Some pics around town...

to prove that we really do live in Madrid!

I don't know why I wore a ROMA t-shirt! Next week, pics of our new apt and barrio!

A Fun Weekend in Madrid

The weather cooled off a bit, so we decided to venture out beyond the 2 streets we know. On Saturday, we took the very clean and brand new metro to Plaza Mayor, where we paid almost $40 US for scrambled eggs, bacon, 2 rolls and 2 OJ´s (which cost $7.25 US EACH!) Lesson learned: Eat at home. We also walked through the shopping district between Puerta del Sol and Gran Via, then took a break in Plaza España. We took the bus home, which gave us much better views and a sense of how close our apartment is to everything!
On Saturday, we took another metro to Ikea...WAY the hell outside the city. There are dozens of new apt bldgs in various stages of construction, but no one lives there. Talk about speculation. We bought some pots & pans and plants, then realized there are no cabs BACK to the metro stop, which is 15 minutes up a hill. When we asked a worker about a way to not have to walk, he snottily replied, "Well, all the EMPLOYEES have to walk." Ingrid replied, "Yeah, but you aren´t carrying bags (which, by the way, cost $1.50 EACH), and you're the one who chose to work here." You tell him, Ingrid! So we got annoyed and put down half of our stuff BEFORE we got to the register. I refused to let go of my 6 foot palm tree, so we looked like FOOLS riding the train back, but it was worth it.

On Sunday, we went to the world´s largest open air market, El Rastro.

There are more than 3,000 vendors (no, I didn´t actually count them) block after block in one of Madrid´s oldest neighborhoods. According to all the travel guides, it is supposed to be a dangerous place full of pickpockets, gypsies and thieves. I guess the people who write international travel guides need to re-visit the place. There were lots of families and elderly women and college age kids and not a threatening face in the crowd (which is more than I can say for the neighborhoods 2 or 3 streets north and east of our $1800 a month apt). Ingrid bought some cool Spanish ceramics for the kitchen & bathroom, and I bought more plants! Hey, I gotta have an herb garden on the windowsill!

I hope you are all enjoying reading these as much as I enjoy writing them. Miss you all a lot!

Robert & Ingrid

PS We have photos of us in some of these places, but I haven´t yet figured out how to attach them. Perhaps we are actually hiding in Tucson and made up this whole story of us moving to Spain! HA HA

Finding an Apartment

This is NOT where we live.

Now for the apt hunting saga, or Why it may be faster, easier & cheaper to join a band of accordian playing gypsies from Romania and live in a covered wagon for the next year...

1.If you look like a college student (I swear, we were asked this numerous times) then there are no apts available.
2. If you get pissed and tell them (IN SPANISH, of course) that you are a 40 year old professor from America who has no kids, dogs, cats, birds or invalid elderly parents, then suddenly there is a 2,000 sq foot penthouse available for $3500 US.
3. If you hire an agent, it costs 1 month's rent fee, 1st month's rent PLUS 3-6 month escrow account at the local bank. A reasonable apt is 1000 euros + 1000 + 1000 + 3-6,000...do you see where I am going with this? Make room in the caravan, gitanos!
4. If you meet an old man whose tenant just died, AND he likes you, you can get the rent down to 800 euros, only 1 month up front, and you can move in today. Of course, there's no ac, the fridge is dormitory size, and there are only twin beds, BUT there is a balcony and the view is great.
5. If there are no openings in the gypsy caravan, you go to your job and complain about the situation and hope someone can help!

Time has no meaning...

GUESS WHAT THIS IS?

A. 4th of July in Madrid

B. Bastille Day in Madrid

C. Saint Louis University's Welcome Party for us

D. The totally unannounced local patron saint's celebration at 12:15 am on a Tuesday which scared the hell out of us as we thought we were under attack.

Yup, it's D.

I was well aware of the concept of manyana (I still can't find the damn enya key!), but it's worse than I thought. There is not 1 clock or calendar in our apt, in my office, on the microwave, etc. We never know what day or time it is. We went to the school cafeteria for pancakes on a Friday, when no one seems to be at work period, and ordered fresh squeezed OJ & pancakes from Ruby the server. Now you must understand that there is no such thing as simply placing an order if the person knows and LIKES you. Ruby is the coolest lady from Colombia, so she and I have bonded since day 1. In addition, this particular morning, Ingrid was with me, so those 2 were like long-lost sisters reminiscing about life in the old country. It took 30 minutes to get the pancakes & oj, and we were the only 2 customers there! But we did get the low-down on the cheapest & best supermarkets, farmers markets (don't buy the meat!), flea markets, and low-cost airlines that fly to Colombia WHEN they are not grounded for safety reasons. GOD HELP US...

On a quick note, it took 3.5 hours to open a bank account with 300 euros, and then neither chase in the states or banco santander here could figure out how to transfer 3000us from our checking accnt in tucson to the one here! MY poor uncle-in-law Jack had to drive around Los Angeles for 3 hours to find a way to wire us money. And this is the 21st century?

On a positive note, the Spaniards have been the nicest, friendliest Europeans we've ever met.

bobby & ingrid