A Week of Various Observations

So, this post is a variety of pictures of typical things I see while I walk to work, or as I do the errands of the day.  Hard to believe that today marks our one month date until we leave the island.  The boys have one more week of school and my last lecture is Monday.

The view from across the street from our house.  This lot used to be covered with tall brushy vegetation until the owner got really busy and took everything away.  It was full of metal, trash and other things people had been dumping for years.  I am not sure what the plan is for the lot, but it currently is not an attractive site.

Thursday was trash day.  You dump your trash in the top of each bin, and then the trash guys open up this side door, which is built into the wall of each house, and remove the trash.  An example of an empty trash bin is shown above.  I learned the hard way that the door of our trash bin does not shut well.  I learned this because it swung open one night and the dogs got into it, strewing trash all over the street.  What a mess! 

Sodnac (the area of Quatre Bornes where we live) is, as I've mentioned before, upscale.  One of the downsides of this is that folks tend to move around a lot, and many of the homeowners move overseas for some period of time, simply leaving the house empty.  This is such an example, and the owners live in England, and some extended family member is supposed to be watching the house.  Many Mauritians do not like to rent these house (interestingly, they especially do not like to rent to other Mauritians) so they sit.  

Typical wall architecture in our neighborhood.   Hindus live here, as you can see the roof of their private shrine peeking up over the wall.  In the morning you can often smell the incense as you walk by - it is a really great smell. 

Front street view of our local market.

Last night Will was invited to the birthday party of a child in his class.  Ashwin turned 10, and they rented out a ballroom at the hotel where we first stayed - the Gold Crest.  Over 100 people were invited, and when I walked Will down to the party it was obviously a very fancy event.  The women were in cocktail (the Indian equivilent) gowns and formal table settings were used.  The party went until 9:30 pm.  When I walked back down to pick up Will I snapped this picture of one of the local food vendors who set up and sell brianis and douhli and other Indian food at night.

Waiting on the bus.  In case you can't tell I wait on the bus a LOT.

Another Hindu house - see the red flags?