Could it be? Walmart?!?!

Today Bob needed to go to Santo Domingo to PriceSmart. PriceSmart is sort of like Sam's Club, only smaller and the prices aren't always as good. But it is a place to buy in bulk and to get some things that can't be found elsewhere.
We buy our bottled water there, as we can get 24 -1/2 liter bottles for RD$119. The peso is @ 33.7 pesos to $1. It's the only place we have found Pepper Jack cheese, also!
But the reason for this trip was to buy major items for the medical clinic itself. Someone recently made a large donation for the medical ministry, and told Bob he should decide what was needed. YEAH! So, shelving units have been on the wish list for a l-o-n-g time. He was able to buy 6 large, heavy duty shelving units, and an industrial rug for our back door (where most people and groups enter). We had been using a moving/packing blanket for a rug, so this will be so much nicer! Also he was able to purchase a replacement table for use in the village clinics. It's one of those folding tables with the heavyduty white plastic surface. It folds with a handle for easy carrying. We had one similar that Bob had set up for sorting meds @ SCORE; but, unfortunately, someone sat on it and broke the support.....oh well. We now have a new one.
We had heard rumors that La Sirena is being purchased by Walmart. We went to one in San Francisco de Macoris on the way back from whale watching two weeks ago. At the time we thought it was so nice because it was new. But then we read online the Walmart rumor.
When we were in Costa Rica for language school they had Walmart, but it was called HiperMas and had a 'happy whale' instead of a smiley face. We could tell from signs inside the store it was Walmart owned. While it was not identical to a US Walmart, it was a wonderful store.
So, the other day we saw a sign for a different La Sirena much closer to us. It's on the edge of Santo Domingo just as we enter from the east. Very Clean, very well stocked. very well organized and great prices!
If it's not owned by Walmart in actuality, it sure has the feel of a HiperMas. Bob and I spent almost 2 hours there today just wandering, looking, exploring and YES! buying! I got a plastic hanging planter (with the hanger!) for RD$49 (about $1.50). It's light blue with darker blue flowers. I got a Hanes brand ladies sleeveless t-shirt style top for the same price. Also found an all cotton white, button up the front, sleeveless blouse (sort of a scoop neck) for about $7.00. Unheard of here! it has just the tiniest of ruffle around the neckline and sleeve openings. The really pleasant suprise was that they had fitting rooms! They were the first ones I can recall seeing in any store here!
I found a Pampered Chef style cheese grater for only RD$99~~that's less than $3.00. And I bought the last three pkgs of Crystal Light Iced tea on-the-go that were on the shelf.
Fun day! Well, maybe I didn't enjoy the little jaunt to the used auto parts store. It is in a very congested area, small shop with LOTS of Daihatsu motors just sitting around. But Praise the LORD! Bob was able to get the parts he needed to repair Big Red (Daihatsu) once again. It overheated AGAIN, blew hoses, broke a connecter piece, and required Tim to tow Bob home with Big Blue (Explorer) Saturday afternoon when Bob was on the way back from delivering medicine to a patient at the old folks home in Monte Cristy.
We really need to get it running as the price of gas here went up again Friday night. The government sets the prices every Friday night. ALL stations charge the same price by law! So right now we are at RD$166.70 or $4.95 a gallon! and expected to continue to rise!

Bob dropped me off at our apartment with our *goodies* a few minutes ago. Now he is back at SCORE and meeting with Manny, a young Dominican pastor. Bob has been teaching Manny Greek for a number of weeks. Fortunately, Manny speaks English, but Bob is trying to teach as much as possible in Spanish. Manny is a very eager student; what he doesn't know is that he will also be helping Bob unload the shelving units into the clinic!
Then this evening Bob will, hopefully, make the repairs on Big Red. Bob has to go up to Santiago tomorrow for our mail day. We haven't been in a while, so he's looking forward to the time of fellowship with the other missionaries from other organizations. But I will need a vehicle to get to the clinic, as it's Tuesday and I need to run the pharmacy.

Today was a fun, relaxing day. Of course, after waking up at 3AM Friday night with a migraine that didn't go away until Sunday night while I slept, it wouldn't have taken much to make it enjoyable!
Hope you all are having a delightful day, also! I see where Greenville is under another Winter Storm Watch for ice! Now, I AM JEALOUS! :)