We had a fun day today out at the Hilton Borg El Arab Resort right on the Mediterranean Sea. The sea was a beautiful blue. We couldn't swim much in the sea cause it was so rough but we did go in up to our waists and enjoyed the beach a great deal. We also swam in one of the many pools the resort had. They were great. Played a beach game called bache (like darts only with balls tossed into the sand at a target). Of course Mike and I beat Pat and Mike's wife Helen. We were there for about 4 hours and then went to a shopping mall kind of like Lindale in Cedar Rapids -- ate and shopped a little. Pat had an interesting experience in the bathroom -- it was prayer time so the bathroom was packed -- she saw water coming from under a stall, when she went into the next one she noticed the sprayer to use when she finished -- anyway she turned as it turned on and got her pants all wet. She sure got a lot of stares when she went into the mall.
Drive over and back was very hectic constant honking and weaving in and out of traffic. They have white vans that are private taxis that just pick people up on the road -- we were told to avoid them as they are called "White Coffins of Death."
We noticed all the gas stations are full serve as labor is so cheap and people need work. Same way in the stores -- there are so many clerks and security. You cannot take a bag from one store into another. You either have to check it or they place it in clear plastic and seal it. We have more of a regular day of orientation tomorrow. Service at restaurants is a little different. If you have more than one in your party, all will not be served at the same time -- they will bring the food out as it is ready. Also at a fast food place such as MacDonald’s, you will be served -- you don't carry your own tray.
Another difference that we have to adust to is the electrical current. Everything here is 220v and in the US we have 110 so we use a voltage converter that we plug a power strip in to use the computer, curling iron, etc. Otherwise things will fry very quickly. We may have to get a curling iron and hair blower for Pat as it is pretty awkward to use the one power strip attached to te converter. Of course all of the outlets have round two prong entries so you need to use adaptors.
