Valentine's Day

This morning extra vendors were setting up tents on my road, namely flower sellers. There are usually ladies selling fruits, but then it struck me: Valentine's Day! Red roses, bouquets and wrapped teddy bears can also be seen in front of the cemetery which is right down from us. Flower ladies are always stationed there, but today there was extra activity and lots of red everywhere.

Double parking, honking and motorcycles driving away with huge bouquets met me as I walk to take a closer look. Again, I am shouted at by a lady screaming that I just can't take publicity pictures.  I feel like a thief sneaking up, with camera ready, and snapping quickly. But, really, does she think these pictures will give me any kind of profit? Or what on earth does she think the pictures will be used for?

A friend who has been living here over a year told me that the worst traffic day she has ever survived in Luanda, was last year on Valentine's Day. There have been radio commercials, Valentine's Day specials announced in perfumeries, restaurants and other establishments. This is serious business in Angola!

A sampling

As I snap a picture a young guy holds up his bouquet and asks the ladies: "Is it really pretty, you think?" "Oh, of course!", they answer in unison. He looks unsure, but I don't know if it is because of the amount he is about to shell out or if he wonders about their freshness. I bought a measly bouquet for $15.00, a pathetic marigold bunch when we first moved here, that died the next day, so I understand his misgivings! Not only that, but I ask one of the lady's about a dozen roses with a big red ribbon and wrapped in cellophane: $200.00! When I start to laugh, she say, "OK, just give me $150.00". I can't believe the chaos and mayhem; they are getting plenty of business, though. BUT, who are these people paying this kind of money for flowers that will die tomorrow? Some look like pretty ordinary people, while others leave their  haphazardly parked, huge trucks and fancy cars along the street.

Love traffic