First Impressions

It was pouring rain. The locals were happy at least as this was the long awaited cool-down.  The apartment is a charming mid-century apartment. Click on link.   Charming Apartment. There is an old-style elevator and gigantic keys to all the doors (which makes it difficult when you are going for a run).  There is a piano teacher in the building who teaches in the afternoon. Makes me feel like I'm in a short story.

There was no internet. T-mobile's much promised "no roaming charges" 3G was down. Because it was raining. Wi-FI was down in the apartment. The previous people did something to it. So no Google maps to get around.  No idea what the exchange rate is. Getting money from the ATM in the rain was no fun. It was all in Spanish. Can you believe that? No English. But they weren't working anyway. Two hours and two miles later in the rain, I found out that only certain ATMs work for foreigners.  So they have about a thousand banking networks on these machines. I found one that gave me money. Money!!!  Coffee and a croissant never felt so good. Lesson learned.  Don't rely on the internet and always have money in your pocket.

I missed my chance to go to the black market and get money. The landlord was going and I had given him $500 USD.  You go down to the "cuevas" (caves) and deal with "Arbolitos" (little trees...because of the green) who give you the exchange. I got an extra $100 dollars worth of pesos over what I would have gotten at the bank. That's huge. Next time I'll go with him.

The neighborhood is called Monserrat. Called after a mountain in Catalonia, Spain. The big stores haven't hit yet so everything is specialized small shops.  On the street, there is a writing supply store, a men's & boys shop, an underwear store (men and women), a general hardware store, one for just tools, and a motor bike repair shop.  Reminds me of Ireland. 30 years ago! There is some weird stuff though!

They don't supersize your coke and fries here. That's why everyone is skinny and beautiful. And there ain't no air kissing here. People greet with lip smacking kisses. Even the bro-kisses: you can hear them 100 feet away.

Socialism is alive and well. I've already seen two demonstrations.

And yes, the toilet does flush in the opposite direction!