Interesting observations

Just some random "sightings"
Every morning as I head out to work I see pentioners "those collecting retirement" out cleaning the roads.  This means they are out along the four lane highways sweeping the curb-sides with brooms.  Every 20 feet or so they make a small pile which they will come back to and pick up.  They will clean several miles of road using brooms made of reeds tied to the end of the bamboo-like handle.  Some of them use the traditional very short handle so they do all this work stooped over.  They are proported to be happy to have the job as their pension amounts to $60 a month.  There are also those who sweep the sidewalks the same way so the main streets are very clean even thought the trees are constantly dropping their leaves and the peolpe their litter.

Out in the country side men wash their cars constantly.  I watched one man use a pop bottle of water to clean all the little specks off.  And they lovingly polish and polish.

There are dogs here (Caucasian shepards) that have been bred to fight the wolves who are very aggressive here.  These dogs are hugh, tough and love to fight.  They have become a problem in the city, though mainly to the cats.  But I have heard a pack of them going nuts just down the street - so I don't run that way.  Aren't I smart!

As for running, its a matter of dodging holes, ruts, broken cobblestones and people.  Most don't seem to understand why anyone would want to move fast; but they are getting used to seeing me.

I'm living in an area of a lot of embassies.  There are guards all around and I finally got a Turkish guard to return my greeting and a Chek guard to answer a question.  Just hope I don't start some incident.