December 11, magnificent Christmas lights all over the city and commercial Christmas is underway.
I had a hard day earlier this week to learn that a boy had been killed on the road by a car and his body was left on the side of the road. Also a dead dog in the ocean. Yes, I have to toughen up but some days the culture shock affects me more than others.
This is my favourite tree, growing all over Luanda. Not quite Pohutakawa (NZ Christmas tree) but so vivid and fresh. And more artistic Impala added to the Marginal.
Pre-Christmas lunch with friends, Nancy (Taiwan) and Oxana (Kazakhstan). We enjoyed Ukranian food - Borscht (soup), also olivye (potato salad) and blini (crepe). Delicious.
Back to NZ next week - one week and we're on our way.
December 17, a big racket of noise over the weekend - some music gig at the stadium. We woke the next day to hear that the concert was in fact Mariah Carey performing! Tickets were $20 USD and VIP $50..we're not big fans of hers but nice she does this making tickets very reasonable for an international artist of her calibre.
Town clock/thermometer read 37 degrees yesterday - walking at 0715 and still come home drenched. I stopped to cool off under a water sprinkler on the lawn today, much to the amusement of the gardeners on the Marginal.
December 18, Nancy and I went back to Bemfica market today - very hot and difficult to see parrots squashed into a cage together in the heat. Lots of vendors vying for attention -'amiga', 'come here' and a very hurt look if you walk past. Which you have to do. I bought some lovely African fabric and jewellery. And Nancy's friends haggled over the elephant engraved small tables.
This guy is outside our apartment every day cleaning shoes. He always has a smile and never pushes begging. Gildo does not have the use of his legs so I sat on the ground and chatted with him and took this pic today. He does use a wheelchair but as there are no wheelchair access' anywhere (including the university) it is very difficult to get around. Sometimes I see him 'walking' on his hands and he tells me this keeps his arms strong. He does look in pain sometimes but he never complains. A very nice young guy.
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| Night time view from kitchen |
I had a hard day earlier this week to learn that a boy had been killed on the road by a car and his body was left on the side of the road. Also a dead dog in the ocean. Yes, I have to toughen up but some days the culture shock affects me more than others.
This is my favourite tree, growing all over Luanda. Not quite Pohutakawa (NZ Christmas tree) but so vivid and fresh. And more artistic Impala added to the Marginal.
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| Acacia Rubra |
Pre-Christmas lunch with friends, Nancy (Taiwan) and Oxana (Kazakhstan). We enjoyed Ukranian food - Borscht (soup), also olivye (potato salad) and blini (crepe). Delicious.
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| Nancy, Oxana and I |
Back to NZ next week - one week and we're on our way.
December 17, a big racket of noise over the weekend - some music gig at the stadium. We woke the next day to hear that the concert was in fact Mariah Carey performing! Tickets were $20 USD and VIP $50..we're not big fans of hers but nice she does this making tickets very reasonable for an international artist of her calibre.
Town clock/thermometer read 37 degrees yesterday - walking at 0715 and still come home drenched. I stopped to cool off under a water sprinkler on the lawn today, much to the amusement of the gardeners on the Marginal.
December 18, Nancy and I went back to Bemfica market today - very hot and difficult to see parrots squashed into a cage together in the heat. Lots of vendors vying for attention -'amiga', 'come here' and a very hurt look if you walk past. Which you have to do. I bought some lovely African fabric and jewellery. And Nancy's friends haggled over the elephant engraved small tables.
This guy is outside our apartment every day cleaning shoes. He always has a smile and never pushes begging. Gildo does not have the use of his legs so I sat on the ground and chatted with him and took this pic today. He does use a wheelchair but as there are no wheelchair access' anywhere (including the university) it is very difficult to get around. Sometimes I see him 'walking' on his hands and he tells me this keeps his arms strong. He does look in pain sometimes but he never complains. A very nice young guy.
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| Gildo and I |
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| Ben Fica market - hundreds of elephants |
Hi Sharon Jeroen and liam, great photos and story I have updated your details.. had you under the old jsvand.... email.
ReplyDeleteRegards Paul & julie.