MY TOP 5 REASONS FOR LOVING TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Trinidad and Tobago are the southernmost islands in the Caribbean archipelago. It comprises of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and is known as the land of the humming bird, calypso, carnival and the home of the only musical instrument invented in the 20^th century, the steel pan. I’ve been to Trinidad and Tobago multiple times and here are my top 5 reasons for loving T&T:

5. The Sites- Trinidad and Tobago has a plethora of sites to see. From the beautiful beaches and breathtaking views in Tobago to the great sites to visit in Trinidad such as the Pitch Lake and Temple in the Sea, Trinidad and Tobago has a lot to offer.

Pitch Lake, Trinidad

One of my all time favourite trips to make in Trinidad is to the religious community at Mt. St. Benedict in Tunapuna.  The Mount is the site of a Benedictine monastery which makes its own wine and honey. The views are breath taking and on the Mount one feels the peace and tranquillity away from everyday hustle and bustle of life. So the next time you’re in Trinidad, take this side trip and enjoy a little time for yourself.

                                                               View from Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad 

4. The Shopping – Trinidad and Tobago has some of the best shopping in the Caribbean. With the infamous Trincity Mall now renovated and expanded, there are even more stores offering a wide variety of brands suited to every tastes. There are several malls available for shopping ranging from the ultra chic West Mall to the friendly Long Circular Mall. There are also several great stores located in Port of Spain. From the infamous Jimmy Abouds for cloth to Francis Fashions for their great selection of men’s clothing and shoes, there is something for everyone. The exchange rate is also favourable so take along a few extra dollars to pick up something whether for your family or yourself!

                                                         

Trincity Mall (Picture taken from TriniGourmet.com)               

 

3. The Parties – Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its parties and nightlife. Tobago is known for its laid back culture. However the night life is quite enjoyable. A visit to the Bucco Reef on a Sunday night is great. I remember the sounds of steel pan belting out the sweet tunes of old soca and calypso sounds while enjoying some fish and a cold Carib. Trinidad is famous for its nightlife. There are so many clubs to choose from that it’s hard to ever not have somewhere to go. From the infamous Zen to the Thursday night party at 51 degrees to some of the lesser known country clubs in Arima, Tunapuna and Chaguanas such as Club Maharaj and Livin’ Room.   

And then there is the ultimate party in Trinidad – Carnival. As soon as Christmas ends, Carnival literally starts. There is a fete every weekend and each caters to a different tastes. It all culminates the weekend before Ash Wednesday with some of the biggest parties including the International Soca Monarch, J’Ouvert and the world Renowned Carnival Tuesday Street Parade filled with colour and displaying the creativity of the mas men. No wonder it’s said that nobody can party like a Trini.

                                                    

2. The People – It’s said that all Caribbean people are friendly and Trinbagonians are no exception to the rule. Trinis are known for their hospitality and welcoming of people whether you’re from near or far. From the taxi drivers to the store clerks to the waiters/waitresses to the vendor on the street, one is made to feel right at home. They will even guess the accent and where it’s from and the stories will flow from their own travels to your country to the cousin from the tanty (aunt) on their mother side is married to some from your country. It’s hard not to feel at home in T&T. With this welcome and hospitality, no wonder persons return time and time again to this Paradise. 

                                                     

1. And my no.1 reason for loving Trinidad and Tobago is the FOOD. Trinidad and Tobago is any diner’s paradise. From the beautiful and fresh sea food in Tobago to the culinary delights found on any street corner in Trinidad, one has to love the food there. There is a plethora of dishes to sample in Trinidad and the different influences are seen in the dishes. The influences of the Amerindian, East Indian, African, Spanish, Chinese, Lebanese and Creole can be seen in the everyday dishes served up. From the wonderful doubles in the morning to a great roti (whether sada or buss up shot) to a nice bowl of peleau, there is always some food to enjoy. On my last trip I enjoyed 2 doubles for breakfast, a nice bowl of stew lamb with macaroni pie and cassava, a nice bag of pineapple chow and two aloo pies for dinner. The drinks are endless and the best drinks to have in T&T, a cold Carib or Stag or a nice glass of rum: whether it be White Oak or Vat 19. And who can forget a nice Trini Christmas present coming to meet me: a box of pastelles. With all this food, the question is why aren’t Trinbagonians fat? Well they work it off with all that partying especially the wining in the waist.

