G, I think getting chips & salsa delivered is a kick. Never thought of that.

I think the delivery is available in Ma'adi, Heliopolis, Zamalet, etc.

It's pretty cool. And it's not limited to restaurant food. Grocery stores, Produce stands, pharmacies, do it too.

Most medicines don't require prescriptions & they are subsidized by the government. One day when I was at work I had forgotten to take my meds, so I called a pharmacy to deliver it to me. I got it right away.

What's Baku like? Sounds like you miss Egypt a lot.

Sunshine....like Egypt, the pharmacies here don't require presecriptions. Makes things so easy. They haven't really gotten into the delivery service here. But a few places have started it with some success, so maybe that is a positive trend!

I do miss Egypt, but we like it here. It's just different. Remember, they've only been free of Russian rule since 1991.

Baku is not a tourist destination (shoot - most people don't even know where it is!) and it's really only been in the last 7-8 years that a significant ex-pat population has moved here (especially people with families). So there are limitations on things to do - no golf courses, no English speaking movie theatres (well, 1 does show American movies on Sunday nights), no 5* resorts, the Caspian Sea beach isn't that great, no American-type chain restaurants (except McDs), etc. And it's expensive to fly out of here and there are only limited carriers that come in.

But - with all that.....the people are wonderful, the scenery throughout the country is spectacular, and the history of the various peoples is quite fascinating. There is still a strong tie to Russia, so there are frequent appearances by members of the Bolshoi ballet and the Moscow opera and symphonies. Saw Swan Lake last weekend and Carmen this weekend (and tickets were under $20!)

Most importanly for us, we are able to live in a community where my kids can ride bikes, skateboard, rollerblade, etc. NOT something they could do in Maadi.