La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I’m still trying to make my plane reservations. There’s a snag on the Iberia website, something not working as it’s supposed to. I’ll make this brief. I spoke with an Iberia agent. She was a few cards short of a full deck. She gave me a different number to call. That agent was a pleasure, but she worked in Cargo and had no idea why I was given her number. I phoned back to customer service and got the same agent. After an absurd back and forth (she was rude in her ignorance), I told her she was simply wasting my time and I hung up. I later spoke with someone else who saved my reservation for 24 hours at which time he’s convinced they’ll have the website problem resolved. I’m supposed to phone again Saturday. I hold out no hope.
Idiotically, while dealing with that, I’ve been trying to get an appointment with the National Police to pick up our new national identity cards. The last time we went, it took three days to get an appointment. I kept receiving the message. “At the moment, there are no appointments available. Shortly, the office will have new appointments at your disposal.” I’m on Day 2.
By 1:15 today, San Geraldo suggested I put all the crap aside. We went out for lunch where we had a good meal and our own wonderful company. It’s amazing how much we have to talk about after all these years.
On our way out of the house we bumped into our new neighbors, a couple called Juan and Toñi, also retired. We got on the subject of house plants. At this time we still have none. I miss them but it sure is easier without them right now. They have a Christmas cactus. I told them mine always thrive but never flower after the first time. Toñi told me “You’re still young. Those things come to you with age.” “Younger than what?” I asked. “I’m older than either of you.” They both laughed and said, “Don’t be silly.” I told them I was 71 and they were shocked. (And they were believable.) I like them even more now. I’m so vain.
Today’s photos are views from the roof earlier this week. I had to skip one day because there was not a cloud in the sky.
Sigo intentando reservar mis vuelos. Hay un problema con la página web de Iberia; algo no funciona como debería. Seré breve. Hablé con una agente de Iberia. Le faltaban algunas cartas para completar la baraja. Me dio otro número al que llamar. Fue un placer, pero trabajaba en Carga y no tenía ni idea de por qué me había dado su número. Volví a llamar a atención al cliente y me atendió la misma agente. Después de un intercambio absurdo (fue grosera por su ignorancia), le dije que me estaba haciendo perder el tiempo y colgué. Más tarde hablé con otra persona que guardó mi reserva durante 24 horas; está convencido de que, tras ese tiempo, resolverán el problema de la página web. Se supone que debo volver a llamar el sábado. No tengo ninguna esperanza.
Como una tontería, mientras lidiaba con eso, he estado intentando conseguir una cita con la Policía Nacional para recoger nuestros nuevos documentos nacionales de identidad. La última vez que fuimos, tardamos tres días en conseguirla. No dejaba de recibir el mensaje: «En este momento no hay citas disponibles. En breve, la Oficina pondrá a su disposición nuevas citas». Ya es el segundo día.
A las 13:15 de hoy, San Geraldo me sugirió que dejara todo lo demás a un lado. Salimos a almorzar, donde disfrutamos de una buena comida y de nuestra maravillosa compañía. Es increíble cuánto tenemos de qué hablar después de todos estos años.
Al salir de casa, nos encontramos con nuestros nuevos vecinos, una pareja llamada Juan y Toñi, también jubilados. Hablamos de plantas de interior. De momento, todavía no tenemos ninguna. Las echo de menos, pero seguro que ahora es más fácil sin ellas. Tienen un cactus de Navidad. Les dije que los míos siempre crecen bien, pero nunca florecen después de la primera vez. Toñi me dijo: “Todavía eres joven. Esas cosas te llegan con la edad”. “¿Más joven que qué?”, pregunté. “Soy mayor que cualquiera de ustedes”. Ambos se rieron y dijeron: “No sean tontos”. Les dije que tenía 71 años y se quedaron atónitos. (Y eran creíbles). Ahora me gustan aún más. Soy tan vanidoso.
Las fotos de hoy son vistas desde la azotea a principios de semana. Tuve que saltarme un día porque no había ni una sola nube en el cielo.
Click the thumbnails and the sky will be the limit.
Haz clic en las miniaturas y el cielo será el límite.
People tell me I don’t look my age (75) but when I look in the mirror at my face I see every one of those years. Maybe it’s because I still have a lot of color in my hair though more and more gray is showing up or because I’m very active and decades of yoga has kept me limber. Whatever, it does make me feel good when people are surprised.