And those are my top 5 reasons for loving Trinidad and Tobago. As the tourism ad says: Trinidad and Tobago, When you coming???

Miss SVG 2011: My thoughts

"Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed."  - Benjamin Franklin

            I wasn't supposed to be home in St. Vincent for Miss SVG 2011 so I never really followed the pageant. However following the death of my grandmother I flew home and knew that I would be here for the show. I took the week before the show to familiarize myself with the contestants in the show. To my surprise I knew a few of them and had even taught one of them at the Carapan Secondary School during my year working there. (I am not that old so don't even ask.)

    As fate would have it, I was blessed with a ticket to attend the show from a good friend. She always loved my critique of the shows and it became a yearly tradition that we would get together and analyze the show after. So on Saturday May 28t, I dressed in my "Sunday Best" and made my way to Victoria Park which is dubbed around this time as "Carnival City" to take in the show. 

    I arrived at the venue just as the show was beginning. To my surprise there were no fireworks as they normally have at the beginning of the show. This was a disappointment as this was being hailed at the 60th year of pageantry in SVG. There should have at least been some pomp and ceremony to open the show. However the show went on. 

      The Introduction section was quite interesting. The contestants did their introductions wearing different costumes from Mas bands here. I must commend the mas bands in SVG for their creativity year after year. The costumes were quite interesting and the use of colours was excellent. However the introductory speeches left much to be desired. Most sounded rehearsed and lacked confidence and exuberance one would expect from contestants in a pageant. A few were so long that I had time to have a full conversation before they were finished.

  The swimsuit section was interesting. The design of the suit was excellent in great bodies, it would help to accentuate the curves. There were good bodies this year as there was a lack of lovehandles. However those buttocks need some firming. If I wanted to see Jello, I would make one.

   The talent section was not very entertaining. Although several relevant topics were touched such as the image of women and domestic violence, there was no talent that was able to dazzle me. I think its time somebody come with something that is new and captivating instead of the usual repeats. There are several controversies within the talent area as well such as did  one contestant really play all that pan music and why did  another contestant have a dance partner? I won't comment on these since they are based on speculations and require some more research so as to get evidence and not be libelous (I can't pay a lawyer now.)

    The evening gowns were average. I must commend the local designers for putting their best foot forward in creating their dresses. The winning gown designed by Kimon Baptiste was beautiful and was my pick from the time I saw it. The use of black was a wise choice and the design adequately fit the form of the contestant who also happened to be her sister. Other notable designers were Jeremy Payne and Alex Grant. One shortfall in this section was the description of the dresses. There were not well constructed and when they were read, they were horrible. The mispronunciation of the Greek goddess of Love, Aphrodite, the mispronunciation of sequins as well as the use of Greecian which should have been Greek all added to the mistakes made. The contestants did not even walk properly on the stage. The turns were poorly executed and the poses were stiff and looked quite unnatural. 

   And then comes the best section of the show: The interview section. This section was integrated to be done with the evening gown section. I wonder how much preparation is given to the girls in this section. These young ladies don't even think about what they are about to say. While some of it may be attributed to nerves, I would say at least 60% of it is a lack of knowledge and preparation. The answers only served to highlight how ill prepared and the lack of knowledge and critical thinking skills these young ladies have. Some may say that they should be like the girls in Ms P'tani however they were controversial because they got their exact questions before. ( I will comment on this in my next blog entry) My favourite answer was to the question on environmental awareness. How does fixing the road help promote environmental awareness? I really shake my head but every year you must have at least one!

    After all the competiton Ms. Aviar Charles emerged the winner and a well deserved win. See was the best of the contestants presented and so deserved the victory. Congratulations Aviar.

  So was there anything good about the show? I must commend the entertainment. This year it was quite interesting especially with the use of local talent such as Skarpyon and Strong. Calypso Rose was quite entertaining as well. I was also happy to see the 1st Ms SVG Mrs Audrey  Hazell- Gomes grace the stage. She did this in truly regal fashion and if a few girls take a page from her appearance that night, they could have done alot better. 

