Ladybrand - Time for tea...

Well I am beginning my second week in Lesotho and my team has volunteered to show me or introduce me to various aspects of life in Lesotho. Marieke Haak came by to pick me up on Wednesday morning and we went to Ladybrand. You might recognize that name as the place where I receive my mail. The entire MAF Lesotho team shares a PO box in Ladybrand and anytime a team member is in town we go by the post office to see if we have mail and bring it back for the rest of the team. So I have now been introduced to the post office and a few nice stores in Ladybrand. Marieke needed to buy some warmer clothes for her children since winter is almost upon us and it is getting rather chilly here in Maseru. The day we went was a rainy gray morning and getting in and out of the car with 2 children (Cor & Janelle) without getting us all wet or muddy was a challenge. Mud was the worse of the two issues. Apparently Ladybrand had a contract with a man to repave all their streets in the downtown area. The man dug up all the old asphalt leaving the red clay dirt exposed but then never laid the new asphalt. So Ladybrand has no paved streets... just dirt roads that become a mirey clay with the rain. After we successfully bought some new clothing we decided it would be nice to have some tea and a bite to eat. Marieke told me she wanted to take me to a coffee shop in Ladybrand and I was more than happy with that suggestion.

Now, when I say coffee shop, perhaps you like me picture a dive like Mel's Diner, or some sort of greasy spoon type place... you my friends need to shift your paradigm. The "coffee shop" we went to is called LivingLife Coffee Shop.... it is GORGEOUS! A veritable secret garden tucked way back from the town only accessible by driving down the water-soaked rutted out roads. After a dreary cold day of shopping it was a haven! We had a lovely meal together and enjoyed some nice girl chat while the children went out into the garden to play. I'll post a few pictures so you can see how lovely our tea was. This place reminded me of the tea house at The Huntington Library in Pasadena... only so much better and cheaper! So to my girlfriends who enjoy having tea - if you come to visit be prepared to thoroughly enjoy what Ladybrand has to offer. Can I just tell you how much I am loving my new home?!