Martinbourg Fair

Today we went to the Martinbourgh fair. It is a lovely drive away through a windy mountain pass – similar to hwy 6, without the Wilson River or the big trees. Anyway once there we shopped, watched people and had some coffee.

While I bought several items I love, the ones I feel most compelled to share is my new pair of shoes. Yes to those of you who have been reading this from the beginning, I have found another pair of shoes. My black Mary Jane Docs have finally become uber comfortable after a couple weeks of blisters.

Seems that I'm headed down a similar track here. I can't even take a photo of my new shoes on my feet because I already have hideous blisters – including ones between my toes.

Only good thing I can think of is that these blisters shouldn't interfere with my other shoes... convenient because although barefoot is very acceptable nearly everywhere here, it isn't at work.

Well these are the lovely handmade shoes that have caused my feet to look like either I whipped them with straps or let a small animal attack them mercilessly.

Here these are called Jandals (not flip flops) and are a staple of footware for kiwis. I've never ever owned a pair of flip flops, which might explain my feet's nearly alergic reaction to them. That said, I suspect they'll be like birkenstocks and once they and my feet have broken in they'll become a favorite source of comfort.

 

good people

On Thursday Trav's uncle and aunt stopped in for dinner.  They are traveling through on their vacation to NZ.  We had a lovely dinner out, but on the way home I realized that my bag was missing.

I searched the yellow pages and called the cafe. I knew that they were closing down just as we left so I felt prety sure that the bag was safe, but wanted to call to let them know I'd pick it up tomorrow.  

Well when I rang them up the lady said that someone was en route to my house!  I had an application, overdue I might add, in my bag that I had forgotten to mail. It had my return address on it and they were driving my bag to me.  What a relief - my wallet, camera, calendar, Boardmaker CD, digital record, $95 dollar bus pass (yes it would be my third month in a row losing it, but after only 1 day's use it would have been particularly painful), sunglasses that actually fit my face, and a few other assorted valueables were all in there - including my work mobile phone!  

I just popped out to the street and waved down a lost looking man who handed over my bag!  He commented that people here are friendly :)  made my day.

Cuba Carnival last weekend...

Last weekend, Cuba street had its annual carnival. Cuba street is an area known for fun funky alternative things like piercings, vegan pastries, coffee shops, etc. Reminds me of many areas of Portland, except that it is a Pedestrian mall so the road has been paved over and cars are not allowed. There are some fountains and and mini playground features to entertain people eating and drinking; though often the people watching is more than enough entertainment!

But back to the carnival... the actual fair during the day was alright with all the requisite features.

You have crowds and ample people watching


There is a variety of foods served

Several music stages with 20-30 minutes alloted to each act so you have a lot of variety

Kids dancing is a key ingredient for me and this youngster in particular was entertaining as he ran around with sticks.

My father would have been very disturbed by the number of kids running with eye destroying implements, but I choose amusement as my response – particularly when he saw this young man's juice container sitting between the man's knees. The young boy ran over with this sticks and began to beat the container. While some men would pull away to protect their 'jewels' this chap just laughed and encouraged the kid. It was lovely actually seeing the crowd interact with all the dancing kids.

That said, although the standard food, music, crowds, and kids were present there were a few other things that seemed different. I was particularly struck by the number of people hanging out. They were hanging out in trees

out windows




and even on couches they'd dragged to the middle of the closed off streets!


But the very best part was the night 'illuminated' parade. The streets filled with on lookers and there was a relaxed feeling to it. People were not kept an arms length away, candy was thrown into the crowd, and water and bubbles were also allowed!

It was a Rio theme, so there were many dancers... some very bravely showing quite a bit of skin.

People were exuberant and very glad to be part of the various floats

and I really loved these skeletons on this crazy bike contraption....




There were some other amazing parade moments, but my camera battery unfortunately died halfway through. The Wellington airport sent one of their fire trucks, which was shooting bubble/foam out of a cannon on the back of the truck. Just behind them were dozen of fire poi dancers... a good combo, until the kids start running into the bubbles to play with the fire dancers only feet away. But no one seems to get hurt.

There were also acrobats dangling from mini cranes driving through town, marching bands, and girls in heels playing with soceer balls by kicking them into the crowd!  Flikr has lots of photos under cuba st carinval and cuba street carinval.

