so I went with my two 50 pound suitcases and my carry on and tote to the airport- the flight was an hour late but finally we were ready to push back - then we sat at the gate pushed back - for another fofrty five miutes. Good news is we arrived only an hour late to Madrid. Bad news is that we had to deplane on a stairway and take a bus to the terminal. Good news is that I was first in line in passport control and first through security into the domestic terminal. Quickly to the club for the time before departrue for Sevilla. Bad news is we took a micro jet to Sevilla so more lugging up and down stairs and hauling bodies up a steep five step ladder of a stair to the micro jet. No luggage allowed on board was checked and retrieved plane side. So I though when I arrived it would go better but no- the Welcome Pick Ups driver was not really into service so I had ro ask him to handle the luggage cart after he arrived about five minutes late! Then the ride into town (it was more thna 100* that day) wa not helped by the fact that he couldn't seem to make the fancy Mercedes van AC work in the back seat! Oh well. Eventually I arrived and basically did nothing but put away the medicine that needed to be refrigerated and collapse as i had not slept at all on the flight over the Atlantic. But we did get some good food - which was a miracle in itself!
The next morning I got up to go to the district police station for my empadron renwal request. So, one of the things about living abroad is dealing with the complexities of government paperwork. I started out this morning shortly after sunrise to go to the local police station to obtain an updated registration of residence - called "empadron" for short. We need a current registration for our upcoming visa renewal application. This took four trips the last time and I was hoping this time it would be less arcane. We will see - but I can say I couldn't do it in one. Last time they took people as walk-ins in the morning and had appointments in the afternoon.
Since it was predicted to be 99* today I went there right after getting up. It's about a fifteen minute walk per Google (20 minutes plus for me, as I am always delayed by stopping for photos). I did not want to be caught in the heat. I arrived and, behold! the system has changed. Now all hours are by appointment only. Oh well I gave myself three days to complete this task. A man at the station helped me get through making an appointment which was fine. However when I attempted to modify the appointment online it cancelled itself.
I had done this attempted modification over cafe con leche in the Mercado, so I walked back to the station and now being more familiar with the machine to book got through in only 5 or 6 minutes thanks to the same man who actually did help me this time when he found out how inept I was! At least this time I figured out how to switch the machine to English. Sadly that didn't really make the choices any easier to understand. He figured if anyone else was going to use this ONLY machine today it would be better to get me through it than make me keep going at my own pace.
So now I had an appointment at 9:00 the next day. God willing (enshallah as the cleaning lady says) it will go smoothly and I will give them the papers and they will say come back next week to pick up the document. Or maybe I'll win the lottery and they will print the paper on the spot.
I think one of the best things about living abroad is you are constantly learning new things. After two full go around on the machine appointments system, maybe the third will be easier. If not, possibly the same guy will be working tomorrow. I am willing to rely "on the kindness of strangers." Meanwhile I had a nice walk and was home before it reached 95 heading to higher temps! And I took photos along the way.
waiting for the appointment on the next day at the coffee bar next door as I was early-
The appointment went well - the lady was nice - this was the mural on the wall at the side of her cubicle- no wonder she was so nice! I came away with the stamped paper I needed and now await comfirmation that it is accepted.
Later in the day I stopped by to see Helena - and somewhat catch up with her. It was another 100* day so the shades are out at Calle Bilbao and the plants are doing well in the shaded area of Mateo Aleman.
I worked at getting settle with unpacking the first two full days and then did some grocery shopping and making of lists.... I was off to Madrid on Day Six on my way to a short trip to Ávila. I had dinne with Megan (Christian had a gig) and then Christian met up with us for a drink post meal. We went to La Lorenza which was good; the steak tartare was the standout item!
my nice hotel room in Madrid for the overnight - the next day I took the train to Ávila.
So big adventure to follow-
