Willow and Juanjo's SplashBlot

We took a nice long walk this morning, then pool time before lunch (Spanish lunch, which is the main meal of the day of course–at 3pm). A light breeze, easing up on the heavy heat that has descended upon us these last few days. This evening, I’m working again. Trying to get through this editing job for a German-born Irish professor who’s turning his dissertation into a book. The last thing I have on my plate work-wise before I can concentrate completely on my own research. Later on tonight we’re going to another jazz concert in town, the last of the series.

Have been feeling restless today, ready to start working on my study, anxious about how it will go. This coming week we’ll be here, then I’ve got the Fulbright orientation the 8th-11th, and then we’ll move into the place in Barcelona. It’s nice to be here, since although I’m working the setting is so beautiful that it’s like we’re on vacation a little. But it will also be nice to get started with the project I came here to do.

How has your Sunday been? What are you looking forward to, or enjoying right now?

We went out with Juanjo’s old friends last night, met up and had a drink at a jazz concert downtown. They’d set up the stage between City Hall and the Cathedral, and the plaza was full of people. Rows of people sitting down in the front, and then a bar set up at the back, right next to where we entered the Cathedral for our wedding. Late Spanish night, dinner at a terraza, drinks over the river, cute dresses and flip-flops in fashion on the boys. The concert series lasts 4 days, we might go again with Juanjo’s Mom tomorrow.

Yesterday I went to the library and every seat was taken–every single one! Something like 150 people all packed into the reading room, studying for September exams. The room almost hummed with braininess. So I went up to the cafe, which is on the 9th floor, and set myself up to work at one of the tables there. The view is so spectacular, and I got to drink good coffees, so I was happy! That and I finished the work I still had remaining on my adviser’s project, at least for now.

We’ll most likely move to Barcelona on the 11th now, after my Fulbright orientation in Madrid. Less back and forth for me which is nice, and more time enjoying the summer a little bit here in Toledo.

We’ve also been working on getting my visa taken care of, figuring out whether to do a student visa, or apply for citizenship through marriage, or both. Here we are waiting in line for passport-size pictures this morning. I think I’m a person with a fair amount of patience for paperwork, but the amount of paperwork involved with visas and cross-national marriage is really astounding. Luckily the people were really nice here and we have an appointment next week to help us sort it all out. I’m looking forward to having 2 passports one day!

Now that we’ve found an apartment, I’m looking forward to a week spent near home in Toledo, with mid-day breaks by the pool. Laps for exercise, starting a new book, and warm summer weather. Working at home in the morning all week (writing), lunch breaks by the pool, then afternoons/evenings at the Alcazar library. Am feeling pretty lucky!

Thursday we took the high speed train from Toledo to Barcelona, switching in Madrid. An early train (left Toledo at 6:50), so we were the goofy couple keeping all the poor commuters awake, taking pictures and getting excited about looking for our house in Barcelona.

We spent two full days looking all over the city, walking more than either of us have walked in ages, the humidity and 90-degree weather leaving us exhausted at the end of every day. But the work paid off. We found an apartment that is well-located, with nice furnishings, a price that meets our budget, and near Juanjo’s friends.

Here we are in the doorway of the new place. And at least for now, there are pictures here of the inside of the apartment (we’ll post some of our own once we move in in early September). We found several houses we liked a lot with an agency that charged one month of rent for their service, and looked at places all over the city. In the end having friends to look at ads with us and help us figure out the right area was key. The place is a 10 or 15 minute walk from Plaza Cataluña, which is the center of town. And near lots of good public transit. We’re pretty happy with how it all worked out!