Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Last night I went to bed at 10pm, got up once during the night, woke up at 5:30, couldn’t fall back asleep, so I got up at 6am.

I had a problem ordering a ride share today. I started with Didi but it showed a map but nothing else. I switched to Uber and ordered a ride and it said, “12 minutes”, then it counted down to “9 minutes” then went up to “14 minutes” and the car was nowhere in my vicinity nor heading in my direction. I cancelled it and used InDrive and paid the driver 20mil cash. In Unicentro mall I first printed some chess notes in Auros then found Jose waiting for me outside the restaurant. I was almost 30 minutes late but I had kept him up to date on my progress.

We each had an egg casserole and a coffee for breakfast for about 26mil, including tip. He informed me he turned 76 yesterday. His wife turns 65 soon and he wanted to know what to do so SS won’t automatically withdraw funds for Medicare. I told him I understand there are 2 parts, the first is available for free (I have a Medicare card) but you have to pay for the 2^nd part. He thinks you have to opt out of it somehow and if he's right I did that more than 15 years ago and don’t remember it.

We moved to the food court where I had the Black pieces in the first game. I requested he play d4 and e4 as his first two moves so I could practice the Pirc Defense. I was up a pawn and he offered me a draw around move 45. I declined and he resigned on the 76^th move. That was a long game. I had the White pieces in the 2^nd game and he checkmated me on the 36^th move.

It was 1:45 when he left and I ordered a Didi and went outside to wait for it. When the driver said he arrived but I didn’t see him I texted him I was at the San Joaquin entrance and he arrived 5 minutes later.

At Viva Envigado I went up to the third floor and to the other side of the floor where I fouind Pergamino packed. I returned to the other side where I found Only Roast Beef closed. ☹ I was hungry and didn’t want to waste any more time so I went to Burger King and had a Kelce burger – Double Whopper with cheese - plus fries and a Pepsi.

I went down a level and had a latte in Santa Leña. They charge 13,500 pesos for a latte which must be about the highest price in Medellin. This is the view of the mall’s atrium from the back of the café. Obviously getting set up for Christmas:

I left at 4pm, bought a 6-pack of Coke in Exito for 11,200 pesos before returning to the apt by taxi.

I spent the rest of the evening watching the news.

I finished reading In Black and White by Paul van der Sterren. I’m now starting Michael Mann’s Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth's Past can Help us Survive the Climate Crisis.

 

 

JUST FUNNY