It's hot...

3 weeks ago, we were having quite cool weather in Malishevë with highs in the mid 60's and lows into the 50's at night. Then...summer arrived! Now we are having mid to upper 90's during the day...cooling to mid to upper 60's at night, with 30-50% humidity. This morning it was 88 degrees in my apartment at 7:30 in the morning. I needed a creative way to keep my apartment cooler.

Power has been pretty reliable and I have 2 oscillating room fans that move the air around and it helps some. My friend, Lycia, suggested covering my windows with the shiny silver stuff you put in the windshield of your car to keep it cooler. I have not ever seen anything like that in Kosova. I went to the store this morning where car tires, motor oil, and etc are sold. The owner looked in a back room and found 3 shiny sun shades...they cost me $10. 3 shades cover 4 windows, with some creative use of tape and shoestrings.

From the outside of my apartment I am sure that the locals are wondering what I am doing now...? You know those TV shows with really weird people that cover their windows with aluminum foil to keep the aliens and the government from doing "mind probes"...? Well, now at least in 2 rooms I am safe from aliens, mind probes, and hopefully some of the heat. (sorry there are no photos...that would be too incriminating ;-))

Life here is always an adventure...

Driving in Kosova...

Now that I have a vehicle I am in the "driving school" of Kosova. I was told that learning to drive here is about understanding the rhythm. Part of the rhythm is in dealing with all the various vehicles on the road, at the same time! Semi tractor, horse drawn cart loaded with hay, bicycle...and the rest of the cars trying to pass. For the most part, drivers are courteous and let you in when a car approaches going the other direction. Speed limits are slow compared to the US..this road was 60kph, which is about 35mph. The fastest speed limit is 80kph, about 50mph. Of course, there are those who drive much faster than the speed limits, and as in the US, there are police along the side of the road with speed guns and tickets to slow them down.