Stuck in Time - Bowling in Asmara
As we enter the doors under the bright orange "Bowling Alley" sign most of the onlookers in the bar subtley point or shift their eyes toward the door on the left. They know why we have come and have probably seen countless before us.
We open the doors and step back in time...
The floors are wooden and shiny and the walls and windows are painted with geometric designs in retro pink, orange, red, and teal blue. Where there isn't wood, the black and white checkered tiles fill the space. Even the staircase above the tiny office has a wrought iron bowling pin designs in it.
When we inquire about the price of a game there are two prices to pay. One for the 10 frames of bowling and the score card...the other for the two boys that set the pins up for you after each roll and launch the bowling ball back to you down the wobbly track.
We set ourselves up in lanes 5 and 6 and the boys start to arrange the pins. There are rows of heavy black balls to choose from with the occasional swirly green or pink one. Their cracked exterior reminds me of the bumpy balls Fred Flintstone used to use.
There are no formalities here like fancy shoes or electronic scoreboards. It's sandles, hiking boots, and a pencil and paper. Do I still remember how to score from those days of the Saturday morning league?
The Italians left pasta, pizza, and cappuccinos for the Eritreans to enjoy...the Americans left Coca Cola and the bowling alley!
Final score Lane 5 - 37...Lane 6 - 152. I don't think I need to tell you which lane ol' twinkletoes was in!
We open the doors and step back in time...
The floors are wooden and shiny and the walls and windows are painted with geometric designs in retro pink, orange, red, and teal blue. Where there isn't wood, the black and white checkered tiles fill the space. Even the staircase above the tiny office has a wrought iron bowling pin designs in it.
When we inquire about the price of a game there are two prices to pay. One for the 10 frames of bowling and the score card...the other for the two boys that set the pins up for you after each roll and launch the bowling ball back to you down the wobbly track.
We set ourselves up in lanes 5 and 6 and the boys start to arrange the pins. There are rows of heavy black balls to choose from with the occasional swirly green or pink one. Their cracked exterior reminds me of the bumpy balls Fred Flintstone used to use.
There are no formalities here like fancy shoes or electronic scoreboards. It's sandles, hiking boots, and a pencil and paper. Do I still remember how to score from those days of the Saturday morning league?
The Italians left pasta, pizza, and cappuccinos for the Eritreans to enjoy...the Americans left Coca Cola and the bowling alley!
Final score Lane 5 - 37...Lane 6 - 152. I don't think I need to tell you which lane ol' twinkletoes was in!
posted by Portfolio at 12:39 AM
1 Comments:
Let me guess. Marc was in Lane 5 and Heidi was in Lane 6. Am I right?
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