    However there was alot lacking in the show and in order for the pageant to grow in standard and caliber, some of the issues have to be addressed.  The first is the decor of the stage. The background was just bland and the use of those potted plants gave the show a cheap look. The decor should be simple yet elegant adding to the atmosphere of the pageant. The time for the show needs to be addressed. Why does this show need to be 5 hours? Its just a long, drawn out show.This show need to do some major restructuring in the production so that it flows and is a more concise and entertaining  show. Then there is the contestants themselves. The addition of a University scholarship was to attract a certain caliber of girls to the show. This has failed to happen. However I think with effective and efficient training, the girls can be brought up to a standard that would make anyone proud of the national pageant. 

     After what I have seen in the past few years, I really should not be surprised at the show this year. As Benjamin Franklin says "Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed." Maybe I need to stop expecting a great show and then I won't be disappointed. Well let's see how Aviar will do at Ms. Carival and I look forward to Ms. SVG 2012 with no expectations!

Goodbye Granny

On Wednesday May 11th 2011, I lost my maternal grandmother, Mrs. Perlina McKie. My grandmother and I developed a close relationship in the last few years of her life as she got down in age and illness began to take its toll. I last saw her in December when I was home on vacation and spoke to her two weeks before she died. I was asked to do the eulogy at her funeral and was asked to keep it short and sweet. I tried my best and below is what I wrote:

       Perlina Esmina McKie nee John/Gilbert was born on 24^th February, 1932 in the Marriaqua Valley to James Gilbert and Lydia John at Glenside. She attended the Marriaqua Government School until the age of 12 when she migrated to Curacao. During her youth she was given the name ‘Sybil’ which stayed with her for her lifetime. She migrated to Curacao to live with her father who had moved there to work in the oil refineries. She would recall to us her days of speaking Papiamento, attending a girls Catholic School there and having to speak to her father through the fence of the refinery as he would be away for days due to the war effort at that time. In 1948, she married a Vincentian young man working in Curacao, Gabriel McKie. The union produced four (4) children: William, Carmela, Shirley and Felix. She would later have two more sons: Barnet and Dwayne.

      In 1955, she returned to St. Vincent and settled in the valley. There she would ply her trade as a seamstress. She was sought by all to make clothes for all occasions whether it be weddings, funerals or school uniforms. Up to this day the Singer machine which is over 60 years old sits at our home and as children when we would play on it she would tell us “Come off of that. It’s older than your mother!”

She was also alot more to the community. She was the village counselor and would be called upon to give counsel when needed whether by parents, children or spouses. She would be called upon to act as nurse to administer first aid when needed. Her home was always open to those in need, whether in need of a hot meal or a good word, she was there to provide it for all.

       In 1975, she became a Community Health Aide. She worked in all areas of the Marriaqua Valley with the sick and shut in. She would walk the hills to visit the old persons and report their health conditions. I can still remember seeing her in her cream suit going off to work in the morning and returning in the evening. I was amazed over a year ago to find one of her old note books where she would make notes on her visits. She did this work tirelessly for 17 years and retired in 1992. It was here that her sense of compassion, care and generosity came out fully and what she would be remembered for in the community.

       She was a member of several organizations including the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross to which she gave many years of service. She was honoured by many for her tireless work in the community including The Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Community Nursing Service.

       My grandmother was a woman of prayer. I would awake to her singing in the morning which would last till mid-morning.  Her life was one grounded in Christian principles which she passed on to her children and grandchildren. She was faithful to the end and as I recall would take me to church with her as a young child.

       She was woman of style. As one family friend recalled, “No young girl had as much pep as Ms. McKie did. “ She would dress the best and her style only showed out the inner beauty.

She lived out her life in retirement, where one would pass and see her sitting on her porch overlooking the road and recalling her days of youth.

       The Lord called her home on Wednesday 11^th May in the early morning hours.

       She is survived by 6 children, 28 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, 6 brothers, 4 sisters, many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

       Good bye Granny. We will meet on that faithful day at the Pearly gates of Heaven.
                   Eternal Rest Grant unto her O lord, And May Perpetual Light Shine on her. Amen.

