Buying Local, Czech style

We're starting to get used to life without a car, but one of the main differences we notice is how often we have to shop! Normally, we make out a menu for the week, go the grocery store on the weekend, shop for an hour, load it in the car, and we don't return until the next weekend. When you are limited by the amount that you can carry, it really makes a difference. I feel slightly embarrassed that I find myself running to the corner grocery practically every day. This coupled with the fact that our kids seem suddenly to have great appetites, something we attribute to them having to walk everywhere. So this Monday morning, I went shopping along with Max because basically I needed help carrying things. Our first stop was Billa grocery store. It was really busy with lots of older people and mothers with small children. This is about six blocks away, about a 10 minute walk. There is also a street car, but it was a pretty day so we walked. This store is really a lot like a smaller grocery store in the US and feels very familiar to me. Next we walked to the green grocer down the block. An interesting thing about Prague is that it has a substantial Vietnamese population. This is a remnant from the communist era. These immigrants have an almost complete corner on the fruit and vegetable market. Practically every block has a small store that sells beautiful produce at great prices. I like the lady who runs this one because she is very friendly and understanding of my halting Czech. Our next stop was the bakery for rolls and bread. We finished at the corner grocery a block from home. This type of store doesn't seem to have a real equivalent in the US. They are kind of like a mini mart, but their prices are very reasonable. They have all the basics you might need to pick up on the way home from work, but not too much selection. They also have a deli counter. Here we bought milk and eggs, so we wouldn't have to carry them too far. Wow, I think we are supplied for a couple of days now. There is also a huge Tesco, a European competitor to Walmart, about a 20 minute bus ride away. They seem to have everything - even a Mexican food section and maple syrup! It's good to know it's there should we develop a craving.