Life in the Neighborhood (David)

Sunday morning and regular life is taking shape, a bit.

We went swimming at the school pool yesterday afternoon.  It was a wonderful way to cool off in the late afternoon and talk with other teachers/expats associated with the school.  Anna and Elliot are being recruited for the swim team.  They are taking a wait and see stance at this point.

Earlier in the day, Elliot and I made a quick run down to Road 9 to get some nails and such.  Road 9 is a street with lots of shops and restaurants.  It is close and manageable.  Supposedly, one of the best hamburger places in Egypt, if not world is located there - so says Time magazine.  Lucielles is the name.  There is also a cupcake place called Nola which serves incredible cupcakes!  A great bakery "The Bakery Shop" or TBS.  Several coffee places too.  Elliot is starting to explore the bazaars for trinkets.

Our trip to the hardware store was very successful.  Several large concrete nails for putting up the dart board and a some screws and pipe for creating a towel rack.  Photos to follow.

Dinner last night at a local Asian restaurant, Asian Corner.  Good food, around $30 for the four of us.  There are also some other relaxing and enjoyable places around the same area - five minute walk.  We will explore each as the weeks go by.  Nice atmospheres in all of them.

This morning, Elliot went off to a day camp for the week.  It is sponsored by a local church and has two hours of singing and dancing and then they are off for activities each day.  Something about a Mud Pit, Indoor Playground/Climbing, Water Balloon Fight, and other things.  I walked him over, he is in the Orange group.  We pick him up at 4:30 and promised an Oreo Shake from Beanos - a really nice looking place nearby.  We will report later.

Amy and Anna are off to the "big" market, Metro Market.  Very clean with lots of products with prices on them.  They are going to do a big shop and have it delivered.  Later Anna and I are heading out to explore some furniture places.  Amy has a meeting at school.  Maybe I'll get to school to try out the gym if it is open.  Perhaps a swim before picking up Elliot at 4:30.

Work starts tomorrow for Amy and me.  Elliot has camp and Anna is getting together with different friends she has made.

Life in the neighborhood is good.  Maadi is incredibly comfortable.  Yes, it is hot, but so is Columbia.  We are accustomed to it.  The air conditioning is great, units in every room in the house and they cool down the rooms very quickly.