I am here, I think, therefore I am here

August 29   a normal Wednesday out and about

Up early to the sun rising over the distant volcano. It is not a volcano but a flat topped large hill with steep sides. Never the less,  a nice site to greet me every morning. Beautiful and fresh.

Here is Quilianos view from April this year.
Off on a walking trip. We went grocery shopping.  Every brand new, different and sometimes odd for me.  They apparently love white asparagus.  It is sold everywhere in jars, cans, bottles and jugs.
One store had hundreds of small jars of white asparagus filling the windows. 

The milk here is very different.  I have yet to taste fresh milk.  It is in boxes room temperature.  Chilled after opening.  The dairy is about 3 blocks away, where it is processed.  Huge plant with only one cow in sight.

The milk tastes to me like evaporated milk that has been reconstituted.  Some places seem to offer fresh milk.  I will try later.  The same with the cream, it is in cartons.  Strange to me after a lifetime of fresh whole milk.
The cheese here is GREAT!!  Many types and varieties young and aged, no processed.  Sheep, goat and cows milk and imported cheeses and local.
The fruits are very seasonal with pears, varieties new to me, appearing now along with fresh figs and a small greenish plum that is so delicious and juice that I have to control myself.  The pears are flavorful and small to medium.  New types of everything will change as the season progresses.

August 30  Sunday and everything is closed
Except for bakeries which open until noon and the restaurants.  No other shopping. Tradition in a secular society.  People here really use the parks and there are many.  Walking is popular with the Sundays a  day for the families to walk about. Couples especially the older couples, dress up and walk along the river paths.
I have found many interesting plants and flowers along the river.  There are bridges every few blocks with the upper path and the river path.  The lower river path is seldom used except for..you guessed it..pooping your dog.  Need lots of sleep feeling a little more settled.

August 31  Great weather feeling energetic

Not feeling hungry in the morning.  My stomach doesn't know what time it is!! Walked around the area, trying to get my bearings a bit.  Quiliano is trying to show me different areas.  I have to sit down often, my thigh pain has returned after months of no problems.  Usually means I am dehydrated.  Next time I will bring a bottle with me.  Great day. Sunny and breezy.  We are walking far today.  Found a stork nest on a tall building and storks very high above that.  The are dotted around the city on the tallest buildings and towers. Apparently they nest on smoke stacks and the nests had to be removed.  Caused incidents in  the past,, fires and back flow.  They use the same nests each year and just keep adding sticks.  They can way tons after a few years.   The noise from undelivered babies is horrific!

The "Trip"

Sunday 26 August The day of the flight getting everything checked.  Check. Done.

Everything was completely packed and ready to go the day before.  The Four large bags, two carry on bags and  the camera and computer were carefully weighed and stowed and ready for departure.

Quiliano (key lee AH no)  Moro, my companion, was carrying two bags for me.  When he arrived in Minnesota in late July he only carried a small duffel-bag with some clothing and a few personal items.
We had borrowed a car from my friends Linda and Brad Larson.  We had stayed at their cabin on Lake Hanrahan , a small lake filled with waterlilies and in May and June large numbers of pooping geese.

Canadian geese all teenagers eager to eat the lawn and poop

We swapped the yellow Volkswagen at the Larsons and stuffed the large bags in the trunk and back seat with almost enough space for Quiliano.  
Brad drove us to the Minneapolis/Saint Paul international airport.  We wanted to get there around eleven for the check in and details involved for international travelers.  It went smoothly and we were wait at the terminal until the departure at 3:00 p.m.  To my amazement they did not charge for the second bag!!
Although the tickets were purchased at the same time, Quiliano was seated near the front on the aisle and I was near the back in the second seat center row.  
I saw Quiliano walking back after about twenty minutes, the kind gentleman next to me agree to swap seats so we were able to make the trip sitting next to each other.
It was a long flight 9 hours and 7 time zones to our first stop in Amsterdam.  I had my European Union check in at the immigration line. It was very through and went quickly, without a problem.
Now my body said it was around 1 a.m. but it was morning in Amsterdam.
The layover was 5 hours.  We walked around a bit, chatted and just stayed awake.
We boarded a much smaller plane to Madrid for the 3 and 1/2 hour trip.  The seating was a bit uncomfortable because we sat so long during the first flight, basically unable to stretch  out.
Quiliano's brother  Eusebio was kind enough to meet us and carried our bags to a distant bus terminal. He then dropped us off parked and we had a beverage and waited until the bus arrived.  
The bus arrived late and was not the bus to Valladolid (ba jaw doe LEED).  It was the bus that took us to the bus, some miles away to catch the bus. It seemed for a while that we would not make the connection. The bus was filled and we sat in the last two seats. 77 and 78.  Nice bus modern and comfortable. Air conditioning worked well and we stopped at the small towns along the way to drop off fellow passengers. 
It was three more hours and I only remember long vistas dry country, much like California desert scrub and many clean small towns.  
Valladolid is about 320,000 people.  It has many old buildings and some narrow street in the older parts of the city.  Mostly it is very modern and up to date.  It has a great cheap transit system and is very compact. The building in the city are no more than 7 stories.  Outside the city are newer areas with much higher apartment buildings. The city ends abruptly.  No suburbs.
We arrived at the depot, very large and near downtown. We were deposited on the far end of the terminal and moved our huge bags and carry-on luggage by steps.  We moved two at a time until we lost sight of luggage we left behind.  I stayed with the front set then the back set until we finally got everything moved. We were already exhausted.  It took about half an hour to get it to the front. 
We loaded all into two taxis and headed for the Balen district.  The streets in Balen (Bethlehem) all have religious names related to the nativity..  Other areas are named after birds, flowers, writers, battles,metals and other historical name with corresponding street names.
My cab followed Quiliano's cab and his cost one euro more. 
We took the luggage up to the fourth floor in 3 moves.  The elevator is small and the luggage was large.
People here do not rent, they buy their apartments.  
It is large with 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms large living room/dining area and modern kitchen.
It has three long and narrow balconies acessable from the living room, kitchen and two of the bedrooms.
It was 8:30 when we arrived. I went to bed after finding my C-Pap and slept for twelve hours. 
I slept the first 3 on Monday and woke up on Tuesday, feeling jet lagged and a bit dazed.

Tuesday August 28 Stranger in a normal land.

I felt as if I could sleep forever.  I wanted to get accustomed to the new time as soon as possible. The night was cooler with perfect sleeping.  There Quiliano's sister, Gloria, had stocked some fruit and bread and cold cuts in the refrigerator.  
I was surprised and delighted that the water here is delicious.  I have had no effects what-so-ever from the water, air, food or anything here.
It was warm with a cool night, much like Vista, California.  It is windy and the temperatures are in the low 80's with the humidity very comfortable.  
We had a little something to eat.  Then we walked outside for a bit.  The city is very clean and there are small parks all over. Most have trees and concrete with grass around the edges.  One does not walk on the grass.  That is for dogs to poop.  Of course they are not supposed to let the dogs poop and they are supposed to pick up the deposits, no one does.  So I will stay off the grass.  
First day from the balcony that overlooks the park, I spotted fig trees loaded with fruit.  People here are not even aware that the fruit is there.  It is not ripe and looks like it will be a month until it is ready.  I have seen bay trees, nice grapes and many roses in the city.  Usually in the front yards of small bungalos.
Took a nap.  Can't shake the jet lag yet.  Still feels like I am floating a bit. Will eat dinner and connect to the internet for the first time.
Heading to bed.  Hit me quickly.  Need to stay hydrated.  I love this place!!