Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Powerlessness... And Another Set of Knockers

Well, we still don't have electricity or water in our apartment, but progress is being made.  The building is managed by the law firm with offices on the first floor (the second floor by typical American reckoning).  We met yesterday with the principal lawyer and another lawyer on his team.  They have kindly volunteered their services (yes, that's right, lawyers have kindly volunteered) to get the water and electricity turned on for us.  These guys have been so gracious, kind, and generous with their time.  Unfortunately, even with their help, it could take until the middle of next week before we have electricity.  We also asked them to help us with the process of obtaining our residency cards.

IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT IT'S HOME... FOR NOW (AND AN INCREDIBLE DEAL).

Each time we visit the apartment, we like it and the neighborhood even more.  We're very excited to get in and hope we'll be sleeping there some time next week.  Our shipped items are now on their way.  Minor apartment repairs — and new locks — will be taken care of over the next few days.  We're going to start picking up sheets, towels, etc., and washing them in preparation for move-in day (we're heading off to shop in a few minutes).  And we'll head back over to IKEA to make our major purchases and arrange for delivery.  It's all very exciting.  I'm gratified Jerry and I can survive so well sharing one room (in the hotel) for such a long time given our preference for personal space.

ENTRANCE TO EL PALACIO ARZOBISPAL (THE PALACE OF THE ARCHBISHOP).

This is not going to become the blog to visit for pictures of knockers.  But, I spotted a prodigious set today across the plaza from the cathedral on the doors to the Palace of the Archbishop and it was obvious to me that they should have been included in the "Nice Knockers" post.

YOU'D HAVE TO BE ON HORSEBACK TO REACH THE LOWER KNOCKER (RIGHT).
I HAVE NO IDEA WHO WOULD REACH THE UPPER ONE (PERHAPS A HIGHER POWER).

15 comments:

  1. It's hard to believe that getting power and water can take so long isn't it? I thought that France was bad for such administrative delays but you're way worse by the sound of it! Hang in there boys - almost there. And you get to do some shopping so life isn't too bad :)

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  2. Hello:
    It is so very heartening to learn that, at last, real progress is being made towards your moving into the apartment. We can so easily understand your wanting now to be settled into your own home, at least for the time being, after all that travelling.

    Happy shopping!

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  3. I know, I haven't been around lately. Been in a real funk and it's hard to come back. But on a brighter note, I'm glad to see that you managed to continue without me. Good for you! ha!
    I won't leave you again.
    m.
    p.s. I haven't had personal space since 2001. In fact, I think there were three or four little people in the bathroom with me last night. Ugh!

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  4. Bob: You said it, not I!

    Craig: We had been warned and are doing OK with it (since we have no choice). Just got back from IKEA. (Oh, give me strength!)

    J&L: Shopping at IKEA went well, but it does test our patience. Still, we now know the process for our major purchase and delivery to be done in the next week. There is a light at the end of the tunnel (and it's not, I hope, the headlight of an oncoming train).

    Mark: So good to hear from you. Hope your funk soon clears (I sure know how that goes). It was rough-going without you, but I've muddled through. By the way, I didn't even like the fact that our cats liked to be in the bathroom with me!

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  5. I remember that feeling. For us it was that we were in the house, but we were waiting about a month for our stuff to arrive. We bought air mattresses to sleep on. We had garden furniture in the living room. We hadn't got our fridge or stove yet, and there was electrical work to be done before we got them. And it was during the heat wave of 2003. We cooled wine bottles in sink fulls of cold (well, it was tepid, really) water.

    But one day soon, as it was with us, this will all be a fun memory! :)

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  6. Walt the Fourth: Our air mattress days are definitely behind us, but we have nothing to complain about. And you are so right, one day soon...

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  7. @Bob Mwahahahahahaha!

    @Mitch...can I have your life? Or at least your life adjacent?

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  8. Writer: Aw, and I want someone else's quite often. But I'm enjoying the "right now"!

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  9. I think the top knocker only 'knocks' when you slam the door, open or close. You can also see it's hardly used, the bisshop has a direct line to God [its still ringing but no-one answers]

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  10. Another set of knockers...are you trying to change me or something? Sophie's Dad Ron

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  11. Ron: Is it having an effect? (If so, I'll definitely stop.)

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  12. It all sounds exciting, even the peculiar annoyances like getting electricity connected...makes the experience unique. But it sounds like you are not letting these obstacles get in the way of enjoying Spain and its culture. Great!

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  13. just kidding...not into knockers this lifetime ;-)

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