La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
The summer house cleaner was here for her last time today. Merchi returns to us next week. We went to morning coffee and second breakfast. So relaxing in the sunshine and comfortable breeze, and only 25C/77F. Now, at 5:30, it’s 36/96.8.
I’ve made my hotel reservations for NYC. Instead of frigid January, I’m going in November. My hotel had special prices that are even cheaper than what I paid last year, and I caught them just before no more rooms were available. Airfare is more than I used to spend but only about $200 more than the January prices I found, so no big deal. Economy is cheap, but I don’t DO economy anymore. I require at least premium economy with extra leg room and other bells and whistles. I used to splurge on Business and First Class when I could, but this time that splurge would be at least a few thousand euros more each way.
The reservation requires a confirmation via online banking. Mine is not working. Again. I tried several times and then called the bank. I told the agent, repeatedly, the message I received was there is a problem with online banking and to try later (last night and much of today). She repeatedly issued new passwords. Of course, they never worked. Finally, she made an appointment for me Thursday morning at the bank. I then phoned Iberia directly, explained the problem, and asked if they could at least hold the reservation until tomorrow when I was going to the bank. Yes, of course, she said. Then I had to reselect the four flights over the phone. She couldn’t find the first flight I selected and said it didn’t exist. I had it front of me on their website. The next flight was going to cost almost as much as the entire reservation. After a half hour, I told her it was all a waste of time. So, 8:30 tomorrow I’ll be at the bank and then hope the flights I found still have my seats at those prices. Anyway, The Kid Brother will be elated.
We still haven’t received our new identity cards with our Córdoba address. I went online to make an appointment with the National Police to pick them up. Bad idea. I got the same error I received the last time I was making appointments there. That time, two days later, I was successful. I’ll try again later and again tomorrow if I have to… and Friday! I need a chill pill.
Today I’m sharing some random photos. I couldn’t decide which was more interesting, living color or black and white. I’ll let you decide. I started with the view from the ground floor of our building looking through the stairway up to the roof level. Then it’s the streets. The utility wire shadows make for interesting art. At least I think so. What do you think? I might even go around and take photos of the wire shadows alone.
The photo above is of an artisan repairing a stone plaza in Sevilla while we sat and enjoyed our lunch in January 2012. Not as intricate as the plaza I shared yesterday, although you can see shapes forming. Still, one stone at a time. Impressive.
La limpiadora de verano estuvo aquí por última vez hoy. Merchi vuelve la semana que viene. Elena ha sido maravillosa y le agradecemos a Merchi por organizarnos todo. Fuimos a tomar el café de la mañana y al segundo desayuno. Muy relajantes bajo el sol y la agradable brisa, con solo 25°C/77°F. Ahora, a las 17:30, estamos a 36/96,8.
Ya reservé mi hotel para Nueva York. En lugar del gélido enero, voy en noviembre. Mi hotel tenía precios especiales incluso más baratos que los del año pasado, y los aproveché justo antes de que se agotaran las habitaciones. El precio del billete de avión es más alto de lo que solía gastar, pero solo unos 200 dólares más que los precios de enero que encontré, así que no es para tanto. La clase turista es barata, pero ya no viajo en clase turista. Necesito al menos clase turista premium con más espacio para las piernas y otras comodidades. Antes me daba el lujo de viajar en clase Business y Primera Clase cuando podía, pero esta vez ese lujo sería de al menos unos miles de euros más por trayecto.
La reserva requiere confirmación a través de la banca en línea. La mía no funciona. Otra vez. Lo intenté varias veces y luego llamé al banco. Le dije a la agente, repetidamente, que el mensaje que recibí fue que había un problema con la banca en línea y que lo intentara más tarde (anoche y gran parte de hoy). Me dio nuevas contraseñas repetidamente. Porsupesto, nunca funcionaron. Finalmente, me dio cita el jueves por la mañana en el banco. Luego llamé directamente a Iberia, le expliqué el problema y pregunté si al menos podían guardar la reserva hasta mañana, cuando iba al banco. Sí, claro, dijo. Luego tuve que volver a seleccionar los cuatro vuelos por teléfono. No pudo encontrar el primer vuelo que seleccioné y dijo que no existía. Lo tenía delante en su página web. El siguiente vuelo iba a costar casi lo mismo que toda la reserva. Después de media hora, le dije que era una pérdida de tiempo. Así que mañana a las 8:30 estaré en el banco y espero que los vuelos que encontré todavía tengan mis asientos a esos precios. En fin, el Hermanito estará encantado.
