Barcelona Diary 2023

Still in USA:




Note to Dora: can't win the lottery if you lose the tickets you bought.





Weather has turned cold and very windy. Walking the dog first thing in the morning is an ordeal.

Grocery store has no eggs at all, for second day in a row.

Paid with my new credit card in a "contactless" way, a first for me.

Sister arrived from south.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Headache all day; couldn't get rid of it.

Out to lunch at a Bolivian place with Dora and her father. Drunk Colombian guy at next table tried to pick a fight with me, for some reason. But he was leaving, so soon the problem was over.



Headachey all day again.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



In the evening, signing up for a family trip to Port Aventura in early Sept.







Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to medical class.



Dora out to work.



Installed Ubuntu Unity 22.10 on my laptop.





Online, submitted my 720 tax form to Spain.



At 3 AM, Dora having severe kidney stone pain. Off to the local urgent-care place. Home at 5:15.





Last night's update to Ubuntu Unity munched my laptop. Spent all day trying to fix it, with advice from people online. Just made it worse.



Installed Zorin OS 16 on my laptop.



In USA, there was a remembrance gathering for my brother, and later his ashes were spread in a park lake.













In the evening, out for an expensive stroll with Dora: to ATM, then bought €52 of computer ink, then bought €195 of course-books for her. Plus assorted snacks and groceries.







In the evening, out with Dora and son to ECI to buy a new laptop for Dora. Of course the one I looked at 4-5 days ago is no longer €600; the sale is over, it's €730. But it didn't matter anyway, because Dora fell in love with a €1200 gaming laptop, especially the glossy OLED display. It's 10x the computer she needs, for 2x the price I was hoping to pay. But I decided a happy wife was worth the extra money. We bought it.

Setting up the computer: As usual, Microsoft and Windows require lots of privacy compromises. Trying to rip the McAfee AV stuff out. Copying lots of serial numbers etc. Configuring Edge, Chrome, and Firefox browsers. Display is 2800x1620, 120 Hz (but with some 165 Hz mode ?). Not a single dead pixel on it, as far as I can tell using a test site. CPU (Intel I9-11900H) about 15% faster than the one in my laptop. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics. 512 GB SSD (Micron 2450). Thunderbolt port, gigabit Ethernet, more.









Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.















Dora out to work.







Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

To former bank, and with some printed info and my limping Spanish, managed to pay €2 and get the tax-related info I need.

Train tickets I bought for Dora last night have to be cancelled; someone told her the wrong dates (by 3 months). Paid €242, get back €85. Wonderful.

Workman came and I paid €285 for a new videophone for the building-door-unlock in our apartment.

Online, booked a trip for 5 of us to go to Universal Studios in Florida in May. 3 days, 4 nights in the park(s) for $2900. $3600 for plane tickets plus later $375 more for baggage.



Dora out to work.

Online, filed my US 1040 tax return (including FATCA). Took three tries to get it accepted.



Dora out to work.



Late-evening Zoom call with family in USA.



Dora out to work.



Installed PC Linux OS on my laptop, but it was unusable. Installed Linux Fedora 37 Kinoite.



Went to US consulate and had a US document notarized (€48).



To post-office to send document to USA.





Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.







Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Online, filed my US FBAR tax declaration.

Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.





Dora out to work.







Dora out to work.



Sister arrived from the South.



Dog went to groomer: pic.

Dora out to work.

Sister from North arrived with twins.



Both sisters and three kids went off to visit family in Romania.







Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

At midnight, family arrived back from Romania.



Dora out to work.



Online, bought a new phone, a Google Pixel 6a.



Dora out to work.

In the evening, had a little birthday party for two family members who have birthdays coming up soon.



Both sisters and children departed.

Installed Nobara 37 Linux on my laptop.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to class all day.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

Received my new phone. Started installing GrapheneOS on it.



Dora out to work.







Dora out to work.



Dora out to work and then class.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.





Dora out to work.





Dora out to work and class all day.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to class.



Dora out to work.



Coming in with the dog from our morning walk, got in the elevator, doors closed, and then building power went out. Fortunately it was out for only a minute or so. Didn't seem to bother the dog.

Out with Dora to get new eyeglasses ordered for me; my current ones are in atrocious shape.





In the evening, online, suddenly made a lot of progress on applying for renewal of my residency here. Not sure what I did differently, or if something changed in the system, but was able to submit almost all of my application. A big relief.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Dora out to work.

Escorted niece to the Macquinista mall, on one of the busier shopping days of the year.

Sister arrived from the South.





Niece to England on a school trip.

Out with Dora to National Police so I could do paperwork there.



Dora out to class all day.





Dora out to work.

In the evening, picked up my new eyeglasses. I think they're pretty good, but my eyes are bad.

After a week of worrying and two rejections, on the third try Dora's sister got travel permission to go with us on our trip to Florida. Turns out she has a new passport that the rest of us didn't know about.



Dora out to work.



In the evening, niece back from trip to England.







Dora out to work.



Sister arrived from the South.

Getting ready for our trip to Universal Studios in Florida. Dog delivered to a friend's place. Dora's 91-year-old father will be staying here by himself. Last-minute purchase of another suitcase.





