… to Majuro, in the Marshall Islands …

… where the US Dept of Energy tested atomic bombs in the Bikini Atoll in the 1940s and 1950s. The inhabitants of this tiny island make beautiful woven items to sell to tourists. We walked through part of the downtown capital, which is filled with general stores, not too different from an old-time 5 & dime. They carried everything from mattresses to perfume, fishing lures to ukulele strings. And the world’s largest selection of flip flops ….
 
 
Seriously, this was all in a single store – and there were several more aisles!
  
The island had a tiny museum displaying the uncomfortable looking native dress, as well as a display of photos of the atomic testing era, definitely a low point in US history. The island is also known for its outrigger canoes.
  
  
The Town Hall for the government for the Bikini Atoll is located in Majuro; the car in the lot belonged to the Mayor. The day was incredibly warm and humid, and only one shop we visited had air conditioning. But the people were as warm as the climate, and it was a lovely stop.