La reserva requiere confirmación a través de la banca en línea. La mía no funciona. Otra vez. Lo intenté varias veces y luego llamé al banco. Le dije a la agente, repetidamente, que el mensaje que recibí fue que había un problema con la banca en línea y que lo intentara más tarde (anoche y gran parte de hoy). Me dio nuevas contraseñas repetidamente. Porsupuesto, nunca funcionaron. Finalmente, me dio cita el jueves por la mañana en el banco. Luego llamé directamente a Iberia, le expliqué el problema y pregunté si al menos podían guardar la reserva hasta mañana, cuando iba al banco. Sí, claro, dijo. Luego tuve que volver a seleccionar los cuatro vuelos por teléfono. No pudo encontrar el primer vuelo que seleccioné y dijo que no existía. Lo tenía delante en su página web. El siguiente vuelo iba a costar casi lo mismo que toda la reserva. Después de media hora, le dije que era una pérdida de tiempo. Así que mañana a las 8:30 estaré en el banco y espero que los vuelos que encontré todavía tengan mis asientos a esos precios. En fin, el Hermanito estará encantado.
Todavía no hemos recibido nuestros nuevos documentos de identidad con nuestra dirección de Córdoba. Pedí cita en la Policía Nacional por internet para recogerlos. Mala idea. Me salió el mismo error que la última vez que pedí cita allí. Dos días después, sí la tuve. Lo intentaré mañana y, aunque espero que no, el viernes. Necesito un poco de tranquilidad.
Hoy comparto algunas fotos al azar. No me decidí por qué era más interesante, si a color o en blanco y negro. Les dejo que decidan. Empecé con la vista desde la planta baja de nuestro edificio, mirando por la escalera hasta la azotea. Luego están las calles. Las sombras de los cables crean un arte interesante. Al menos eso creo. ¿Qué opinan? Quizás incluso me dé una vuelta y fotografíe solo las sombras de los cables.
La foto de arriba muestra a un artesano reparando una plaza de piedra en Sevilla mientras disfrutábamos de nuestro almuerzo en enero de 2012. No es tan intrincada como la plaza que compartí ayer, aunque se pueden ver las formas que se forman. Aun así, piedra por piedra. Impresionante.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Technology can be a real bitch. I need a chill pill just from reading what you’re dealing with!
I like the photos in B&W.
For some reason WordPress logged me out. (talk about technology….)
Kelly:
For some reason, blogger suddenly requires me to log in again to make every single comment. Argh!
Kelly:
It got worse (more comical) today!
What hotel do you use in NYC? I have two granddaughters who are now living in Bushwick?? Just out of college and trying to see how living in the city compares to Seattle.
Envy you your new city and apartment.
Thanks, jacquie
Jacquie:
I stay at the Nu Hotel on Smith Street in Brooklyn. It’s a pleasant boutique hotel with a good continental breakfast. And it’s very convenient for public transporation, only a 15-minute subway ride for my brother. If it weren’t for him, I’d get much better deals in Manhattan. But then, he’s the reason I go. I hope your granddaughters like Bushwick. It’s entirely different since I lived in Brooklyn. All of Brooklyn is very different.
I sympathise with you about technology – our wifi is a crock o’shit, to use the vernacular, and yesterday I couldn’t even get onto Hotmail/Outlook at all…
For me, the black and white photos work for everything except the one with the tree and that beautiful blue sky.
Jx
Jon:
Remember when you could phone to make reservations and pay? Security be damned! Thanks for your take regarding the color vs B&W.
Oh, Scoot, I’ve been on my last nerve many times this past year too and it’s starting to fray like an old violin bow, LOL! I’m thinking of investing in one of those inflatable whammit dolls that bounce back up after my every punch….
Hug Moose, Dudo or SG if they’ll let you, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
I did hug them both. Moose loved it. Dudo looked at me like I was nuts (or too needy). I’m fantasizing about one of those giant whammit dolls! I mean not fantasizing… I mean… Oh, you know what I mean!