I like your sky photos. I’ve been thinking of doing a month of skies but I’ve already missed September. Maybe I’ll remember of November 1st.
ellen abbott:
I see every one of my years, too. I don’t have much hair to still have color in.
“they were shocked. (And they were believable) … I’m so vain” LOL, but I know and understand the feeling one gets when that happens. And that’s a lot of clouds. Your coffee cup must be huge.
Shirley:
And to think I didn’t get one photo of the clouds reflecting in my coffee!
Oh, honey. We all think we deserve to wear an apricot scarf. I would actually get carded throughout my forties and then suddenly- well. Those days were done. If anyone told me I don’t look my age they would probably mean I look older than I am.
Sigh.
Take that compliment and cherish it.
Your clouds look like storybook clouds. Almost too beautiful to be believed.
You know who I am.
To You-Know-Who Moon:
Apricot is not my color.
Ah well. It would be boring if we all wore apricot.
I love cloud pictures, thank you for this collection.
I used to look much younger than my age. Then the caregiving years got me all caught up. Before and after pictures are pretty different.
But I’m active, especially now I’m bionic, and avoid mirrors. Boud
Boud:
It’s amazing what even one difficult year will do. From the photos you’ve shared, though, you look fantastic. AND you’re bionic,
It is nice when travel websites work as expected, rare, but nice. Austrian Airlines is now operated by Lufthansa, the website works with German precision.
David:
I’ve never before had a problem with Iberia. I guess it was just my week. And, yes, Lufthansa lives up to that German reputation.
What a great sky! LOVE cloudy days!
SG is a very wise man.
Jim:
I could sit and watch the clouds for hours.
They look down
At the ground
Missing
But I never go in now
I’m looking at the big sky
I’m looking at the big sky now
I’m looking at the big sky
– Kate Bush
Fab photos! (As always.) Jx
Jon:
Thanks re the photos. It’s a fun thing to do.
It’s okay to be vain when you look as good as you and SG do! And I get the impression you’re both just as lovely on the inside as you are on the outside!
I have a weakness for sky/cloud photos. These are beautiful.
P.S. Thanks for the ear worm. Not a bad one to have.
Kelly:
I had myself binging yesterday on Carly Simon music… and interviews.
Kelly:
Vanity is a waste of precious time, but it’s too much a part of me to stop at this point. I could watch the clouds all day.
Ugh — Iberia is certainly putting you through the wringer. What a great compliment from your neighbors! I couldn’t live without plants. (It’s hard enough without an animal!)
Steve:
I do seriously miss the plants, but life has been a bit of an upheaval this year and since we don’t have all-day direct sun (nor a huge terrace), it requires us to rethink house plants. We were spoiled in Fuengirola. I’ve never before had a problem with Iberia. And that first agent was a nightmare.
I love that the woman transferred you to cargo! Maybe it’s cheaper to box yourself in cardboard and travel in cargo???
I also get the “you don’t loom that age” and then I point to my, ever graywing hair and people will say, “My mother/father went gray in their 20s so that doesn’t count.”
I have learned to take the compliment.
Bob:
Yeah. My father went BALD in his 20s!
“That agent was a pleasure, but she worked in Cargo and had no idea why I was given her number.”
Once when I was looking for a job I called a number to schedule an interview. Instead of connecting me to the Human Resources Department, the company operator transferred me to someone who had nothing to do with the position I was seeking. Nor was that person a pleasure, as they were very pissed off that they were taken away from whatever it is they were doing, and blamed ME for that!
Kirk:
Ugh! People!
Cargo… hmm. That explains all the boxes in the Iberia lounge.
Walt the Fourth:
Oh, sigh.
Isn’t it great when people think you are younger? The other day I told an acquaintance that I was 80 in a few weeks, and she seemed shocked and said she thought I was in my 60s …..I’ll take that! (I think it helps that I still dye my hair, so no grey. )
Frances:
If I had hair, I might dye it!
I would be in love with your new neighbors! What a great compliment. Have you thought about trying another airline besides Iberia? It probably makes sense that you would fly them as you aren’t in Madrid and would have to make a connecting flight.
Michael:
Our new neighbors are a pleasure even when they don’t compliment me. I have a few airlines I prefer for this trip. Iberia has been my favorite for price and connections. This trip will be through Barcelona. Usually, it’s through Madrid.
Reading about your trouble with bureaucracy and government I wonder what ever happened to the government is there to help you?
larrymuffin:
Is THAT what they say?