The Tour

After minimal sleep last night, Albina and her driver picked me up from the hotel at 10:00 am.  I'd been wide awake since about 5 am.  I went downstairs and exchanged some money, requested a few items from the front desk and checked out the breakfast offerings.  I ended up with a small portion of fried potatoes, porridge and a fresh baked croissant.  All, were excellent.  There were some odd breakfast offerings, lentil soup, a tapas bar and lots and lots of olives, onions, etc.  Once I figure it all out i'll probably try some.

Anyway, Albina picks me up and we head off to the bank.  Why the bank?  I have to pay 14200 som there to pay for my country mandated HIV test.  After that, we head off to the local clinic.  Thankfully, Madalon, the HR director has sent needles, bandaids, gloves, etc that the nurse will use as apparently, here some places still re-use needles and steralize them before use.  Funny that that happens when they're so paranoid about HIV coming into the country by foreigners.  Anyway, the poor nurse....I was dehydrated from the sickness and the plane and she couldn't find an arm vein, so before she actually poked me I told her just to go in through my hand as I've experienced this before.  Albina about passed out.  It wasn't bad, but I'll have a nice bruise in the morning.  Albina will be able to pick up my results Monday and deliver them to the plant. 

From there, we went for a tour of the Embassy sponsored International clinic.  There I met a US expatriate, married to a US diplomat who runs the clinic.  She gave me a tour and was very proud of the work they are able to do there.  Also, I now know where to go if I have any medical issues. 

From there, we stopped at two local markets, lots of familiar products and some not so much.  The produce, meat counters and bakeries all looked very clean and if I were cooking I'd buy from there.  :)  Finally, we stopped at the local bazzar.  It was a huge open air market with local vendors.  I sure stick out like a sore thumb becuase Albina had to tell many vendors that we were not buying that day.  I've never been stared at for so long and by so many people in my life.  It must be the fair skin, blue eyes and large (sic) stature.  I was like a circus freak...they just couldn't keep their eyes off me.  I was a bit uncomfy.  However, the products looked great. 

After that experience, Albina realized that I was extremely tired and wasn't feeling all that great.  She asked if I wanted to go home.  I said yes, however I felt really bad.  However, once in the room, I forewent lunch and hopped right into bed.  I slept from 12:30 - 6:30, woke up for a brief moment and then went back to bed until 9:00! 

At the moment I am waiting for room service to deliver food and drink.  I badly need to eat, breakfast was small and I didn't eat the day before.  I know, I know, I can't do such stuff, but I'm not going to force myself to eat if I'm not hungry or not feeling well.  With that.....the food is here.....