Every bear that ever there was

Today Tooli hired her "driver". 

Yeah,  I just stand and shake my head.  Uber not good enough.   This is a man who occassionally the staff use when there are a group of teachers heading somewhere....

Where we were headed was farther than Tooli normally goes.  And she was more concerned that Although we might get there, we wouldn't get back.

It was a lovely drive, (and car), and farther and in a different distance than we ever had before. 

it was a trip to the Panda  house.  There is a zoo next door but Tooli can't bear going to it.   The style of the Panda house is luxurious and heavenly compared to the concrete floors and no play things. 

Two Pandas, living in separate enclosures  with separate sleeping quarters  We watched the keeper tidy up and hide food all over their enclosures. 

Both of them were playful and curious  the little lady playing up to the visitors and twirling round where the visitors were standing. 

It was very quiet - no more than 20 people present - probably due to it's distance from the city. ,

We went for a coffee and were highly entertained that they made Tooli a crepe, and then  Si, and while they were doing that they cooked one little cup cake for me.   

I think they either used an air fryer, or a convection Microwave, because it continued to cook while it was in my hand.      They have quite some work to reach the standards of other countries customer service, but everything is done with a smile and a graciousness lacking elsewhere. 

We left after an hour an and half, and our driver was waiting for us outside  - he took us to a new and exciting Shopping mall where I felt underdressed and seriously considered buying a hijab. 

Dinner tonight was at "Claw BBQ"  - A  sports bar says Tooli. 

And then we sat mouths open as we realised we were outside a massive hotel in Down Town Old Town.  - DoubleTree Hilton....  Major security on the door,  a requirement for our passports. 

We walked in and we really could have been in America.  Proper shiny wooden / brass big tables great food and beer bar.  AND A POOL Table. 

This was the main reason for dinner here....    So that they could continue their pool championships. 

Si beat Tooli when they were last in town.   And maybe it was the heat outside, maybe it was the strong beer, But Tooli wacked him 3-1.   No charge for the pool table, no queuing. - Si went away and found the  young arab lads who were looking to play and told them he had been beaten, and invited them to take over.  

As soon as they were finished they replicated the gesture and invited Si and Tooli back to play. 

But we were  drunk.   

And we needed to go home.