The Simple Act

          Two weekends ago, the Catholic Student Movement (CSM) held its Bake Sale to raise funds. It was well supported by the communities of St. Thomas Aquinas and St.s Peter and Paul.  However it was one simple yet profound act that made my weekend so memorable. On Sunday morning I was inviting the parishioners to come and buy at the sale. There was an old lady who is petite in stature who attends Mass faithfully. She  interestingly sometimes brings her cat to Mass. (The cat is always quiet so you never know that its there!) She came to support and proceeded to buy. She opened her purse and in it I observed a fifty dollar bill. This was the only bill there. She then proceeded to have a brownie and then went to pay. She pulled out a five dollar coin and gave it along with the fifty dollar bill to our cashier. When he told her that it was only fifty dollars she said the five dollars was her contribution. This simple yet profound act touched me. So many times we take for granted the small acts that persons carry out but to this woman, the five dollar that she contributed, was her little way of giving. It may not have been much but it was something worth giving.
 

        The lesson to be learnt here is one of humility. As young people we sometimes take for granted what we have and feel that we must "show off" what we have. When its not the newest fashions or accessories, we must have the newest trends. When was the last time that you have done one small act that impacted on someone less fortunate than you? I must say that seeing that gesture has inspired me to do at least one small act of kindness each week. Its nothing grand or something that I need to boast about but at the end of the day I have the satisfaction in my heart that I did something good today and there is no better feeling than this!

Carnival Jamaican Style

           Last weekend the UWI Campus came alive for UWI Carnival 2K11. The theme this year was  "Birds of A Feather". It was celebrated over a 4 day period  started with Carnival Integration, followed by J'ouvert, the annual Road March on Ring Road and culminating on Sunday with the beach party at Sugarman's Beach in Portmore.It was quite interesting to observe Carnival outside the Eastern Caribbean where its at home such as Carnival in Trinidad, Crop Over in Barbados and Vincy Mas in St. Vincent.
          The Jamaican version was a whole different experience. The first major difference is the downplay of Soca. The music tends to be a blend with more Hip-Hop, Dance Hall and Pop played over Soca. While this adds a Jamaican flair to the party it tends to make the experience not as authentic as those in the Eastern Caribbean . J'ouvert which was an overcrowded party delivered as a water and paint fete but was unable to deliver on the promise morning jump up on the road. However there was a lack of elements such as the red and blue devils as well as the social commentary which is evident in other carnivals. The Road March (better know to those from the Eastern Caribbean as the "Jump Up") was a great experience. The "Alumni Attack" Band which I jumped with delivered a most memorable experience with a Trinidadian DJ who delivered the best Soca experience I have had in Jamaica. Coupled with a few drinks and the beautiful ladies from Cluster 8 of Rex Nettleford Hall, it was a great experience. The Beach Party was a good experience as it was held in a beautiful spot in Portmore. However there are some logistical issues that need to be re-worked so as to deliver a holistic party experience.
    The weekend turned out to be a memorable one and one that has left good experiences of Carnival on UWI in my mind to reflect on for years to come. I look forward to next year's which should be even bigger and better!

Check out my video from Road March 2K11: UWI Carnival Road March 2K11

A Whole Other side

              I always like to think that living in another country, one must take the time to immerse into the sights and sounds. Jamaica is no exception. As I needed to escape the doldrums of campus life at Mona, I went on the excursion being offered by the Vincentian Students Association (VINSA) Jamaica to Somerset Falls located in Portland. The trip promised to provide a view of the Eastern coast of Jamaica, a taste of the best Jerk in Jamaica and a memorable experience at the Falls. It turned out to be all that and more.
             The East Coast looks very much like scenes from the rural side of the Eastern Caribbean. Aside from the towns that were passed, it was interesting to see vegetation which resembled that of the Eastern Caribbean. From the dry scrub land to the rich forested areas, there was a lot to take in. The stop at Boston Jerk Centre was one of the highlights of the trip. It was great to observe how the Jerk meats were make and there were some interesting meats such at jerk pork sausages which were fresh made and Jerk Lobster. The jerk pork was immaculate and served with hot,roasted sweet potatoes was divinely delicious. The final destination was Somerset Falls. This well developed attraction not only boasted two falls but also a great swimming area, a swimming pool for kids, a great restaurant and a menagerie of animals. 
            The trip was an excellent learning experience as well as sight seeing opportunity. I would urge anyone to take this route to see this rugged and unspoilt side of Jamaica.
             Enjoy the video.
         

