Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Four Lions, No Waiting

I returned today to the National Police for my appointment to replace my lost residency card. As you may recall, the Englishman at the front desk Thursday gave me mis-information, telling me I needed to go to Málaga to replace my card. After phoning the Málaga police station I learned the truth. I needed to go back to the Fuengirola office. I did and I received an appointment along with the forms to be completed. Per instructions, I paid the 15.31€ fee at the bank and I made a copy of every page of my passport, including blanks. 

Today, I waited 45 minutes for my number to be called. The officer who helped me was professional and pleasant. He told me I was perfectly prepared, except I only needed to provide a copy of the front page of my passport. He had the assistance of an expert staff member to look up my info in the database. The staff member — also professional and pleasant — gave me another form that indicated I owed an additional 3.06 €. He said the wrong price had been written on the first form. The staff person told me I could make the payment at the bank and come right back. I wouldn't have to wait again. The nearest bank was 5 blocks away. I filled out the form. I paid the fee. I walked back to the police station. In 30 days, I go back to pick up my new card... from the Englishman at the front desk.

I took a taxi there today and I walked home. My bacterial infection has returned and so have the antibiotics. But I'll whine about that another day. (Meanwhile, click any image to see a bit of what I saw.)

THE WALK HOME.


Before the walk did me in, I passed Fuengirola's main post office. It's a contemporary building that backs onto a charming small plaza filled with restaurants and shops.

THE MAIN POST OFFICE.

The plaza, as I mentioned, is charming. The post office is a large white marble box. But, someone gave it a little charm by placing four lions' heads on the entrance ramp. You drop your mail in the appropriate lion's mouth. There's a lion for local mail in the city of Fuengirola, one for Málaga Province, one for the other 49 provinces of Spain, and a final lion for anywhere else in the world. Four lions, no waiting.

THE REST OF THE PROVINCES.

15 MINUTES FROM HOME AND NEEDING A SIT-DOWN.
NO SENSE IN WASTING THE MOMENT.

20 comments:

  1. Well, so much for the first comment......
    What did I say?
    Oh yes, it just may be your perfect Spanish Mitch that makes all this 'red tape' a much easier task than it was in the past.
    I really like those lions and very tidy and usable.
    Good that you stopped to rest and just look at that view! take care.

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    1. Jim:
      It was a dreary day, but it didn't rain on me. You're right about my improved Spanish making things much easier. I still get caught up at times, but it's so much better than before.

      Delete
  2. That lion looks rather grumpy, kind of like me.
    Infection? Take care of yourself and feel better soon.

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    1. Jacquelienand....
      And I LOVE that lion. I'm taking care of myself. Thanks!

      Delete
  3. I like the 4 lions (no waiting). At our post office, we have two ordinary drop-slots: "Gresham", and "everywhere else". Of course, both slots dump into the same bin. :)

    Sorry to hear about the infection returning. Guess I can't blame the mold this time. Hope you recover lots sooner than last year.

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    1. Jo:
      The lions were a nice surprise on the contemporary building. I haven't (yet) found out their history. I'm guessing they were on the old post office building. I can't imagine the infection could have had anything to do with the mold in Sevilla from a year ago... but oh the fantasies I have of suing the pants off that guy!

      Delete
  4. Oh, darn, sorry to hear that the infection is back. I'm glad the antibiotics are, too.
    Lots of walking! A bit of frustration! Grrr! But lovely town scenery :) Love the colors, and love the four lions, no waiting :)

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    1. Judy:
      I'm glad I managed to get really long walks in four days in a row before the infection (and probably more-so the antibiotics) knocked me out. I love those lions, especially the one that says EXTRAÑJEROS above it.

      Delete
  5. love the vibrant colours of the buildings....

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    1. Mike:
      Those colors are unusual for Fuengirola. I love what it does for that plaza.

      Delete
  6. The thing that pisses me off about taking antibiotics is that I can't drink wine (or anything alcohol) while taking them. Sometimes I have to make a choice :-) Glad you're opting to get well. Love those Lions... can't you just see a roll of postage stamps spitting out of one of their mouths? I know, I know... they don't do that... just for intake.

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    1. Sharon:
      Amen to that. I've been counting down to when I can have a glass of wine, and Pionono, and Bailey's Irish Cream, and Lumumba...

      Delete
  7. I just got around to looking up Fuengirola on a map. Back in the summer of 1978 when I was visiting Spain with a bunch of other Discalced Carmelite students from the States, we spent the last week of our visit at Benajarafe in a small house belonging to the friars of the Andalusian Province. It was right on the beach and very hard to leave it behind to come back to the States! I realize it is not nearby, but neither it is that far away from your lovely spot.

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    1. Michael:
      You had some wonderful experiences as part of your studies. I've started reading a bit about the Discalced Carmelites to understand things more. Benajarafe is less than an hour away (and also in Málaga Province)... but we've never been there.

      Delete
  8. It takes persistence to work your way through all this red tape! But in the end it is accomplished and you get to have a very nice walk along the way. Love the lions. The way my mind works I am wasting a bit too much time outlining a novella around my thoughts about a possible life for the person who designed them, and the one who decided they should be designed. Be well, Mitch! Hope your antibiotics work quickly. Take some probiotics.

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    1. Kristi:
      Imagination and outlining a novella are never a waste of time. I think the antibiotics are working (the side-effects certainly are) and maybe I'll start with amateurbiotics before moving on to semiprobiotics. Then the real thing.

      Delete
  9. the lions are wonderful; I am all for ornate to utilitarian

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    1. Spo:
      They could have simply been slots in the wall. I love the fact that someone thought it was worth the effort.

      Delete
  10. Remind me to tell you more about the "English man on the front desk" next time I see you x

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    1. Deborah:
      I can't wait to hear it. (He was at least very pleasant this go-round...)

      Delete

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