I don't know. If the people who here the story go away arguing amongst themselves about the veracity of it then it must have been well told. Kind of the same principle with this?
What a strange ordeal. I would not have had the patience you did but I have been to places that just made you scratch your head. I never went to one that had no food at all, though.
Very full day! I was sad to hear about the typewriter, perhaps another one can be found? Thanks for fixing my shovel, by the way! That was a nice surprise.