Walked to the bazzar today. Summer people are back from their vacations and the sidewalks and roads are crowed. They still drive too fast and walk too slow. I had the directions to the bazzar, in my apartment, and I was out on the street. Figured I remembered them so took off. Was to walk to the Rezadance Hotel first. Wended my way along the road until I figured I should have been there. So I stopped in a pharmacy to see if they knew were the hotel was. Never heard of it. Shoot. Decided I'd try just a little further and there it was in all its 30 story wonder with these 20 foot letters on top - one block from the pharmacy! Next was to follow the cobble stone road as in wound around down to the river. Which I did but I started out on the wrong side of the road - no room for pedestrians. As no sidewalk was appearing on my side I tried to cross over. That was a challenge I almost lost - I'm getting very fleet-of-foot. Past the first bridal shop I've seen. Every dress was size 0 (as are the maternity dresses near my street) and two of the manniquins had to be 8 feet tall! Love to see that bride! The bride's maid dresses could never be worn again by any stretch of the immagination. One was empire waisted with bright royal purple skirts, Christmas red bodices and a holly green sash tied around and across the chest! The other had the same color scheme.
Crossed the Lion Bridge (these stylistic lions guard the ends hence the name) and continued to the first busy street. I came to this beautiful little park filled with golden flowers and a quaint clock tower. Was I given this as a guide? No. In a very American way I was told to turn left at the McDonald! Yes, they are here. Turned left and came upon the neatest street. They are tearing the entire street up so there was no traffic; no incessant horns and people walking down the middle of what was left of the street. Everything was being done by hand. They were laying the cobble sidewalks; carefully cleaning off each block with a hand pick, laying and the pounding them in place. A man was wetting down the sand ahead of the layers but using a hose half the size of a garden hose. Other men were up on scaffolings, hand-repairing the fescos on the faces of the buildings. They were adding wrought iron balconies and what appeared to be lazer cut ornate wooden balconies with matching overhangs. Another building was coming down as they slowly jack-hammered out each brick. All the buildings were getting fresh coats of pink, blue of orange plaster. Not sure how they plan to lay the center paving.
Continued my journey until I thought again that I was lost. (Always carry a card with Turkish Embassy written in Georgian so if I do get lost and can just catch a cab and go home.) Asked a pair of embassy guards, they're everywhere, if any spoke English. None did so decided to go just a little further and behold there was the soccor stadium where I was to turn. Few more blocks and I found the bazzar. Found the adaptored plugs I had been looking for and the exercise mat I wanted. Also bought soap and toilet bowl cleaner forgetting I had to carry it all home (and that stuff got heavy). Then wandered through the maze of booths. When I finally decided it was time to leave I coudn't find my way out! Every corner I turned held new booths I had never seen. These booths are just tiny areas crammed with stuff; with amazing justiposition. The one I liked the most was the man selling toothpaste and cigerettes. Climbed some old wooden steps and found some light at the end of the tunnel. Somehow I had ended up underground and now was up higher on the hill but with no idea as to where. Found the meat market and NO I did not buy anything there. The fish were laying in boxes on top of the counters, heads and tails happily attached but no ice around. The naked chickens still had their feet which were stuck straight up into the air.
I wandered and climbed until I finally saw the stadium in the distance, so I could then walk home. In all I had walked for 6 hours so I took a nap!
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