We have spent the last day and a half settling into the apartment and shopping for things we need to make our stay comfortable. Of course the first order of business was to get a coffee pot and grinder; Mike wouldn't last too long without either. the only problem is we haven't been able to find any coffee creamer here or even fresh milk. The only milk we can buy is the high temp stuff that's on a box that doesn't even need to be refrigerated. We were advised that there is a place here where we can go queue every morning and get it fresh from the cow but Mike's not too keen on that idea.
Today we walked along our easy route into old town, right along the bank of the river and saw a lady in the river doing her laundry with all the clean clothes spread over the banks to dry; I hope I don't have to do this anytime soon. The walk is much easier than having to scale the steps, all we have to do now is avoid the traffic. There always seems to be tons of people heading into the old town and I think it's actaully quicker to walk than to take a taxi or the bus. We bought a bunch of bits and pieces in town and then lugged it all back to the apartment, including piggie salt and pepper shakers that Mike bargained down from $4 to $3.50, and a cushion for the sofa that has had no effect on the comfortableness of the thing. We also bought some speakers for the computer today so we can have music in the apartment. When Mike asked how much they were he was told $11.00 but when he paid for them the price was $9.00. This is not the first time we've been given a price to pay and then when it's actually time to pay the price is less. I suppose it's better thant he price going up but it's weird. We asked Lee about it and apparently the price is cheaper if you pay cash down here even if you don't haggle, weird.
While we were at the bookstore this afternoon we made a time to have our first spanish lesson, it's tomorrow at 11 a.m., wish me luck, I'm going to need it.

Mike: I'm going to buy Becc a scrub brush so she can join the ladies at the river!