Hard to believe, but we've been in Bahrain for over a week now! I am happy to report that we are out of the majestic Majestic and in a villa until we find our permanent home. We did not think we'd get out of The Majestic but Scott ran into a lady and her dog on Base one day & asked her where they were staying. She said they had been in an awful place called, The Majestic, and she was miserable there. She and her husband stumbled upon a compound of villas right by Base which allowed dogs. They had been in their villa for about two weeks and liked it. She said she believed they had an opening.....so Scott jumped into action. Sure enough we moved into the villa Monday afternoon. It's a 4-bedroom 3-bath. At one time it must have been beautiful. Now, it's nice but outdated. The marble floors and wall & ceiling mouldings are still beautiful. We are all so happy to be here. Benny's demeanor changed completely once we moved here. Just look at the before and after pictures. The before picture shows him depressed on a chair at The Majestic and the after shows him smiling by the pool now where we play ball several times
a day.
Of course he has thrown the ball into the pool several times already & almost jumped in once. We often have an audience of Saudi & Kuwaitis who are renting out the other villas. There are 7 villas here. Three of us are Americans and we all have dogs. It has been nice to have other dogs to play with. Bailey is 7-years & a bit grumpy. Maggie is 8-months-old & a wild woman. The two wives and I went out Thursday. One of them was stationed here 11-years ago with her husband so she is pretty familiar with getting around. She and her husband bought a car when they arrived so she's been keeping busy. Driving in Bahrain can be crazy but nowhere near as crazy as Egypt. People actually stop at red lights and stay within their lane. There are round-abouts all over the place so you're always circling. It seems unnecessary to me but I'm sure there's a reason for it. It was nice to get out of the house and to go somewhere other than the Base to shop. We went to an amazing fruit & vegetable market. The produce was incredibly fresh and made me want to cook up some healthy meals. I actually miss being able to cook. Our kitchen here is functional but we don't have all our kitchen supplies. The dishwasher pipe burst & flooded our kitchen the first time we used it! After the fruit & vegetable market we went to the fish market. Smell aside, it was amazing! The seafood was just freshly caught and put out by each vendor. They all fought for our business. I felt bad saying no thanks to so many of them! The vendors all said the same exact thing to us. They asked and answered their own question. They would say, " Hi ma'am how are you I am fine thank you." all in one breath. Their most popular fish is called, hamour. It is in the grouper (sea bass) family. I bought a nice fillet and Scott made it last night for dinner. It was delicious. The heads are sold separately, I'm assuming for people who want to make broth. Who knows! Aside form the hamour, we have been enjoying shawarma sandwiches, falafel and other yummy foods. We are close to an area known as American Alley. It's really just a very long street. You can find most famous American fast food restaurants there along with a mish-mash of Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants. Of course there's a Chili's and Macaroni Grill. Most importantly, there's a Starbucks! Because Benny is still under quarantine, we have not been out that much. Luckily, his quarantine ends in 3-weeks. After the fish market we went to one of the malls. This mall puts our malls to shame. It is state of the art and very accommodating. The women's bathrooms have suites for mothers to go into with their children along with a personal attendant. I was shocked to see so many women in Burkas. Only their eyes were visible. I would say about 80% of the women had some level of head covering on. Of those 80% about 60% were in full burkas. The three of us stood out, but there were several other Americans as well as British women shopping. I was pleased to see so many of our stores in the mall. One of the ladies I was with is originally form London and she said most of the stores were European. This mall had better stores than the mall in Memphis. I can get used to this!!! We can start looking for a place to live beginning Monday. Scott & I both have to go through a housing "brief" before we're allowed to start looking. There are many rules we need to follow and I think it will be helpful. I would prefer to live as close to the Base as possible. I don't think I'll be comfortable driving here. Not so much because of the way people drive but more because it's so confusing. Street names are limited. They primarily go by road numbers and the round-abouts are in the most random areas. Apparently if you get in an accident here, both parties pay the cop on the spot regardless of whose fault it is. My beach cruiser is being shipped here and should arrive in 6-weeks or so. A lot of people get around on their bikes here. I would love to be able to get around by bike. I'm sure it will be an interesting sight to see a pink beach cruiser zooming around on the streets of Bahrain. My basket will come in handy when I ride to the store or out on errands. I am considering applying for a job at the Child Development Center on Base. They are reopening now that families have been allowed back to Bahrain. The pay is minimal from what I hear. We'll see what I decide. It will all depend on where we live & what the hours will be. I will have to be able to get home a few times to let Benny out so he can take care of business. Also, if the pay is so low that after taxes it's nothing, then forget it. I'd rather volunteer there a couple days a week. I'll keep you posted. I definitely miss the USA! There absolutely is no place like it. It's nice to experience other cultures and to travel, but there really is no place like the USA! Until next week, stay well!!!
a day.
