Before supper tonight, Pat and I went for a little walk in the neighborhood. We stopped at a little store front shop and bought an 8 ounce bottle of orange soda. The cost was 75 piastres (approximately 12 cents). We also received a bill for bottle water that we had purchased last month – the cost was again 75 piastres each for a ½ liter bottle. Kind of makes one wonder about the high cost of soda and bottled water back in the states!
We sat out on our balcony after supper tonight and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the neighborhood. There is a constant buzz of activity (horns honking children playing, vendors whistling). Around 8:45 the call to prayer began and echoes throughout the area. We have several mosques in our neighborhood and it can get very loud – but there is a certain rhythm to the sound that is soothing. Over on a neighboring rooftop is a large pigeon container. These are being raised as homing pigeons as well as for eating. The owner will let them out and they fly all over the area before coming back to roost.
Monday night the ladies are headed to a jewelry store down a bit from the school. They are going to ride the tram to and from the store. It will cost 25 piastres (4 cents) one way. There are usually 3 cars, one on each end for men and women and one in the middle strictly for women (no men allowed). It will be interesting to see what Pat experiences on the tram.