And they told us all this technology will make our lives easier. I think I prefer the colorphotos.Love the narrow walkway, it is a walkway, right, not big enough for a car. Ancient cities so different from those in the US though I would miss the color green, no foliage or flowers.
ellen abbott:
That narrow walkway is actually a road that cars drive down. It doesn’t get a lot of traffic, but it’s still a road. You just have to fold your sideview mirrors in at the narrowest points. We’ve driven roads like that. It’s hilarious. There’s tons of foliage and floors where there’s room. These little streets all open into plazas and public gardens. Córdoba is one of the most planted and green cities I’ve ever seen.
I prefer the stairwell photo in color because it looks richer to me. The others I like in B&W because the colors distract from the intricate shapes.
The joys of travel . . .
Wilma:
And that’s one where I THOUGHT I preferred the B&W. Now I don’t know, which is why I shared them all.
Oh, Lord. That sounds like a hassle. I hope it all gets sorted out tomorrow and you get those flights purchased! The Kid Brother will be thrilled. (Well, as thrilled as he ever is.)
I like the staircase in black and white (because it’s almost black and white anyway) and I like the photo of the tree and alley in color.
Assembling that stone patio seems like it would take incredible patience.
Steve:
It got even funnier today. More to come. I marvelled at the dedication of those artisans.
I get anxious just hearing about travel arrangements. I hope yours work out despite the miracle of tech.
I think I like colors better, unusual for someone who came late to color, working for years happily in grayscale.
Boud:
I came late to color, too. I find I’m hooked again on B&W lately. The bank story got worse (to the point of hilarious) today.
I can’t really say which I like better- the black and white or color. They are such different things. Funny how the same picture but either with or without color create such a different feeling for the viewer. Black and white seems more “official,” more artistic, more serious while the colors create a much warmer mood which makes a lot of sense. I suppose it’s all in what you are trying to invoke as feelings in the viewer.
Don’t get me started on technology. It’s almost like it’s trying to screw around with us on purpose. And perhaps it is.
Glad you’re getting your trip in order. Hopefully.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Still no plane reservations. But I’ll get there. I’ll probably have to finally pay a lot more. But I’ll get there!
Love the photos!
And it’s almost impossible to do anything these days without having to deal with crappy technology. And you’re lucky you got to talk to a human being and not some creepy AI customer service!!
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
It turned out the bank human I spoke with didn’t know her ass from a hole in the wall. More story to come.
Wasn’t online booking and online banking and online EVERYTHING supposed to make things easier? Doesn’t seem like it!
I’m amazed at the person laying the mosaics; such patience. I’d probably dump the bucket of stones into the mortar and call it a day!
Bob:
I would loved doing that work. But not while kneeling or squatting! The online banking saga got more twisted today, to the point that I was laughing and shaking my head when I left the bank (at 8-effing-30 a.m.)
The shadow of those tangled wires offers a nice complimentary metaphor to the booking headaches you describe in your post.
Kirk:
I hadn’t thought of that, but you are so right. And more to add to the saga today!
The stairwell picture reminds me of the movie poster for Vertigo.
The shadows of the Kabelsalat are almost like grapevines.
Will Jay
Will Jay:
I learn so much from you. Kabelsalat is a new word for me, although I knew exactly what it meant when I read it.
The stairwell photo in color drew me in more, but the walkway shot in black and white suggested midday heat to me more strongly, perhaps because it made the lane look more deserted. Olivia
Olivia:
I love your takes on these. I still go back and forth. Lots of fun to do.
The only photo that I prefer in color is the one with the tree. The rest I prefer the black and white. Your travel issues sound like a nightmare! I hope you get it all straightened out.
Michael:
I think I agree about the one with the tree. I had thought of keeping the tree and sky in color and changing the rest to B&W. Travel issues are STILL not straightened out. My itinerary is still available at the same price. Here’s hoping I get it done this afternoon.
Fingers crossed!
Oh boy! That RDED TAPE can be such a PAIN! Good luck.
In this selection of photos I like the coloured ones with shadows.
Jim:
Thanks!
NYC in November, you say? Hmmmm….
Sassybear:
Will write!