Of course he has thrown the ball into the pool several times already & almost jumped in once. We often have an audience of Saudi & Kuwaitis who are renting out the other villas. There are 7 villas here. Three of us are Americans and we all have dogs. It has been nice to have other dogs to play with. Bailey is 7-years & a bit grumpy. Maggie is 8-months-old & a wild woman. The two wives and I went out Thursday. One of them was stationed here 11-years ago with her husband so she is pretty familiar with getting around. She and her husband bought a car when they arrived so she's been keeping busy. Driving in Bahrain can be crazy but nowhere near as crazy as Egypt. People actually stop at red lights and stay within their lane. There are round-abouts all over the place so you're always circling. It seems unnecessary to me but I'm sure there's a reason for it. It was nice to get out of the house and to go somewhere other than the Base to shop. We went to an amazing fruit & vegetable market. The produce was incredibly fresh and made me want to cook up some healthy meals. I actually miss being able to cook. Our kitchen here is functional but we don't have all our kitchen supplies. The dishwasher pipe burst & flooded our kitchen the first time we used it! After the fruit & vegetable market we went to the fish market. Smell aside, it was amazing! The seafood was just freshly caught and put out by each vendor. They all fought for our business. I felt bad saying no thanks to so many of them! The vendors all said the same exact thing to us. They asked and answered their own question. They would say, " Hi ma'am how are you I am fine thank you." all in one breath. Their most popular fish is called, hamour. It is in the grouper (sea bass) family. I bought a nice fillet and Scott made it last night for dinner. It was delicious. The heads are sold separately, I'm assuming for people who want to make broth. Who knows! Aside form the hamour, we have been enjoying shawarma sandwiches, falafel and other yummy foods. We are close to an area known as American Alley. It's really just a very long street. You can find most famous American fast food restaurants there along with a mish-mash of Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern restaurants. Of course there's a Chili's and Macaroni Grill. Most importantly, there's a Starbucks! Because Benny is still under quarantine, we have not been out that much. Luckily, his quarantine ends in 3-weeks. After the fish market we went to one of the malls. This mall puts our malls to shame. It is state of the art and very accommodating. The women's bathrooms have suites for mothers to go into with their children along with a personal attendant. I was shocked to see so many women in Burkas. Only their eyes were visible. I would say about 80% of the women had some level of head covering on. Of those 80% about 60% were in full burkas. The three of us stood out, but there were several other Americans as well as British women shopping. I was pleased to see so many of our stores in the mall. One of the ladies I was with is originally form London and she said most of the stores were European. This mall had better stores than the mall in Memphis. I can get used to this!!! We can start looking for a place to live beginning Monday. Scott & I both have to go through a housing "brief" before we're allowed to start looking. There are many rules we need to follow and I think it will be helpful. I would prefer to live as close to the Base as possible. I don't think I'll be comfortable driving here. Not so much because of the way people drive but more because it's so confusing. Street names are limited. They primarily go by road numbers and the round-abouts are in the most random areas. Apparently if you get in an accident here, both parties pay the cop on the spot regardless of whose fault it is. My beach cruiser is being shipped here and should arrive in 6-weeks or so. A lot of people get around on their bikes here. I would love to be able to get around by bike. I'm sure it will be an interesting sight to see a pink beach cruiser zooming around on the streets of Bahrain. My basket will come in handy when I ride to the store or out on errands. I am considering applying for a job at the Child Development Center on Base. They are reopening now that families have been allowed back to Bahrain. The pay is minimal from what I hear. We'll see what I decide. It will all depend on where we live & what the hours will be. I will have to be able to get home a few times to let Benny out so he can take care of business. Also, if the pay is so low that after taxes it's nothing, then forget it. I'd rather volunteer there a couple days a week. I'll keep you posted. I definitely miss the USA! There absolutely is no place like it. It's nice to experience other cultures and to travel, but there really is no place like the USA! Until next week, stay well!!!
Our Villa
The fruit & vegetable market & the fish heads.
Hi Monique
ReplyDeleteI'm loving your blog, i feel i'm right there with you...! what an adventure...! the Shawerma & falafel really appeal to me though...! i'm not sure what the fish heads would be for, i keep thinking of some of the movies we see sheeps eyes floating in a bowl!! I hope you find a place of your own soon, where all appliances work...! Lots of love
Samia xoxo