OFF TO SEE ERICA DAY #9 “Tragedy Averted!!!!!”

Today started off innocently enough.  Erica met us at the hotel and we walked in the cold and rain to a local bar (aka restaurant) for breakfast.  I had my usual Madrid breakfast of Tortilla Española and café con leche.

Erica headed off to work while Patrice and I decided to investigate a local venture of Google called “Campus Madrid”.  It was  a bit of a disappointment because all we saw were the first two floors where Google apparently is attempting to help locals network in the tech world. There was a small cafeteria and then some wonderful work spaces with lots of young people and their laptops.  From what we were told the upper floors are reserved for true Google employees but no programming occurs at the location.  They were not clear exactly what type of work is being done.  I don’t think it is anything highly secret but the lack of clarification was more a function of their employees difficulty speaking English and our inability to speak Spanish.  The one thing I found most fun was using the Google maps app to find Campus Madrid and to get us there using public transportation.  I am sure I turned a 20 minute trip into 30 minutes but it was fun.  I am a simple guy with simple pleasures.

We then met Erica and Jaime (a friend of Erica and Lindsay) for coffee.  Jaime is a delightful young man who speaks incredible English.  He likes to practice English and told us he doesn’t get much of a chance to practice except when he talks to himself in the mirror.  So for the sake of his need to practice and our desire to communicate we spoke English.  This was a true Spanish experience.  We sat there talking for about 3 hours and were never given one hint from the owners that it was time for us to leave.  After 3 hours we asked for the check (Spaniards do not bring the check until asked) and then we were on our way.  I don’t think this is something you could experience anywhere in the USA and one thing I love about Spain.

After a brief stop at the hotel we headed to dinner with Erica and her friend Marcelo at El Pimiento Verde where we met our friends Hazel and Ricardo.  We first met this couple and their two children in 2015 when Patrice and I were visiting our girls in the city of San Sebastián in the north of Spain.  They asked me to take a photo of their family and a friendship ensued.  Hazel runs a school and Ricardo is an illustrator and draws political cartoons (viñetas).  Apparently the election of Donald Trump was a Godsend for him.  Trump has made his work TOO easy.  Here is a link to the one of his cartoons.  To help you along the adult is saying, “And now, who is going to pay for this?”.  I think the rest is self explanatory.  http://e02-elmundo.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2017/01/29/14857106732725.jpg

Following dinner we had a near disaster.  We had a very comfortable ride home but when we got to our room we realized Erica had left something there.  I was going to text her but I COULDN’T FIND MY PHONE!!!!!.   I searched everywhere but without success.  Patrice sent a text message to me and then called but again without success.  Then we received a call from the passenger who entered the cab that we had just exited. He had our phone and after a series of negotiations we got the cab driver to bring it back to me.   I am now resting comfortably in bed.  Patrice has given me a Valium and is rubbing my shoulders.  I have a warm compress over my eyes and the hotel doctor and nurse are at my side.  They say that I should be fine but we are considering admitting me overnight for observation.  My phone has been taped to my hand in order to reassure me and prevent agitation.

Until tomorrow.

Robert

(Please tell mom I was just joking, I am fine).