Baglidir! - It is closed!

One morning earlier this week I was briskly walking to my flat from the training school where I had just finished a lesson. As I walked I briefly noticed the traffic was worse than normal, but I was preoccupied thinking of what I needed to accomplish before my next lesson. Before I realized it I had reached a portion of the sidewalk that was blocked off. Actually, the police had barricaded the road and the sidewalk and NO ONE was getting through ... Baglidir!

Oh well, I knew of another way around, so I changed my course (along with many others).
Upon reaching another entrance to the center of the city, I was met by another blockade ... Baglidir!

This was getting old, but without breaking stride, I decided to try one more way ... Baglidir!
I turned away defeated and I didn't know why! Why couldn't I get home!?

Fortunately I met a friend that speaks just enough English to help me out. The police officer she questioned said the President was here for the opening of a new park, so they blocked off the ENTIRE city center with in a mile or so of this park! That just so happen to include my flat! Talk about a forced change of plans ... as happens often here.

So I poped into a restaurant with some other foreigners and later winged my lessons without materials. No body had been warned they weren't going to be allowed back to their home, or to pay their bills, or to catch their usual bus. Life in the city was forced to a halt for 6 hours! Incredible! Next time I won't be so suprised ... maybe.