
When we first arrived to Tegucigalpa, our first visit to the MultiPlaza left us with glazed eyes and the experience was a shock to the system. It's just like it sounds - a big mall. It's only a short drive from our house, and we go there about once a week for various sundries.
We went there today to go to Sanrita to get a celebratory "It's Friday!!" ice cream. The MultiPlaza had grown on me. It has a consumeristic familiarity that, although I try not to think of myself as a crazy consumer, is quite comforting. There is a Benetton, a Baskin Robbins, Radio Shack, internet cafe, a few high quality Honduran department stores, funny kiosks where you can buy candles, coffee, cell phone accessories, Honduran chotchkies, hot dog on a stick, etc. But today when we went there, I was struck by something else...
Each time we go to the MultiPlaza, there is different display in the center-most open-space in the mall. The first time we went, there were about a dozen new vehicles for show. Another time, it was people representing a cemetery and they were selling grave plots. Next time, it was cell phones. Next time, it was car stereos and speakers for sale, playing music that was WAY too loud. I think if I went to the mall everyday, there would be a different display. But today was my favorite.
Before we could even see this open-space area, we could hear the music. It was live and it was good and it sounded like authentic Latin music. As we got closer, we saw three giant marimbas and about 10 older guys playing them; some guys with three or more mallets in their hands. And there was art! Hundreds of paintings by Honduran artists. It was beautiful. It was my favorite use of this funny mall space.
I must say I appreciate your perseverance in updating your friends and the Sebastopol/Sonoma/USA community on your life and adventures at your new found home -Honduras. It seems like every time you go on a road trip, it's a different adventure, whether it be trading for frijoles or negotiating with the Policia on a geometrical figure, or perhaps taking a shot of tequila while contemplating whether to buy a grave plot in such a little loco yet passionate country. Well, I made a tiny adaptation on that last one.
ReplyDeleteEric and Jenny, you are both excellent writers and sometimes I'm not sure who is writing the blog, but maybe that's what makes a true union. I got to admit I like guessing who it is.
Keep having the experiencias - as I'm sure you will.
Mark - Pinsk Jr.
Thanks for following us Mark, we really appreciate the comments as well! Sometimes we write them together sometimes we write them apart. If there is ever a post about the benefits of Stoli on cultural shock then it is most certainly going to be written by me...(Eric)
ReplyDeleteHaha - you don't have to repost my comment that I retyped again. I didn't realize that you posted it on your latest blog post.
ReplyDeleteMark - Pinsk jr.
Well i just realized I must correct myself again. You did post it under the correct blog post. This is what happens when you stay up until 4:30am in the morning.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, I've been having a little too much fun lately - haha, but I did like that Stoli comment.
Mark - Pinsk Jr.