You're kidding - Transportation 105???????

I'm walking at Hash last night. (Look up Hash House Harriers on Wikipedia to find out about this organization. Hash bills themselves as a running club with a drinking problem. Great way to network here.) So I am walking with a bunch of folks talking about the local housing crunch and business development and the airport... Usual stuff - when my shoe gets a flat tire. It is a surfing sandal. Pretty tough shoe, but it has died.

This morning I leave work about 09:30 and head off to Primas Department store to find a replacement. Primas is a full service department store, clothes, dry goods, bikes, pots and pans, linens, shoes, back packs, school supplies. Everything. All in a space smaller than a typical Wallgreens back in the States. Obviously not a huge selection and very narrow aisles.

I am looking forward to this. I usually have a terrible time with shoes in the States as I have big feet, US size 13.

But HERE the people are all huge. They have huge hands and feet. I know I will find a great selection.

I pick up a pair. Really cheap looking but it will work. It is a size 11. "Hi, do have this in a US size 13?" I ask. "No, is the immediate answer."

"What do you have in a 13?" I ask. "Nothing. It is finished."

They have not a single shoe or flip-flop larger than 11. After long discussion and many laughs (this is Tonga) we agree that they SHOULD have a good selection of large sizes, but they don't. I should keep checking. No one ever knows what is in the next container.

I go next door. It is a store somehow related to Primas, but they have slightly different inventory. Here sizes are metric or European or something. The largest they have on display is a 45. I can't put it on.

The service person goes upstairs and searches. She returns with a cheap black plastic pair of sandals, size 47. They look like they will last about a week. (I am tough on shoes, walking and biking everywhere. Locals walk very little.)

It is my only option, the shoes I have on are a total wreck and the right one keeps falling off. I take of my old ones and have them toss 'em. I wear the new ones to the register where I simply tell her $26.90 and lift my foot for her inspection.

So please keep your fingers crossed and say a brief lotu (prayer). At least this will give the strange tan lines on my feet a change of pace.