(the first thing you need to know is that I am attempting this trip without a computer - just our trusty iPad. I'm already discovering a few disadvantages, such as not having ready access to Photoshop to crop and correct photos, as well as just finding out that the site I use for the blog doesn't play nice with the iPad. However a quick search turned up a blogger app that I hope will work. The second thing is that photos will follow as soon as I figure out how to use this new app better!)
About 10 months ago, Rob submitted a paper for review to a scientific conference to be held in Portugal. It was accepted. And when his friends from the fire group in Catalonia, Spain, learned he was coming, they wanted him to visit them for an exchange of information and ideas again this year. Thus began the long, arduous process of planning, plus obtaining official permission from our government. It all finally came together, and so here we are again.
We arrived at Madrid International airport about 8:15 yesterday morning - right on time, but with very little sleep. Managed to pick up the natal car with very little hassle, get it started (once Rob figured out it was manual and needed the clutch all the way in), and made our way out of the city without incident.
Let the adventures begin!
The next reasonably-sized town was Guadalajara, and there we made our first stop. We wanted to get a 3G plan for the iPad, so that we could check email, have access to online maps, etc. We found what was essentially a Best Buy on steroids and were able to communicate what we wanted - but the phone companies that could have helped us said we needed to go to one of their main stores, not a kiosk.
We wound our way on backroads toward Lleida, where we needed to be by Sunday evening, trying to find a place to stay for the night. The map from Avis, unlike those from most rental car companies, was quite good, but even so we have no idea where we actually were: we just kept the sun to our right and slightly behind us.
We landed in a small town, Molina de Aragon, about 3:00 pm. After trying to get some info from the tourist office (closed since it was Sat.), we decided on an old hotel near the main street, Hotel San Francisco. After much-needed showers and fresh clothes, we headed out to find some dinner. We were both pretty tired, so opted for the cafe at the hotel, decided on a light meal, and headed back across the street to our room - only to find that we couldn't get our key to open the outer door!
This photo is for son, Connor. His favorite Mexican restaurant in Portland is called Trebol, and even has a similar logo. We stumbled on this shop on a small side street in Molina de Aragon.
So the good news here is threefold: we are in a small town where no one we talked to speaks English, but we were still able to book a room, order dinner AND get help with the key - all without anyone giving up on or laughing at us!
I'd definitely call that a successful first day back in Spain.
Muchas gracias, Senora Johnson. You'd have been proud of me, and I will miss visiting with you on future trips to NC.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Hi Nana & Papa! We enjoyed reading your blog but Micah thinks you need more pictures! That is the new 15 1/2 pound micah! Love you, have a fantastic time!
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