Already it seems that this city has taken steps to be environmentally responsible.

There are no plastic bags here, at all. If you buy groceries you’re carrying them.

There’s no free water here. Tap water costs 1.50 E (~2.25$) This can be inconvenient, but it functions as a reminder that water is limited.

Lights are all on sensors and timers, so if no one is walking down our hallway the lights are all off.

We have to shove our hotel key card into something before we can turn on lights, so it’s impossible to leave the room and leave them on. (Although all of us have just left something shoved into the card slot so that we can use the lights more readily)

Plastic and glass bottles can be returned to stores for what amounts to about 25 cents each, which is not too shabby.