Average temperature over 100 a year ago....it was 73 degrees F today! I'm sitting here with the windows open and no need for A/C at all...typical. When I need it, it isn't available; when I don't, it's here!
We were up pretty late last night, but Eleanor didn't have dance class until 10:30 in the morning, so I woke her around 9AM to shower and get ready. When she left, I laid around and eventually went back to sleep. It was a nice lazy morning. I got up around 11:30 or so. Lynda and Eleanor came and got me around 1PM when ballet class ended for the morning to take me to join the others for lunch. It was nice and I spent the afternoon watching their partnering class. They learned variations from Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty and practiced dancing pas de deux with some local boys who also dance--Eleanor says they are all straight. :) They did a lot of turns and even some lifts. It was really fun for them and for those of us watching class as well. I didn't have a camera with me though, so no pictures at this point!
Afterward, Eleanor and Allie wanted to go shopping, so I gave her some dinars and she and Allie went shopping. She came home with a cute top, a dress, a belt and a necklace for approximately $40US. Good shopping.
The adults went to Stevan's nephew's house for some home-made baklava (which was unbelievably good) and some pear schnapps (which was pretty potent--I really could only handle a swallow or two). We had a good time visiting and catching up together. Then we came home and I caught up with the family at home via skype. I love that program. We can not only talk for free via an internet connection, but we can see each other too (via webcam).
For dinner, Eleanor introduced me to "Serbian Chinese" food which she finds far superior to "American Chinese" food. ???? We stopped after dinner for ice cream. I can't believe I let myself get past last night without having some! Tonight's flavors for me were chocolate and cherry. Ran by the local convenience store and picked up some Blue Fanta which we fell in love with last year and returned to the dorm/hotel...just ahead of a sudden sky-opening downpour of rain. Eleanor and Allie read some fanfiction on the internet for awhile and we then gathered in Lynda and Allie's room to play cards. I lost!
I talked with Will again on Skype and am typing at 1:30AM. I think I need to get completely acclimated to this time zone...you think? We had the windows wide open and it felt lovely, but the street that this hostel is on is a very busy one and everyone around us also had their windows open and the noise was bothersome, so we again have on the A/C. Hard to believe, but I find it a little cold.
Random thoughts so far:
1. Stevan's nephew, Mickey, has a car that runs on butane. Isn't that lighter fluid?
2. They still drive in ways that will make your hair stand on end over here. The streets are really narrow and they drive little bitty cars at break-neck speeds. Someone's parked too far into the road...no problem, just drive up on the sidewalk. My Durango would be in some serious trouble over here. I don't think we would get very far at all with its size....plus fuel costs....are you ready....approximately $9 per gallon. And we think prices are bad in the US.
3. Novi Sad is still the city of shoe stores. I might have to go and try some on before I leave on Saturday. I'm really enjoying watching Eleanor get excited about the clothing here. She really isn't a shopper, so seeing her enjoy trying some things on and buy a couple of new things for school is fun.
4. They don't appear to have shower heads here. They have spray nozzles that basically require you to get wet, turn it off, soap up, get wet again. I noticed that at the dorm last year and in our tiny bathroom here. When we were at Mickey and Zlata's house, I used the restroom and noticed that they have the same setup. I'm not sure exactly what's up with that. It is probably more economical and environmentally friendly, but I KNOW that I will really appreciate taking a shower at home when I return.
5. No one has clothes dryers either. They all hang their laundry outside to dry. Contrary to what was advertised, the hostel does not have laundry facilities. I asked one of the young men who works here for some direction though and I now have an address of a place where they will do your laundry for you for a fee. I'm going to go tomorrow and try and find it and get Eleanor's laundry done. If last year was any indication, it will be reasonable in cost, if not in convenience.
6. The picture I'm including is one of the many pictures Eleanor took of local graffiti. Much of the graffiti here is sad phrases spray-painted across walls by young people. She found some much more elaborate and detailed graffiti when they went to the Fortress apparently. I'm also going to include a picture of Allie and Eleanor last night at dinner.
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