Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Water, streets and squares

Streets and squares


As you walk along the streets, you can see a doorway that seems to be about 1.2m high and less than a metre wide, usually bricked.  If you duck in, the corridor is about 3m long, opening onto a square. Most I have seen are 10-15m square, often with a fountain arrangement in the middle of to one side.  Some seem functioning, but I wonder how the water gets there. Is it natural or piped?




In the streets of Thamel, I have seems water trucks with pipes offspring canvas that wind their way into buildings.  Again, I doubt this is drinking water, because even locals are buying water in the big blue plastic containers.  I feel guilty buying a litre of Everest Spring or Nirvana at 25R a bottle. The label includes a caution: Do not buy if seal is broken or any precipitation. And "Crush bottle after use". I like the "Reverse osmosis system - double sterilised, ozone and ultraviolet" message.

Each square is surrounded by roll-a-door fronts, with homes on the floors above. This area has 3 or 4 floors. Often the ground level is brick, with wood or sheeting for the second or third. Some are more substantial with 4 red brick. The last big earthquake was in 1934 and one is expected every 75 years. So it's close to time.

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