tablecloth.