Horses and Cookery
This weekend - my last in Pretoria - was by far the best.
On Saturday morning sis and I decided to go to the farmer's market. Although it starts at 3am, we woke up at the more reasonable hour of 6:30am, and drove around, trying to remember (sis had been there once before) where it was. We did not find the market (though it turned out that we were actually only a couple of blocks away), and at around 7:30 we found a couple of police officers and asked them where we could find the market. They looked puzzled and scratched their heads, and finally assured us that the market was in the depths of Pretoria West (the 'hood of Pretoria). We drove all the way there, and although there was an old man begging (we gave him a muffin) there was no market. Cry. We pulled onto the highway back in the direction of Pretoria East, and found ourselves behing a veg truck, with two workers in the back. We decided that maybe this was a SIGN and if we followed it, we would find the market.
At first we stalked the truck unnoticed, but after many lane changes the guys in the back noticed we were following them. They started brlowing us kisses and holding up different veg, as if to ask if that was what we wanted. Of course the truck was not going to the farmers' market, but it let us to the block beside the market. What luck! The market!
By then it was 8:30, and people were beginning to close up their stalls. We bought a bouquet of sunflowers (10ZAR - 1.80$), Chutney (7 Zar), Prickley Pear Jam (5 ZAR - .90$), Ketchup (6 ZAR), and hot sauce (10ZAR). For 15 ZAR I bought a stack of opera books, and sis bought some mushrooms. Laden with our farmer's market-y goodness, we staggered towards the car, and decided to go to... another market! The twice-monthey Irene (pronounced Irini) market. It was less farmer-y and more crafty, and it was so much fun!
Sis bought a hanging herb garden, some necklaces for a friend, a jacket, two hats, a third vintage hat, and a bead necklac.e I bought a purple and gold pashmina. Hurrah shopping!
We went home and decided that instead of eating boring dinner we would each take around an hour and make 2 appetizers and a dessert. That was so much fun! I made stir-fry carrot noodles with an orange garnish, potato skins with fruit chutney, and muffine with kiwi, yoghurt, chocolate and blueberry filling. Sister made couscous-stuffed tomatoes, party sandwiches with tofu filling, and a parfait for dessert. Aren't we domestic!
Yesterday we drove into the cradle of humankind (where scientists believe humans evolved from chimps) and we took a tour into the Sterkfontein caves, where Mrs. Ples, a cave-lady, was found. I adore caves! There was even an underground lake.
After that we went horseback riding. I don't know how people do it, UP and then DOWN with the horse. Sis can do it. I just go bumpity-bump-bump, and poor horse and poor me! Still, I do like horseback riding, even if it doesn't like ME.
Tonight we are going to a mafia evening - it is a Purim party, with a casino night, and costume prizes... should be interesting!
On Saturday morning sis and I decided to go to the farmer's market. Although it starts at 3am, we woke up at the more reasonable hour of 6:30am, and drove around, trying to remember (sis had been there once before) where it was. We did not find the market (though it turned out that we were actually only a couple of blocks away), and at around 7:30 we found a couple of police officers and asked them where we could find the market. They looked puzzled and scratched their heads, and finally assured us that the market was in the depths of Pretoria West (the 'hood of Pretoria). We drove all the way there, and although there was an old man begging (we gave him a muffin) there was no market. Cry. We pulled onto the highway back in the direction of Pretoria East, and found ourselves behing a veg truck, with two workers in the back. We decided that maybe this was a SIGN and if we followed it, we would find the market.
At first we stalked the truck unnoticed, but after many lane changes the guys in the back noticed we were following them. They started brlowing us kisses and holding up different veg, as if to ask if that was what we wanted. Of course the truck was not going to the farmers' market, but it let us to the block beside the market. What luck! The market!
By then it was 8:30, and people were beginning to close up their stalls. We bought a bouquet of sunflowers (10ZAR - 1.80$), Chutney (7 Zar), Prickley Pear Jam (5 ZAR - .90$), Ketchup (6 ZAR), and hot sauce (10ZAR). For 15 ZAR I bought a stack of opera books, and sis bought some mushrooms. Laden with our farmer's market-y goodness, we staggered towards the car, and decided to go to... another market! The twice-monthey Irene (pronounced Irini) market. It was less farmer-y and more crafty, and it was so much fun!
Sis bought a hanging herb garden, some necklaces for a friend, a jacket, two hats, a third vintage hat, and a bead necklac.e I bought a purple and gold pashmina. Hurrah shopping!
We went home and decided that instead of eating boring dinner we would each take around an hour and make 2 appetizers and a dessert. That was so much fun! I made stir-fry carrot noodles with an orange garnish, potato skins with fruit chutney, and muffine with kiwi, yoghurt, chocolate and blueberry filling. Sister made couscous-stuffed tomatoes, party sandwiches with tofu filling, and a parfait for dessert. Aren't we domestic!
Yesterday we drove into the cradle of humankind (where scientists believe humans evolved from chimps) and we took a tour into the Sterkfontein caves, where Mrs. Ples, a cave-lady, was found. I adore caves! There was even an underground lake.
After that we went horseback riding. I don't know how people do it, UP and then DOWN with the horse. Sis can do it. I just go bumpity-bump-bump, and poor horse and poor me! Still, I do like horseback riding, even if it doesn't like ME.
Tonight we are going to a mafia evening - it is a Purim party, with a casino night, and costume prizes... should be interesting!
posted by Melamondiale @ 5:24 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home