We had a marvelous time shopping at Skopje's largest bazaar, the Bit Pazaar. It is located near the river Vardar, which isn't very picturesque, but a river nonetheless. At the bazaar we saw beautiful silver and gold filigree jewelry, high-end-knock-off purses, designer eyewear and perfume, shoemakers, barbers, clothiers, rug shops, and rows and rows of vegetables and fruits for sale. Erik wanted to buy some flip-flops. There were thousands and thousands of shoes to riffle through and try on while standing by the stall. At one point in our visit, there were so many people crammed into the small walkways of the bazaar, that Sheila and Everett couldn't get through together. Sheila handed Everett to Erik over and through people and then was able to get through herself. Lots and lots of humanity and languages.
It was at the Bit Pazaar that we had ice cream for 5 denars (that is 10 cents). We also chose from a selection of protective talismans "evil eye" jewelry. It is said that infants are a special risk for the evil eye because they are so cute. In order to protect them, they are given an evil eye talisman. The particular one that we chose for Everett is a bracelet of beads with the eye painted on each bead twice. We also have an evil eye talisman hanging above his crib at home that Amy sent to us. (Everett loves this one. He thinks he is really cool when he can reach it and hold on really tight to it. Recently he discovered that if he pulled, he could turn the light on and off.)
The Sjolseths in front of a mosque near the bazaar.
The Bear
Of course we accepted the bear. Sheila had to hold back her first-time mom inclinations to shove it in the stroller until it could be washed, and she gave the bear to Everett, at which time she discovered it only had one eye. And, he fell in love with it. So much, in fact, he fell asleep holding it.
Sheila made sure to make her way back to the vendor to show him how Everett fell asleep laying against his gift. He seemed pleased.
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Pedicures
In preparation for our beach going adventures, we all, and I mean all, went and found peace and smooth pedal extremities at Charme, a beauty salon located down the road from the Hughes' home. These pedicures were the most "foot focused" Sheila has ever experienced--most of the time and effort spent on the foot was on smoothing out and helping the skin of the foot rather than spending time putting 3 layers of lacquer on the toenails. Erik found he had smooth skin and freshly shined toes at the end of his experience. BTW, the rest of us took about an hour for our pedicure experience. Erik was there for over two hours. Yes, two hours. They even put the electronic booties on him because his feet needed such an elevated level of tender care.
