Closing Time

One of my pet peeves in hotels in most major metropolitan cities is that they charge you an arm and a leg for the room and then, ON TOP OF THAT, they charge you your other arm and leg for internet access and water. I can stay at a Hampton Inn in Omaha and get a decent room, free internet and bottled water for the same amount as the room taxes alone in NYC. I am not a penny pincher but, $6 for water from the mini-bar, no thank you. So the first thing I typically do once my bags are in my room is head out for a walk to see the sights and I, eventually, arrive back at the hotel with bottled water that is not as expensive as a fine wine. Sorry for the rant but it drives me nuts.

Tonight shortly after 11 pm, my routine led me to a very dark streeet with a food cart at one end and a sushi bar at tho other. They were the only two sources of light on the block other than a few insufficient street lamps overhead. All of the other establishments were closed and their steel shutters rolled shut. I blipped the sushi bar and Abdal and it was the first time I had to use my camera all day. The morning was pissed away on conference calls, the afternoon on a plane and the evening over a lengthy dinner which awaited me when I landed.

The man in the food cart, Abdal, sold me the water I was looking for. He seems quite serious but he was actually quite laid back.

Thank you for your kind words, comments and favorites last night. I really was quite flat yesterday but your words brightened my spirits and I have more spring in my step today as a result. I hope to get some down time this week while on the road and will use it to catch up on journals and to thank you individually. I find viewing your journals to be one of the most relaxing things I do.

Again, I thank you and am always in awe of the individual and cumulative kindness of you all.

Post publish note: I switched images this morning frm the sushi bar to Abdal. Thanks for those that viewed and left comments on the prior one.