Sunday, January 28, 2018

I didn’t hear Laura come home at 1:30 (or so she says).

I woke/got up at 8am.

It’s a cool and very overcast morning so I dressed in jeans with one of my thicker t-shirts.

While having my usual breakfast at Carbon de Leña I watched workers remove one of the large white poles that were used (along with attached lines) to support the Christmas decorations.

Walking down the hill past the park behind the library I observed 2 or 3 dozen teenage girls having a water balloon fight.

In Home Center I walked around and finally found the heated shower heads (there is probably a better word for them).  They come in 110 or 220 volts.  I would imagine 220 volts would be used for things like the refrigerator, washing machine, and dryer, but this is Colombia so who knows.  (Back at the apartment the circuit breakers say 20 or 30 on them so I don’t know if 20 relates to 110 and 30 relates to 220.  Another problem is I can’t just remove the current shower head because it doesn’t come straight out, it bends at an angle of about 45 degrees.)

On one of my trips going up the escalator I ran into Sandra from the gym.  I talked to her awhile and learned she needs to have surgery of the vesticula – but we couldn’t figure out what that would be in English.  Of course I wished her well.  (Later my brother told me it is the gall bladder.)

When I left Home Center I walked around the block and talked to a young Colombian guard (interestingly, who had green eyes) about how to get to the Smartfit gym.  Following her directions I continued around the building, entered glass double doors, and walked towards the back to the elevators.  Notice anything unusual about the elevator buttons?

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I took the elevator up to the 6^th floor, walked around a corner and entered the gym.  I explained to the young lady working there that I have membership in the Envigado Park Smartfit location and I would like to look around.  She buzzed me in and I walked around the gym.  It appears to be all on one floor with a lot of new machines besides the ones I’m used to using in my gym.

I got a little lost coming down on the elevator.  I took it down to S2 and I needed to get off at S1 (the ‘S’ stands for ‘soltano’ which means ‘basement’).

I continued around the outside of the mall to Exito.  While waiting in line to get a medium coffee at Juan Valdez, Teresa called.  She told me she ran out of money and Esmeralda doesn’t have any money in her Bancolombia account.  (I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do on a Sunday.)  I told her to call Laura so she can explain to me how I can get money to her.

I finished reading Michael Connelly’s The Gods of Guilt (Mickey Haller #5) and downloaded his The Burning Room Harry Bosch #17).

After I finished my coffee I picked up a package of Greek yogurt that I haven’t been able to find recently at the Exito closer to our apartment.

I walked back to the apt and found Laura had already talked to Teresa.  I understand Esmeralda doesn’t remember/have her account number in Bancolombia so I guess we’re waiting for some reason for tomorrow; maybe so she can get it.  I told Laura to tell her that depositing money into her Bancolombia account would be best but otherwise I could send money via Western Union if they have an office there.

I read online that Philadelphia Eagles players have been refused reservations to Minnesota restaurants.  Maybe that will teach Eagles fans to be more polite.

The Colombian Peso closed at 2,808 to the US Dollar.  The peso has been “falling” lately compared to the dollar.  Actually, what this means is the peso is getting stronger and/or the dollar is getting weaker.  This is probably closely tied to the fact that the price of oil is increasting.

At 1:30 Laura called Frisby and ordered Combo #2 plus a soda for each of us for 46,000 pesos ($16).

The skies have mostly cleared with a few fluffy clouds.

My brother called via Whatsapp and we talked awhile about his upcoming trip and a few other issues.

Laura and I left the apt at 6:15 and quickly caught a bus to El Poblado.  We got off right in front of Krispy Kreme.  We each got a couple donuts and a drink for 30mil ($10).  We got seats outside on a nice evening.  We heard a fire truck coming and it stopped right across the street.  When we had finished I told Laura I would be right back and I ducked into Starbucks next door.  I confirmed that they have the White Mocca that Jose recommended I try.  I also noticed they have cinnamon rolls, carrot cake, and blueberry muffins.  As I was walking out I heard someone call my name and behind me was Jose himself.  I brought him over to say hi to Laura.  He soon left and we walked across the street where we saw an ambulance and a fallen motorcycle right behind it so I can only assume that there was someone lying inside the ambulance.  We walked a block up to Oviedo and waited for a bus.  We saw lots of Envigado and other buses go by but when finally a Sabaneta bus came, it quickly filled up with other people who had been waiting.  A few minutes later Jose showed up.  We chatted for a minute and then he headed over to McDonalds.  I think it was a total of 30 minutes before a Sabaneta bus came that we were able to get seats on.

We were back at the apt by 8pm.

Teresa called again and I understand she bought me a pair of gym shoes and because things are so inexpensive she wants to buy some other things.  I told her I would put 400mil into Esmeralda’s account by 10am tomorrow.

T-shirt of the day: Keep calm and say I do.