Bidet, mate!

Well, we have changed rooms to the larger 'suite'. It's much nicer than our old room, but the extra money for the room over a 2 week period would have been too much. It has a sitting room area with couch and table (plus crib). This room is about the size of our entire room before (including the bathroom). We have a separate bedroom and larger bathroom. It even has a bidet. The mattress is much nicer, the bedding is nicer, the pillows are nicer, the bath fixtures are nicer, just overall a better room. This will make it much easier for the net few days before leaving for Moscow.

We got the last of the medicine and pacifiers for the orphanage after lunch. We are now waiting for a phone call from our coordinator to let use know what the plan is for tonight. She should have heard something but it is no guaranteed. Depending on what she tells us we may stay in the room or we may go out some more. 

Another example of the weather craziness. We left the hotel and stopped to exchange some money before lunch It was slightly overcast, a little cool and some wind. We go in to eat and when we sit down we notice that outside it looks like a hurricane is rolling through. Heavy rain and heavy wind. We decide to wait it out. By the time we are done with lunch, the rain and wind are gone and the sun is out. The weather not only can change dramatically day to day but even in short periods of time.

Other random thoughts and observations ...

There are many small drink/ice cream buildings on the streets. Some are multi-purpose and sell drinks (including beer), ice cream bars, candy, papers, magazines, etc. I guess a pimped out newsstand.

You need to be 18 to drink beer here and 21 for liquor. You can also drink in public (at least beer). We see people walking around with their beers and even hanging out in the plaza drinking. That is why these street vendors sell beer, as you can just drink it then. the odd thing is that we haven't had any problems with people drinking in public and having too much. 

Similar to crazy (or no) driving laws parking is crazy. There aren't really parking lots in this part of the city as it is older. The parking areas don't have lines either. Drivers decide if they want to park parallel to the curb or facing it or at some other angle. Some drivers even get up on the sidewalk to create a parking spot. We have seen areas where there are multiple cars completely on the sidewalk for parking.

The beer is sold in various sizes and shapes of bottles. Since they use milliliters and not ounces they have 500ml bottles (about 16 ounces) and larger sizes including a 2 liter bottle of beer like our soda bottles.

At the markets you pay a small fee for the plastic bags. We even paid something for the plastic to-go container for our souffle cheesecake (we got more, yum!). 

There is no 'right turn on red' law, the cars have to wait. This makes it easier for pedestrian traffic to cross the streets. The drivers still make it look like they are going to run you over, so you always have to watch for cars in just about every direction.

There are surely more but that is enough for now. It's funny how we have felt safe walking around this city in Siberia but don't feel quite the same walking in most of Richmond. Maybe we just don't know all of the 'good' areas of Richmond, but for those that live near there you understand. 

A little more waiting and we will possibly find out about tonight. For sure we will have him in several hours if not sooner. That will be so great (and we'll post pictures finally)!