Sundays and Cafés

     Ahh... it's Sunday again.  Just breathe in that sweetness lingering on the air as summer draws to a close and has its last bow.  The weather here is certainly a'changin';  only yesterday, we had behemoth cloud monsters swirling overheard all day without a single drop and then, finally, around 8:30 that night, torrential downpour!  Poor Abiqui--she always get a bit antsy during storms, so I brought her inside until the worst was past.  I mean really, how could I deny this love

It's actually quite sad in a way: Lander is so enamored of her and she couldn't be more indifferent!  Such is the life of unrequited loves, hey?  "Don't you know?" he says...

     In light of these strange weatherings, I'm hedging my bets for more wet weather by making some Simple Pumpkin Soup.  You know, as my cozy comfort the next time it decides to unleash the latest deluge.

A raspberry tart my friend Bella Masse's dad made
for her high school graduation party-- talk about talent!

     Living here has shown me so much about the diversity of geographic food cultures, as I term them.  Here, there are so many little pockets of culture (particularly, food culture) for me to explore.  Kwazulu-Natal as a province is actually quite famous for their "Natal curries" which, if you were wondering, earn that title: so spicy!  Even our nights at home--which are most of the nights, haha-- have their fair share of zest, especially since Carina discovered the world's greatest Indian food website.  We tried the first dal recipe on the list and it was literally addictive.  Like, I unintentionally overate it was so good!  I guess I've just been spoiled my whole life, by a complete lack of hegemony in my food exposure.  Thanks mum and dad ;]

     ... And speaking of tarts (wait, was I?  Meh.  Well, no matter!) I simply must tell you all about my experience at one of the local cafés!  It was a Tuesday morning and Tracey, one of my carpool drivers, had to finish up some work at the Kloof branch of the bank she works at before we drove into Durban.  She recommended that I check out the little place out front 

Sam Brown's Homegrown Café

     First off, the place is adorable and homey feeling without being too cute or kitsch: a nice combo!  Since the sky was still toying with the idea of drizzling, I chose a little side table inside, but with a decent view outside.  Half the place opens to the outside (mix of garden and parking lot) and the other half ends in an archway that connects to the rest of the shopping area/mall.  Their "L" shaped display counters look out over all the tables.  I browsed for a bit before settling down for some hardcore literature annotation-- think The Odyssey or Virgil and the like.  The beverage menu hangs up above one side of the L-counter and I had been perusing its contents for about a minute when a handsome man of, oh, I'd guess thirty-something, came and said, "Have you been helped?  Can I help you?"  I gawked at him, uncomprehendingly and said slowly, "I'm still thinking, I haven't ordered yet."  Swiftly cottoning on to me confusion he clarified: "I'm the owner by the way... not just some random guy [nervous laughter]."  And he promptly trotted off to do some other super-important bossy task.

     I finally decided that hot chocolate was the way to go: simply, affordable, and CHOCOLATE.  Which immediately makes me think of Daphne Reynold from "What A Girl Wants" when asked if she likes Cocoa Puffs (cereal) replying, "Dude, it's chocolate.  Need I say more?"  I placed my order at the pastry counter, eyeing the cinnamon twist in the pastry window the whole time but resisting.  It would've gone better with tea anyway.

     Afterwards, I headed back to the little side table I had selected on the way in and made myself comfortable.  Not too comfortable, but you know I got my reader for the class out and the necessary accoutrements to go with it: highlighter, pen, pencil, notebook, the works.  Seated beside me were two gentlemen, sitting across from one another, chatting amiably.  I'd been reading for maybe five minutes without looking up when one of them said, "Gee, I wish all kids could read like that!  What is it?  The constitution?"  And of course, we then got into a conversation about the text (The Illiad)  and what  I'm doing in South Africa, blah blah blah.  The first gentleman was Craig, the second, his colleague, Robert and the two cut dapper figures in the early morning sunshine.  Both had travelled to the States, Florida specifically, and were eager to know what I though of South Africa.  I told them it was beautiful and that the people had been wonderfully kind and helpful.  This gave them the chance to go into a round of head nodding and "mhmm"ing et cetera, much to my amusement.  Then they told me what they thought about America: not all parts of the country are the same, but the Americans that travel are the best, so they say.  Apparently, I'd garnered some points!  Woot!  Well, as time would have, they "must be off" but hoped to run into me again soon and they skipped out of the shop, side by side.

      Then, it was as if wee littl' angels began to sing, as my hot chocolate arrived.  It was very hot, so I had to squirm and keep trying to read while anticipating its awesomeness and imagining how delicious it would be.  I didn't over estimate.  It was absolute perfection.

     My splendid sipping gave me the opportunity for repose and anther chance to gaze around.  A lady had just finished her morning workout at "Virgin Active," the gym across the way and came in for a cup of coffee.  She parked herself at a table across from mine, where I could clearly read her graphic tee:  a stormtrooper in place of the Starbucks mermaid in the logo with the tagline, "may the froth be with you."

     In the midst of my silent giggle fit, the owner, presumably Sam Brown?, came back over and asked, "How'd your coffee work out?"

                    "Actually, it's hot chocolate, and it's delicious, thank you!"

                    "That's fantastic!" he said, with a genuine grin stretched out beneath his twinkling blue eyes.  "So glad you're enjoying your time here-- feel free to stop by any time."  Aaaaand he dashed off again, most likely to continue his important thingamajigs.

I'm already planning my next trip

     Today Maggie and I did some paintings together; whenever I lift the brush I just feel that rush of color into my veins, all blurring together...  She always has such fun when we paint.  It's a special time for her, since it's just the two of us-- we definitely are not  allowed to paint when Natalie is around; talk about trouble with a capital "T"!  Though the sky was clear all morning, starting at about for o'clock, it began raining off and on.  Then, the most bizarre thing was that it started to thunder while it was still sunny!  Very strange, indeed...  Now, we're experience another bout of torrential downpour, only this time there's lightning and thunder and a puppy on my lap.  I think he'll stay in my room tonight.  I hope he doesn't howl at the moon.  Plus, with all the rain, I think we'd be better off taking a rain check-- not the most marvelous night for a moondance.