Apa khabar?  (How are you) Do hope you are all well.Thank you to all all the people who comment on my blog. It's lovely to hear from you.

Today we are off in the glorious sunshine to a local market. I am really looking forward to this. I can imagine this will be nothing like the markets I was used to in Africa.

What a mass of colour that hits you and the hustle and bustle. People chattering around, asking you to try their goods, food steaming away, the sights and smell all so tantalising.
Tourist gifts all stacked up, bargains to be had galore. Rolex watches for a fiver. The one I bought lasted a good few years.


Still have one of these jewellery boxes on my dressing table.

                                                               

Babies being fed, whilst Mum calls out her wares.
I have never seen so much on sale and goods I have no idea what they were. Did not like to ask either!!
Puppies for sale, chickens cooped up with ducks.
The fish market had fish so fresh they practically swam on the plastic sheets they were on, crabs and other shell fish, eels , the sizes you need to see, to believe. And the smell, and sloshing around, when you walk passed in the water that is sprinkled onto everything to keep it fresh.

Wide eyed children run around, some hiding under mum's skirt, then peeking out at you. Others just wanting to meet and talk to you.

People of all shapes and sizes, a mixture of cultures and nationalities. You could spend a few hours sitting at one of the little kiosks, sipping at an iced drink whilst people watching.

Pots of  every description, shape and size. So delicately decorated.

Would have loved a couple of these large pots for the garden, but don't think my luggage allowance will go for this!

It's now back to the hotel and a walk around the gardens there. So beautifully kept I know we will enjoy admiring the beauty of it all.

Catch up with me again next week, there is so much to show you.

Picture for the week

'Enchartment'

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Thought this week I would include a picture of my dear friend Jill who comes for lessons on pastels. Jill is very artistic and has a real gift for flowers and leaves. Pastels are really good for this.

Now to the the art side. I have started my African mother and child.

I am feeling my way with the colours for the hair and the face. Managed to find a reference for some colours in an old notebook I kept on colours used in pictures. This can be a good thing to keep and you can always refer back to it when needed. Sometimes the old brain cells forget!

Anyway think we are starting to get the feel of the darker skin.

Let you know more next week.

So far so good! But still needs some blending in.

Hope you will come back next week