Day 29 - Bahrain

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Augusta, Kai, and I started out the day searching for the Museum of Pearl Diving, which based on the tourist map is located very near the Souq. It was a fairly warm day (mid-80s) and very windy. We had Kai in the stroller (which is invaluable... as many a family has learned it isn't mainly used because the chile has trouble walking, it is used to keep the child in one place 😊.

At any rate, we walked too far and hadn't seen it. We went a block over and doubled back... still no sign of the museum. We did pinpoint the block where it should be, but only a government building was there. Finally, we went into bank and asked a man where it was, and he said it was no longer there! He said it had been moved (we think he said that it was integrated witht the Bahrain National Museum, which would explain the large exhibits on pearl diving that we had seen the previous two days), and he showed us where it used to be -- which was now the government building.

Next up we drove out to the Arad Fort, which is probably the most popular of the many old forts in Bahrain. It was built originally by the Portuguese in the 15th century. Around the 1960s, Bahrain restored the fort to its current state.

Augusta, Kai, and I walked around it (inside and out) and also went up some steps to where they used to have cannons at (one is there now). Most of the walls were built with coral stone, which makes it very rough. Kai once fell down stepping over the ruins of a wall (maybe four inches high) and from then on he was very cautious and used his hands to make sure he wouldn't fall again on it.

Kai was also fussy most of the day. With my visit, his schedule and activity level has changed. And, also, he is at an age where he does that (Elle is going through the same thing). He would throw little fits anytime something didn't go his way... for instance there were some children playing soccer and he started walking towards them... but we didn't let him go and he got very upset.

Then we walked along the ocean for a bit and then went to pick up Shawn. After that we went back to the villa. Shawn grilled chicken, Augusta, made fettucine alfredo (with homemade alfredo sauce), and I baked the garlic bread. It was a very good meal.

Shawn also got a call that there were some violent protests about a half mile away. We peaked down the road and saw the police lights but didn't go any further. Protest are regular here and they sometimes turn violent. But about 90% of them are related to domestic issues.

After that we played Boggle for a little over an hour. As usual, Augusta dominated. Shawn won one, we all tied one, and Augusta won the rest of them. We all went to bed after that. However, I was having trouble getting to sleep, and then I heard what sounded like a small explosion or a car wreck. About ten minutes later I heard another one. So, I got up and peeked out the windows but everything seemed normal. I turned on the TV to see if there was anything going on, but all seemed normal. However, I watched a little bit of Crocodile Hunter and was floored but what he was doing...

I ended up watching maybe 45 minutes of it. He was swimming with extremely poisonous snakes and some crocodiles in Belize. He also got his hand all bloodied up by a large lizard that bit him (he stuck his hand underneath a rock). Fascinating. But he does seem to know a LOT about the animals he approaches, how to handle them, their aggressive tendencies, their methods of attack, and what provokes them to attack.

Then it was back to bed...

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Photos

Augusta Peeking Out of the Arad Fort
I think this opening was used for shooting a cannon out of.

Kai Scaling the Coral-wall Ruins
He's not taking any chances.

Augusta and Kai on the Beach
Kai is upset that we didn't allow him to go play with the children playing soccer.

Augusta, Kai, Duckie, and Paddington
Chillin' at the fort.

Sunset
This was taken in front of one of the horse race tracks. No betting allowed.

Comments

[Celeste]

Duckie and Paddington seem to have recovered quite nicely from the trip to Dublin. I don't know that you should let Kai play with them, they aren't a very good influence!!

[Celeste]

Another little note
I found it funny that while I was reading your blog about Kai acting up, Elle is here crying because I put her to bed......

[Rebecca]

mmm....cannons......