Braveheart

Today was quite a day a day!  It is my 4th day in Spain – thus far very interesting in that I am on the Spanish schedule sans the Spanish life.  I have managed to get on a schedule of staying up until 2am, sleeping in until 10 while incorporating a 2-3 hour siesta somewhere in between.   I’ll post more later on what I’ve seen/done thus far, but as for today -

The only consistent thing I’ve done over the last 4 days is search for internet.  In this year (2012) internet seems like a complete necessity in life but is still hard to come by if you’re not betrothed to a wireless provider (a fact I am completely aware of now).    I have, unfortunately located approximately 10 Starbucks in this city – a fact I am not proud of.  I think what’s more sad about that statement is the number of locals which jam pack these places vs. the local, more intimate, establishments. 

I’d like to stress that my time away is not to be connected 24/7.  What is necessary though is booking the rest of my time away.   Its funny though; I spent all this time preparing to get into Spain – booking an exit ticket, writing up details regarding the apartment rental agreement, gathering support proving I wouldn’t be a burden on society only to have the immigration guard make a wise crack about some movie as I passed by.  In short – its not all that complicated outside of the US.   

However, I would like to continue the journey and find the internet a great resource.  Thus while all great efforts were made to procure internet service prior to departure, Verizon in all of its bureaucratic glory managed to provide zero (zippy) support.  As such I was forced to seek out other alternatives here locally.  I’m not saying this wasn’t ever an option, but you figure if you have service in the US they should be able to aid as you wander the world.  Nope.   A Starbucks every mile but no global wifi internet service (even Starbucks provides internet).  Way to go, Verizon.  

So today after a late start (I believe I made it out the apartment by 1pm with a wake-up time of mere hours beforehand) I began the journey of finding an alternative to pacing outside of restaurants or ordering my 100th cup of coffee from Starbucks.  Alas – 2 hours and a walk including a not so “touristy” part of town, I found Vodaphone.  Ahhhhhhh (angel’s singing).  I stood outside for a good five minutes practicing what I was going to say:  “Yo necessito wifi para mi computador”  No idea if this is even correct, but what finally did come out was “habla usted español….. er…. ingles”?  What a looser. 

After 30 minutes I left with a prepaid wireless card for a price substantially less than could be obtained in the US.   Score!  I’m so on my way to being a normal human that can book travel at night and sightsee during the day.  Until that is I get home and realize that all instructions are in Spanish.  No problem, I’ve managed to decipher from El Pais (the national newspaper) that Nadel is out of Olympics because of a busted rotator cuff (ok he’s out but that’s not why).  1.5 hours later – nada.  

So back down the stairway (that does not lead to heaven) to Vodaphone – Mac in hand.  This time I do not practice my speech but walk in immediately saying “habla usted español….. er… ingles?”.  When I get a “little” I proceed to repeat “no funtiona” as if I was Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man.  I believe there were more incorrect words muttered (probably something about sitting and wanting to buy something in the future)….. I can’t imagine why this kid decided to pass me off. 

Once finally called to tech support (and sputtering out “habla usted ingles”) I was informed that I had just a mere 5 Euros remaining on my account and would need to replenish the prepaid account.  But how, I inquired, I just purchased this and the damn device doesn’t work!  2 hours later it was determined that the wrong software was installed (by Vodaphone); finally I had internet.  I may in the future have my “used” Euros refunded as well.  Where they went… well that just didn’t make it through translation.

As a reward for having the guts to procure internet in English, I decided to have dinner accompanied by vino.  At 9pm local time, I dined alone, in the company of the only two (old, white haired male) patrons in the entire establishment, who I may add were not eating.  While this is late by US standards, this is “blue hair” dining here.  To add insult to injury my waiter refused to even acknowledge my futile attempts of ordering in Spanish, speaking only to me in English. 

With all hope of trying not to stick out like a “typical American” gone, I threw caution to the wind and enjoyed my pizza and multiple glasses of vino tinto.  I then promptly wobbled home. 

More fun stories to come, I promise….just gathering facts on what I’ve seen so I can share (in an educated manner). 

In the mean time I leave you with this golden nugget:

If you can’t figure out how to open a garbage can… just ask – someone will help while laughing with you.