Why OECS Integration keeps me happy and my belly full!

It seems that lately there has been a lot of political squabbling within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) especially between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia. The latest squabble has been between Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and Minister of Tourism Senator Allan Chastnet of St. Lucia over access of air carriers to their territories. While I know I am more than well equipped to discuss this issue, I will save my two cents for another day. 

With the OECS Economic Union coming into force in January 2011, one would think that the governments of the Eastern Caribbean would try to work more closely together. This however does not seem to be the case. It seems as if the talk is just that, TALK. But it seems among the OECS students of the University of the West Indies, there is a movement of integration and I just happened to experience it firsthand.

Last semester I met a young St. Lucian by the name of Laurina who just happened to go to the same church as I do. A friendship developed as we not only shared similar religious views but were related by geographical location and a better understanding of each other’s culture (I had been exposed to St. Lucia by my time in the airline industry and had picked up one or two Lucian Creole sentences along the way.)  There was also Iola who is a Dominican national who not only lives on the same cluster on my hall, but also majors in Media and Communication as I do. In addition she is a fantastic singer and a fashion enthusiast.  Also there were the two Grenadians in my Communication Culture class, Norlene and Kwesi. Interestingly I knew Kwesi as he had lived in St. Vincent for a while after Hurricane Ivan as well as he dates an old work colleague of mine. There is Louis, an Antiguan with whom I take Portuguese. Majoring in International Relations, he hopes to work in the diplomatic corps and eventually lead his country.

Each of these persons represents a different country within the OECS. They come from varied backgrounds with different majors and different life interests. Yet there is one common factor that keeps us all talking and united: the fact that we are from the Eastern Caribbean.  The Jamaican society tends to use the term ‘small islands’ to refer to the islands of the Eastern Caribbean and often try to belittle us because of our size. They assume that due to their size they are superior in everything and as such have a snobbish attitude towards us.  For this situation we as ‘small island’ people have to band together.

It was great last semester to have students from the same geographical and cultural background in my class to understand and support the views that I expressed. The Grenadians were not only able to assist me in showing that outside of Jamaica there are other views but they also had my support for their points. By exercising that integration, we were not only able to help bring across our points but counteract a lot of the misconceptions held by our Jamaican colleagues. I was extremely happy when we could propose examples which were non-Jamaican and show their relevance within a Jamaican and Caribbean context.           

Portuguese is always interesting with Louis. I had been to Antigua several times and have a familiarity with the island. This aided not only in conversation but in working together to present the Eastern Caribbean culture in the Portuguese context. It’s interesting that our islands have descendants from labourers who migrated from the Portuguese island of Madeira. By working together we have been able to show our colleagues the similarities and differences of the islands in the Caribbean.

Then there is my favourite part of life, the food.  Being in Jamaica exposes you to a different type of cuisine. From the infamous jerk to the Sunday rice and peas to the national dish of Ackee and Salt fish with Breadfruit, there are so many dishes to engage your taste buds with. However there comes a time where you yearn for some great Eastern Caribbean food, whether it is bakes and salt fish or some good soup with cattle skin or just some steamed ground provisions with stew chicken.  It’s great when we have friends from St. Lucia or Dominica who cook these dishes and though they may have slight variations. The offer of just green bananas and a piece of fried fish just makes me start to salivate.  I have had my fill with bakes and salt fish since I have been here as my St. Lucian and Dominican friends not only make them regularly but make some of the best bakes I have ever even. The texts would come to bring the flour or provide the peppers and tomatoes to make the salt fish and one would only be more than happy to oblige. Nothing like a hot bake with salt fish cakes early in the morning or on a good night lime where we are ‘old talking’.  The invitation to the celebration of the Independence anniversary of St. Lucia this week was topped with the serving of a breakfast of hot bakes and salt fish cakes with hot chocolate tea.  The tea which was rich reminded me of Sunday morning when my grandmother would make a nice big pot and I would savour the flavour of the spices in my cup.

What’s the point of all this? We as persons from the Eastern Caribbean are aware of our small sizes and our limited resources. By working together not only in small settings but in larger ones we are better equipped to confront the challenges and portray and support ourselves on a regional and international level.  While we may have differences, the old adage comes to mine which says “Divided we are conquered, United we stand.” And so I for one will continue to push for Integration as it not only keeps me happy but keeps my belly full!

