A trip to the mall

Today I found the coffee shop that I will use for my weekend bakery and coffee treat. I really enjoyed sitting at the window counter watching people make their way through the drizzling rain. To my side I heard an eating companion crunch into the delicious crispy pastry. The coffee aroma wafted up and dark strong liquid heated me up from my short chilly walk. I felt like I had settled into Lithuania a little more

Then it was off to the mega-mall a couple of bus stops away, strangely called the Acropolis with a 'c' rather than the Lithuanian 'k'. Not being a real shopper, I only walked around about half of the mall. Except for the store names, I felt like I was a Westtowne. There were electronic stores, a games shop, a yarn and fabric store( I will be going back there), clothing stores and shoe shops. The food court has the feel of a Bavarian village located around an indoor ice rink.

I also saw this interesting rocking horse chair.

So after my short excursion, I went to the Maxima, the local rendition of Super Target or Walmart. I bought some hamburger at the meat counter with the butchers working behind the glass partition, a large cooking pot (which I unwisely used in the oven when I got home and melted the handle on the lid) a couple of rugs to protect my hardwood floors from the mud and sand from my boots, an exercise mat so I have not excuse for not working out at home and some groceries all for about $50.00. Not bad.

I did run into one snag. This was a rather large store and I couldn't find the eggs. The Lithuanians do not put them in the cold section near the dairy. I asked one clerk who spoke no English. So, I had to draw what I wanted. (Notice the small chicken and the egg, whole, broken and fried.) She understood and pointed to the far wall.

After buying all that food, I decided that I wanted to eat a hot meal sooner rather than later. Then I realized that the only McDonald's in Klaipeda was just down the block. I decided to try it. I got a quarter -pounder with cheese, no onions, fries and a drink for about$5.00, so it was about the same as the States. However, I paid for the drink separately (about .75 ) and I also paid for the medium sized catsup packet for the fries (.50). The building was remarkably similar to any other McDs I had ever been in. It even had a small room for birthday parties (one was happening as I ate)

With some warm food in me, I made my way home on the bus to my cozy apartment.