It is all "cimento"

Building a house here in Syria is very different from the Belgian way of constructing somewhere to live.

In Belgium, we do it the modern way. Meaning that we do not have time ourselves to run the project, so we spend a lot of money for others to do it for us.

Fortunately, I have a lot of time here. So, after having carefully thought about the design of the apartments taking into account some constraints like wind, sunrise, sunset, etc..., and a rough planning, we started contacting people ourselves to have each done their own specialty.

Yesterday, 2 men started "cementing" the walls on the inside. And soon, the guy doing the heating and the water will start whilst someone else will start working on the outside doors and windows. And then there is the guy doing the electricity. He can work at the same time.

Up until now, they were all good workers. Actually, as long as they are foreseen of tea - with lots of sugar - and some food from time to time, they are very happy workers.

In between, I have been working myself to have the garbage and the "cement" remains cleaned up from the 1st stage of the building, i.e. "cement" brick walls and "cement" roof.

Yes, everything is in cement here. It gets in your cloths, hair, everywhere. It's worse than sand. But, I'm not complaining. I guess I will move in in about 2 weeks.

In the meantime, nature is still fascinating me. Last week we found 3 turtles on the road. Not together... As they were endangering their lives by trying to cross a very busy road, we've put them in the car and they are now safe in a big garden, living together with 4 other turtles.

And, the day before yesterday, a swarm of bees arrived next to the apartment where they formed a nest in the bushes for 2 days and then they went.

Yesterday, a big black snake was spotted in a garden in the village. It was killed with a stone. I did not see it myself. Hope never to spot one myself.