Traveler's account of kitchen brilliance

Traveler has asked me to share the following 1st person account:

Enchiladas were on the menu and I had nowhere to turn. I have captured this dish before using ingredients common in the new world; Tortillas, Filling (chicken & cheese), and Sauce. The filling was no problem because as every one knows, ancestral chickens flew to New Zealand on the trade winds. Upon arriving they noticed that with no predators all birds preferred the more grounded flightless way of life. The chickens saw it was a better way and this deep spirituality spread throughout the world wide chicken population. So chickens are common. But the other ingredients are not. The Tortilla is a rare species here but can be obtained if stalked with cunning. The Sauce is no where to be found. At first I assumed all was lost; but then I discovered a miraculous fact! Enchilada Sauce is nothing more than beef gravy with a little cumin, a little onion, and lots of ground chili pepper! I must say I was still
quite shocked when making this combination the first time and discovering that it tasted like Enchilada Sauce. And just like that I had all the ingredients...

But then hardship struck. My ingredients were prepared; My oven was preheated; and much to my dismay I discovered an acute lack of square baking dishes. No 9x13 inch pans were in my kitchen. Neither were the 9x9 or perky 8x8 sizes. (And yes I'm talking about pyrex *and* metal ones). I was desperate and full of despair. But dear readers do not wail and tear out your hair; for in a flash of brilliant, non-linear, out-of-the-box thinking (indeed out-of-the-universe) I created a solution so cunning that all the world's greatest minds would slap their
foreheads in unison creating an enormous peal of thunder. As I stood there surveying my kitchen through a veil of tears my attention was caught by the stack of pie plates obviously unsuitable for efficient conveyance of the ever cylindrical enchilada. In that moment I created
the wedge shaped enchiladas. Yes you heard me correctly my shocked and awed reader; Wedge shaped.

I am a kitchen genius.

Traveler the genius

Well.. good think I posted that photo the other day. It is documentation that I did have my bus pass, at least at that moment. I managed to loss it within 10 minutes of posting it. Grrr, second month in a row that I've lost my pass before the month is over. I constantly check where it is now, and this last time I think I checked my pocket for it and then inadvertently pulled it out to fall to the street.

But there is good news in the Hauptman-Hennig household. Traveler was so frustrated with the lack of enchilada sauce – and my ridiculous attempt to substitute with taco sauce

(he muttered something about it being a fine condiment if you like mashed up over cooked salsa, but it is NOT for cooking) – that he has created his own enchilada sauce. It basically consists of chili gravy. Yes you take butter, and cook up flour in it then toss in some chili powder and I think the secret ingredient is beef broth. If you want the recipe, ask him now before he decides to make it a very top secret formula.

On top of this incredible feat, he 'invented' pie plate enchiladas with his 'genius' geometric solution:
 


All through this, he was baking me cookies. What a man eh?
I just sat in the corner smiling to myself at how lucky I am... until the next outburst along the lines of “this is f-ing brilliant.... its so amazing that it earns the expletive... are you documenting this, we need another action shot” was heard. Here is one of the requested “action shots”


Well enough documenting, I'm off to experience his creation

Okay, for all of those who've written wondering what my world would look like with at least a few pieces of furniture... here you go.

For those of you who need a bit more of an active role, see if you can spot the following:

• $3 / can black beans I was thrilled to finally find

• pay per bag garbage bags from the Wellington City Council
  

• the Internet cord I think of as the 'trip wire trap'
  

• the tarnished knob on the free set of drawers a guy threw in for practically free when I bought the bedside cabinet
  

• my bus pass that allows me unlimited rides for $95/month
  

• the really cool tea bag holder that Holly gave me for xmas
  

• and the safe key pass thing that generates random numbers that you use in conjunction with your user name and password when logging on to your online banking. Here you pay people online directly into their accounts and checks are considered absolute for the most part.
  

And there are still no limes to be found in my world. I was told that they aren't a very popular thing here, other than in drinks. I'm told that the bars buy up the available stock at wholesale auctions. You seem the in mojitos at bars all the time, but not at supermarkets or green grocers. I guess if I'm ever to make cerviche again I'll first have to go hit the bars in a serious manner. Maybe bring friends – but definitely bring a Tupperware to hold all the limes I steal off the drinks!