A New Market Experience

              Today was a different experience for me. After being in Jamaica for four months and being invited out several times by my good friend, legendary Vincentian broadcaster, Pam Barbour ( or Ms. B as I like to call her), I decided to make the trip to downtown, more specifically, to Coronation market, located in the heart of Tivoli Gardens. Tivoli was the same area where the "Don" Christopher 'Dudus' Coke was reputed to have controlled before his extradition. Granted that this was the same place where all the horror stories of pick-pockets and other crimes are reputed to be the norm. So to say I was the least bit frighten was just the tip of the iceberg. However I decided that I still wanted to see that side of Jamaica and took the journey.
          It was a beautiful Saturday morning. The skies were just a bit overcast but the sun was still shining. We departed at 6:30 am for our destination and only stopping to collect the friend of Ms. B. As we made the drive the place transformed from the new office buildings and high rises to which I was accustomed to the old architecture common in older sections of towns. The old English and Spanish style buildings were dilapidated and run down yet they gave a rustic feel and added a Caribbean dimension where you saw the true reality of contrasts in life in the Caribbean. As we arrived the first thing that struck me was that we were in downtown renowned for its dreadful reputation, yet there were people of every walk of life (upper and lower class or as Jamaicans say uptown and downtown people) were going about their Saturday shopping routine as normal.
          A most interesting point was that persons brought their own bags to the market or bought them on arrival. These bags made from  the sacks used to import grain and other materials were very well crafted. This is a plus as they are re-usable, providing and opportunity to conserve and not buy and overuse black plastic bags (also known in Jamaica as scandal bags.).

          The market was just an array of sights and sounds. The first thing that appealed was the colours. There was wide variety from the brown of the ground provisions to the purple of the red onions and the differing colours of the peppers, my eyes were just drawn in and my attention was kept by just the sights. The produce was fresh. There was every type of fruit and vegetable available for sale there. From the Jack fruit to the Jamaican Star apple, there was a wide assortment of colours and prices. Interestingly almost all produce is sold by the weight and the prices are quite reasonable in comparison to shopping in supermarkets.
      The sounds of the market were so interesting. If getting a feel for the Jamaican patois is what one is looking for , this is the place to go. The mix of accents from the different parishes within Jamaica is undeniably present. The use of the colloquial is quite common and makes for good humor especially when one hardly understand what is said or realizes that he or she is the butt of the joke. I was provided by the entertaining peddlers of wares who walked around the markets shouting while selling different small items such as pimentos, spices and even tiger balm! This gives a feel for a Jamaica which cannot be experienced outside of this setting.
       The vendors in the market come from different parts of the island and yet there is one common quality about them: their friendly customer service. Its interesting to see the way they interact with their customers. It is as if two old friends were meeting to chat. While the transaction is being conducted, conversation varies from what is good this week to the  kids and grandkids and even the ongoing Manatt inquiry. It was interesting that the vendors knew the names of their customers as well as the customers the specific vendors. Its  how they were able to talk about Mr. Bogle or Ms. Marcel.

      One interesting point for me was the carts used in the market. These "mini cars" come equipped with steering and brakes and are a sight to behold as their drivers maneuver them through the tiny corridors within the markets. The drivers age in range from young to aged men yet one can see that it takes some skill to drive these carts around.

       After one hour in the market I had all I needed  and for an extremely reasonable price. From my vegetables to make salad to a piece of yellow yam to cook, I left with my bag full and extremely satisfied about what I had to nourish my body with for the rest of the week. Interestingly I met a lady selling guavas and could not resist the urge to buy. Although at home I just have to go to my sister's home for guavas and never buy, here I am not so privileged here. It turns out it was a good buy as they were both sweet and firm making them excellent for eating.
      It was a great experience for me at the market. It was not only eye opening to the culture of the Jamaica and seeing the different foods they offer, it shows that one can never be too quick to judge from hear say. Would I go down town again? Yes. Its all about being cautious yet going with a brave heart and an open mind, seeing the sights, taking in the culture and all that while getting great bargains. I will be going back to the market in two weeks with Ms. B because opportunities like these are not to be missed!