Madrid Day 1

Bueno! Okay, here are the bullet points from the day. There will be more pictures and details to follow in other reports. This just brings you up to speed. Put on the seatbelt (BTW, at this moment Kim has been awake for 31+hrs...not a good idea. And, I have been at it for 38+hrs)

1. Plane in Charlotte, NC could not take off because "something was not working properly" so said the stewardess. Let's just say that did not put me in a trusting mood.

2. I felt too nervous in the restroom on the plane to Madrid to do my real business. I settled for a number one.

3. Once in Madrid we got to the important matters: getting a train ticket to Barcelona, getting a map that made sense, realizing that Kim could not take her suitcase onto the people movers because the sign said "NO."

4. That's when it all started, we put mr. DEBIT card in the machine, and no money came out. We just happened to have some Euros from several years ago, so we were able to scoot around a bit...but we knew this was a sign of things to come.

5. Off the train, and we were hit with the reality that although she's cute and fiesty, Kim's not quite strong enough to carry her rollie suitcase...insert, husband to carry rollie suitecase and giant camping backpack. That's how I roll(seriously it hurt bad enough to cry).

6. Once into the city, it was crisp and early so we headed over to the park...and I went straight to sleep...30 mins, while Kim did some people watching...and it's quite remarkable just how good the dads are over here. they really take care of the kids...not the normal, "yeah, just put the kid in the play pin...i'll watch him while the game's on" kinda dad...I'm talking playing on the swingset kinda dad...beautiful. did I mention that i was freezing cold as well.

7. Next order of business was to call the guy who was meeting us with the keys to our apartment..but guess what, neither of us can work the phone so we just threw away 2 euros. the phone clearly says, "this phone does not return change." what a thief.

8. So, we decided we'd just try the ATM again, strike 2 and 3 on different ATMs. This was really not good considering that money has ceased to grown on trees here in Spain, so this would require us making some appear out of our personal piggy bank...oh boy...not good.

9. I was getting shakey like I'd just ridden my 4 hr of a hard ride, and not feeling too good...so we went to some little outdoor deli...pretty good...i mean, they could have brought me roast duck-billed platapus, and I would have enjoyed it.

10. We decided then to use what FEW euros we had left and take the metro over to our apartment to wait.

11. We sat on a park bench for one whole hour...well actually Kim watched my back, while I slept for about 40 mins. Good girl.

12. We sat in front of the apartment, waiting...waiting...and no one showed. Did i mention that about 2% of the grocery stores and resturants actually take the plastic, our Debit Card will not work in any ATM, and we presently have about 8 euros?

13. 2 of the residents in the hotel feel sorry for us, figure out what's up, and put us in contact with the guy who still has not shown up with our key.

14. we check out the apartment only to find it very well decorated in FULL IKEA head to toe, but obviously NOT CLEANED from the last set of folks staying there.

15. one thing led to another...we get someone coming over to clean...so we head to the grocery store, load up...get to the counter...they don't take the plastic...we run out of the store and nearly cry in unison.

16. we score a phone card at some really really random store...bingo...they take plastic.

17. in the midst of all the turmoil, we spot a loan grocery that apparently is also known for it's animal slaughtering techniques because there was meat/carcus all over the store...we find food, VIA PLASTIC BOOYAH!!! madrid -6, kimjulian -2

18. on our way home, we take the phone card, call up the kids over at bank of america....35 minutes of the 45 minute phone card, with 3 call backs later...we now have the debit card UNBLOCKED(thx for looking out BOA), and we are in business.

so how did we celebrate all this success except by thanking God for being so good? Well, we like to sum it up with: 1 liter nestea, 1 liter OJ, 1 olive oil chips, 1 bag doritoz...and not to mention that as i am typing...kim has successfully...passed out on my arm.

tennessee is currently being beaten by BAMA