Differences

There are several differences in shopping in Martin, from the shopping done in the California. First, we must remember to bring our own bags. The stores do not pack your purchases. Some stores have bags, but they usually charge for them. Most people just bring their own bags. Here you see Gary ready to shop. Jeannine has her backpack also.




When you get to the grocery store, you will find that a Euro is needed to release the basket. At first, we thought “Wow! They’re going to charge us to use their baskets!

Actually, the Euro is just a deposit. For the return of the Euro, you return the basket and use the chain to release the Euro. Low and behold, there are absolutely NO baskets out in the parking lot.



In the produce section, there is a good selection of both fruits and vegetables. The quality is not quite as good as it is in CA, but you can say that about many locations in the U.S. We are just so blessed with fresh, good quality produce in Arroyo Grande. A difference is that you bag your produce, put it on the scales, touch the identification of that item (pictures and words) and the scales gives a tag with the price that is put on the produce bag. It is read by the machine at check-out.



Eggs come in packages of ten, fifteen or a half dozen. Almost all eggs are brown. There is a tremendous selection of different kinds of cheeses, but the chunks that the cheese is sold by are smaller. Soups come in packs of dry soup instead of cans. (I’m thankful for this as I carry the groceries as I walk home.) There are very few items that come in glass or cans.



The Slovaks love their bread. There are so many different kinds to choose from. The majority of the breads are sold by the uncut loaf. Most of their bread is not in a wrapper. The customer uses a plastic glove to make her choice of bread. Then she puts it in a plastic bag.



When you’ve gotten the items on your list, you go to the check-stand. The first thing I noticed at the stand was that all of the checkers were sitting. Actually, they have a choice to stand or to sit, but most of them are sitting. This is in most stores, not just grocery stores.

After the item has been charged, you grab it and put it back in the basket. When you’ve paid, received your change and receipt, you take the basket to a place to put the items in your bags. Then you’re ready to leave, after you return the basket and get back your deposit.



We have been amazed at how many of the people (both men and women) take the babies, toddlers and children out in the square for some fresh air. When they are babies, they ride in a “baby-buggy,” then they graduate to a stroller. Sometimes you see a baby carried, but very few baby-backpacks or front carriers.



When it rains…..


And when it snows…….

Holiday in Italy

On New Year’s Eve, we began in Cita Alta we saw the inside of two beautiful churches. The marble exterior walls, paintings on the ceiling, the gigantic columns, and beautiful carvings of statues just made us oooo and ahhhhhh. The craftsmen and artists put so much into their work, all for the glory of God.



Then we boarded a train for Milan. This is the second largest city in Italy. It is the industrial center of the country. But there are many beautiful masterpieces and works of art here in this town. On New Year’s Day, we found ourselves in the main square of Milan. The majestic gothic cathedral is unbelievable in its size and intricacies of carving.


This picture was taken by a couple that we met on the square. They were from Brazil and love to travel. They were in Italy with their two children, about 8 and 4 years old. We had such a wonderful conversation with these people. God puts wonderful people in our pathways, everywhere we go.


I believe we were told this is the largest gothic cathedral and only the second in size to the cathedral in Vatican City. We were able to go into the cathedral, but it was very dark, so my pictures just do not do it justice. As we were in this masterpiece, there was a mass being said. Anyone could go into that area and participate in the mass. We will probably never get to Rome, but do not believe we could be more moved than we were here.


The next day found us at the Sforza Castello of Milan. This is another gigantic monument. In the picture, you can see how large the front entrance is. Actually, at this distance, I did not get the very top of this tower; I missed the top two levels. Now think of the size of a common brick, about 10” x 4.5” x 3”. That is what this whole castle is made of. On the two front corners of the castello, there are very large, round towers. The courtyard was enormous.


But it is the art found inside this castle that impressed us. This is one of the many painted ceilings found in the living compartments of the nobility. Some of the ceilings were even painted by Michelangelo. There was carved marble, doorways of carved marble, different suits of armor, all made by hand. It is wonderful to be able to see these pieces of art and articles from life in the 13th and 14th centuries.




Then we took a 2 ½ hour train ride to Venice. This is the place, in Italy, that Gary really wanted to see. I thought the canals would be full of dirty, smelly water and could not imagine a city with canals for the streets. I was so wrong, and I am glad Gary suggested that we go here. The water was not smelly or dirty.


There are canals throughout the town of old Venice. The locations that had an entrance from the canal also had a “back door” on a calle (or small road.) We stayed in a wonderful “guesthouse” off the main calle from the train station. When we first turned into the calle, it was no wider than four feet. It gradually widened as we passed by three or four guesthouses (hotels) and three restaurants.


The buildings in Venice had their own style. There were many arches as one would expect in a city in the same country where arches were developed (in Rome.) But the windows often had a type of Arab looking shape. The buildings were many different colors.

The canals had many different types of boats. Some were large motorboats for delivery (a reason for the high prices on everything.) There were larger boats that carried many people and were called “waterbuses.” There were “water taxis,” small private motorboats and the gondolas.



The first sight we explored was the Doge Palace. This is where the head of the government, the Doge, lived and where the legal decisions were made. The outside was mosaic brick of pink and white. The Doge was elected.
The merchants were part of the government. There were two councils, similar to our House of Representatives and Senate. Then there was council comprised of nine or ten people appointed by the Doge. This palace was another work of art, like this marble staircase.



The other magnificent wonder in Venice is the Cathedral of San Marcos. At first, the patron saint of Venice was San Theodore who was credited with killing a dragon. Later, as Alexandria, Egypt was on its downfall, someone from Venice stole the body of San Marcos and took it to Venice. This was to complete a prophecy that supposedly San Marcos was given about him having his final resting place in Venice.

We cannot fully describe the inside of this cathedral. Besides the huge columns, fantastic sculptures, detailed mosaic floors and beautiful altars, the ceilings were a wonder in themselves. They were mosaics of different colored tiles creating pictures of different saints and people of strong faith. We were asked not to take pictures inside the cathedral, so I only have ones that I took outside.



This was taken on the balcony towards the top of the cathedral. The next picture shows a close-up detail of this picture. Each tile was about 1 centimeter square. The ceiling throughout the church was made up of mosaic pictures made of 1 cm square tiles!





This was truly a trip of a lifetime.