My name is Rickie and I would like to share our extraordinary day with you. Once the meeting was over we explored the open Market at Bastille. The market is a combination of what we Americans would call a flea market and a farmers market.
This market spanned 3 blocks and had 4 rows of venders, one row going up each side and two rows going down the center of the plaza. There appeared to be no organizational placements of the venders, they were dispersed trough out the space sporadically. For example there were a couple venders selling clothing and jewelry followed by a produce stand that was followed by a meat vender.
It reminded me of the flea market back home. Only we called it a sale barn, because it started at the barn located near the local meat processing plant. Within the past year they have dwindled to three 3 full time associates and just a handful of volunteers.
The downsizing of the organization has not swayed the loyalty and dedication of the full time staff and its volunteers.
This is significantly less than that of the US, which had an increase of 50, infections for the past several years. Unlike most countries, the infection rate increase is larger within the older generation; ages 50 and up. This is due to a cultural disconnect from the modern times and the older generation that have practiced unprotected sex all their lives. The use of a condom is foreign to them and they are hesitant to change to a more safe sexual experience.
