Feeling hot....

It's hot! Non-stop hot... i knew it was going to be hot, and sometimes humid, and this heat is something to experience, especially as the nights don't cool. I leave my air-conditioned apartment, travel in an air-conditioned car and work in an air-conditioned office. Protected from the heat, but it sure hits you when you're walking in between places. 

I tried to get a taxi in the street to work and there were a few around, not as many as Cairo, nevertheless I got one. He sort of understood, or, I think, pretended not to understand. Inglese, he muttered to someone on the phone. I got taken the long way, was asked to pay more, but paid what it should be. Meter he said, I walked away. I'm a foreigner, so I get asked for more. And while I believe in sharing what I have, the money they take is good enough. I'd phoned the office on the way to say I may be a few minutes late and so, during the day, they gave me the number of a taxi company to use. Someone had muttered something the day before about a driver, I should've paid more attention. Small detail, but getting around easily makes a difference.

More inductions, an acknowledgement that the process hadn't been what it should've and then flat hunting. It was good to see more of the area that I'm living in, and another neighbouring area that is popular with expats. Two apartments I just didn't like, and an expensive studio that I could take on a temporary basis - but it had outside space and was light and bright. 

I'll keep looking. I was dropped back to my apartment, saving taxi headaches. :) 

Dinner was at the Holiday Inn - very nice Lebanese food, in generous Arab hospitality portions. Chicken with a delicious salad, and more bread, pickles, olives and almonds than I could eat, and more than I felt comfortable about taking home, but I guess they can't re-use it either. 

The bank rep also dropped by so I could sign lots of pieces of paper to get a bank account this week. He'd lived in Cairo, so it was nice to chat.