whether you turn to page 64,you’ll find
breakdowns of the currency exchanges.
Most coinage is accepted here, although
charges may apply. Converting a kiss
to a hand beneath a waistband[br]is not as easy as it once was.[br]Some blame the city. Others, and
the inhabitants. It is difficult to say
how much a black market[br]undermines the economy,or is
the economy. Long time residents
complain the city’s infrastructure[br]has grown unwieldy. Where are the fruits
of our labor, they inquire, and it is true;
no children play in these streets.
But every city has its limits.
Many visitors admire the arabesque
architecture (detailed on page 78)
but fewer realize the city’s genuine triumph:
the plumbing dates back
to the second century and effortlessly
carries the waste away.
Source: newrepublic.com