Abby, Zoë and Enzo

Today Laura's ankles were really swollen and didn't want to be on her feet much, so I took the girls out, on two separate occasions while Laura rested with her feet up at home.  The girls like shopping with me, because I spoil them rotten. 

We walked the 6 blocks down to the local supermarket just after lunch time.  Their sheets were not dry yet from the early morning wash, and I wanted to tire them out some in the afternoon heat.  We only had two reasons for going to the store today, 1. we needed some small bills and change to pay for the water delivery, and 2. we wanted to buy some chocolate after figuring out it was significantly cheaper than at home.  We picked up a basket and got a few items.  I noticed a Bolo de Banana Americano (Banana Bread) for R$3.70 = $2.10, a cinnamon twists type of thing for R$2.23 = US$1.30 at the bakery section.  We picked up another mango, some tomatoes (R$0.79 = US$0.45 per kg) for more fresh salsa which was a huge success, and 2 chocolate bars (R$2.99 = US$1.71), some coconut flavored cookies, they are so good, cost only R$2.39 = US$1.36 and a double pack of strawberry syrup covered flan by Nestlé for the girls to share (R$2.19 = US$1.25).  The girls enjoyed the flan and cookies for snack, I mean, who doesn't like flan right?  I spent a total of R$17.96 = US$10.26, but unfortunately this was with cash I took out at a lower rate, so those prices would be somewhat higher, maybe 10% more.  I am going to try to spend our stockpiled local currency as we usually only use the Visa card, as the rate is variable and more favorable.  We only need the cash for a few items, buying ice-cream, the water delivery (R$3.50 = US$2.00 for 20 liters), the taxis/buses, and for paying the rent.  The last time I got out some extra cash when collecting rent money to have on hand for these occasions, but keeping cash in the house costs us money when the dollar is gaining value, which it has lately, up from R$1.52 upon arrival to R$1.81 as of today.

The local bakery is only 2 blocks away and the girls were behaving after snack, so I took them to get some rolls.  We have been enjoying daily bread, it doesn't last long, but is fresher and tastier than the mass produced stuff.  We can buy 8 large rolls for R$2.19 = US$1.25 or about US$0.15 per roll.  The local baker recognized me, well probably the girls.  We try to frequent the place and give them our business, he gives us samples and all that.  I think the proprietor was there as well, came around and gave me a pat on the back, for taking the girls out without Laura and all.  They are great friendly people there, but the girls are still too shy to open up and say hello.  We bought some small filled bread treats, some with meat/cheese, the other with tomato sauce, cilantro and onion, and the girls picked out some small candies at the register R$0.05 = US$0.02 each.  They threw one in for free, to round down to an even bill.  All told, we spent R$5.00 = US$2.86.  The girls love getting out and exploring.  Laura loves it when I return home from a hunt, bringing treats for her belly.