Sorry no pictures today...

I did not do so well with photographs today. Rob and I walked the sea wall... it was beautiful and interesting, but the whole area is a high security zone, so there are no photos allowed. We walked down past the old parliment buildings, very colonial looking and surrounded by statues of past presidents, but there were army guys with large machine guns all over the place, so we did not risk sneaking a picture. Oh well. I am sure I will have better opportunities for pictures of the country next week when we leave the city.

The sea wall follows along the shore of the Indian Ocean in this part of the city. It is sort of like the boardwalks we know... lots of people, and vendors selling ice cream, roasted nuts, and some foods that I cannot identify. There were also a few people selling inflatible toys... soccer balls, cats, but most entertaining... snowmen. Yes, as I am walking along sweltering in Sri Lanka, there is a man selling inflatable snowmen. Too funny.

There were lots of families out enjoying the holiday. Oh, and lots of young couples... there are stairs set back from the wall, and lots of couples were sitting on the stairs stealing moments together hidden under umbrellas... like no one would suspect that they were canoodling under there. It was quite charming.

Now after that long walk in the heat I have comeback for a cool shower before dinner. Tomorrow the works starts. I am looking forward to meeting the FCM staff and getting started.

Enjoy that snow storm you are getting back home! ;-)