Retail Therapy

As many of you know - I used to be a shopper.  I LOVED shopping!  I loved the pursuit, and I loved the conquest.  Living here in Roatan has basically cured me of that addiction.  Firstly, there's the obvious - how much stuff do I need when someone else has no stuff?  But also, there is the practical.  There is absolutely no where to go shopping for the stuff! Larry gets an adrenaline rush from his visits to Serranos and ACE hardware. On occasion he'll try to entice me to join in his pleasure. "Look at all the plumbing fittings!" "Do you think we should get a new flea collar for Hunter?"  Let's just say I'm not suffering that much!  But, one place we find lots of shopping diversion is at the grocery store.

In our shopping city - Coxen Hole - we have three grocery stores. One meets the needs of the local shoppers who want something bigger than the market or the local tiendas.  The other two are much like the grocery stores of North America. Similar, but there are a few entertaining surprises.....  

For example, who wouldn't be mesmerized by rows and rows of beautifully decorated cakes?

Fruits and vegetables, as well as various meats have become more plentiful and meet the high standard of the champion shopper, Larry, as well as the various needs and demands of an Expat and local population. 






Honduran chicken is the best you've ever eaten!  Really!  And when you ask people here what food they like best, most will respond with good reason, "fried chicken."  The huge freezer at Eldon's is filled, and emptied of frozen chicken frequently.

We have never felt the need to experiment with a few of the meats we see in the meat counter, including tongue, pig tails, and.....

yes, those ARE chicken feet....

I know someone must like them.

Something you notice about the grocery store itself, is the cleanliness.  The floors are constantly being dry mopped and broken floor tiles are repaired. There are several cashiers working, so you don't have a long wait, and the bar codes on the groceries are scanned. Cashiers are required to use a thumb print scan as ID.  Wow, eh? There are several young guys eager to pack your grocery bags (plastic bags are not provided), and provide carry out. Cleanliness, no line-ups, high tech stuff, and carry outs?! No wonder we enjoy grocery shopping!

You can shop for a prepared lunch at the luncheon counter, pay for it at the cashier, and then find a table and hopefully chairs to sit to eat your boxed lunch. Several of the people we know do this - we haven't yet. 

On occasion, the aisles can be under-stocked. Since Roatan is an island, everything is imported from the Mainland and frequently from farther away. We can pick up many of the name brand items we enjoy in North America, but those come with a high price tag.  Our usual items are grocery store brand. If the sea is rough for several days, shelves show this.

I am saving the best for last.  I am always amazed with the candy aisle. It goes on and on and includes colourful marshmallow treats, chocolate treats, and huge bags that are bound for piñatas. Piñatas are big here, especially for first birthday parties. Suckers are also popular with kids and adults alike.  As a retired teacher, I find suckers particularly distasteful. However, that's obviously not the case here. 

Huge 5 pound bags of

piñata-bound candy.

The candy aisle stretches on.......

How perfectly named!

While grocery shopping may not normally rank high as an activity for a hot date, it is something we do together. Retail therapy is retail therapy, and sometimes you just need the thrill of the conquest. Coming home with a treat like Snickers ice cream, is sometimes all you need to feel rejuvenated and ready to keep on. As for entertainment? There's the occasional collision of Spanish and North American culture resulting in cart-stopping, head-turning laughter.