Trip to Universal Studios in Florida:




Sister back to the South.





Dora out to work.





Online, did my Spanish income tax (modelo 100) and wealth tax (modelo 714) returns.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to all-day class. but she only went to the morning session.

Toilet repairman put new seat on. The part was expensive (€95), the labor was cheap (€15, gave him €20). The bolts/nuts were frozen, so I couldn't do it myself.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.





Dora out to work.

Online, made reservations for a vacation in Copenhagen in July.





Dora out to work.



Dora and I went to see an apartment for sale. Cheap (€265k), and near our current apartment (which I want), and a decent size (95 sqmeters). But lots of small rooms, overlooking a busy street, few windows, tiny balcony, 2nd bathroom has no sink, more. Not interested.



Dora out to work and class.



Dora out to class and work.

At 10 PM, took suitcase to bus station, met Dora there, she got on a bus to Madrid.



Dora in class in Madrid.



Dora home from Madrid.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to class all day.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Niece and father off to the North for the summer.



Dora out to work.





Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

In the evening, brother-in-law arrived in truck from Bilbao to deliver a huge echography machine that Dora has bought from her sister. He didn't stay long, soon back on the road right back to Bilbao.



Dora out to work. But turned out she read her schedule wrong, no work today, so she went to medical administrative office instead.

Son had big medical school test this morning. He thinks he did okay. If he passes, he'll get his certification. But he won't know until October.

Dora came home, and soon fired up the echography machine. Then I was her test-subject for a while.



After walking the dog, I laid down for another echography practice session with Dora.

Dora out to work.

I went out to medical appointment at 3, got a shingles vaccination. But later online I saw they gave me the old vaccine, not the new one that I asked for. [A week later, after asking online, they insist I got the right one, the new one.]

Lots of firecrackers outside tonight, the whole week has been building up to this.

I've been feeling sick much of the day, allergies and a headache and a fever.

Had a terrible night, coughing and headache and unable to sleep.



Very quiet morning, after all the noise last night. Almost no car-traffic.

Still feeling lousy today. Took the dog for a couple of shortish walks because there's no one else to do it.



Feeling a bit better today (thanks to medicines), less headache and coughing, still feel weak.



Feeling pretty good this morning; still a cough, still taking antibiotics. Out to bank to pay tasa for regreso. Defrosted refrigerator.

Dora out to work.

Dora pulled an all-nighter, studying for a test.



Dora out to class/test.

At 11, to metro and well across town to Llobregat, to a national police station. A wasted trip, they told me I didn't need regreso since I'll be traveling only inside the EU. I probably knew that already, my mistake.



Out after 9 with Dora, to see an apartment for sale fairly nearby. Turned out to be interesting, a cheap price but needing a lot of upgrades: do new electrical, change bottle gas to pipe, install heating/AC, new kitchen, renovate bathroom. So to sale price of maybe €210K add work of maybe €50K. Biggest downside is that there is only one bathroom.

About to get onto metro train to go see another apartment, when Dora got a message cancelling the appointment, someone is sick. Fine with me, it was in a location I don't want.

Dora out to work.

In afternoon and evening, tried installing new Linux on my laptop. Tried Qubes, too many inconveniences. Three other distros failed to install. Finally ended up on ParrotOS.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to class.

Street art from last week or so: pics.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Dora out to work.





Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

In the evening, at 7:30 we're out and into a taxi and to a concert on Montjuic. Juan Luis Guerra, extremely popular with South Americans. The music was okay, but it was loud and hot and crowded. I tolerated it, Dora loved it, and she danced every song. Out as the last encore was proceeding, and were very lucky to grab a taxi home. Home before 11:45. The luxury of taking taxis instead of walk-longmetroride-walk was well worth the cost.



Out at 4:30 to see a couple of apartments for sale. Ended up seeing only one, and it was not impressive, needs work and some problems are unfixable.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.





Trip to Denmark:


Out in late afternoon to look at two apartments for sale nearby. First was nice in many ways, but only one bathroom and needs new electrical and really a new kitchen. Second was too small in every way. Dora is hot to decide soon and buy something; I want to take our time.



Pretty hot today, 35C.

Out in late afternoon to look at an apartments for sale nearby. Apartment was bad, small and two stories, etc. Afterward into real estate office where Dora was eager to buy an apartment we saw yesterday, I want to wait and see what comes onto the market.



At 9:30 in the evening, the airline delivered one of our missing suitcases, mine. 3 days late. Still no news on Dora's suitcase.



Out in mid-morning to see an apartment for sale. A bit too far from our existing apartment (I want to be near because we'll be coming back daily to deal with dog, father, niece, son). And only one bathroom; I want two. No air-conditioning, needs new electric, etc.





In late afternoon, out to nearby Peruvian restaurant, which turned out to be good. Then to HCC mall to buy a lot of clothes. Pic.





Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

In late afternoon, out to see another apartment for sale. This one is newly-renovated, everything pretty nice, but the "2nd bathroom" literally is a toilet in the corner of the laundry/water-heater closet.



In mid-morning, out to see another apartment for sale. In same building and floor as another we looked at a week ago, but this one has two bathrooms, and really doesn't need any renovation. It's at the edge of acceptable distance from the current apartment. We decided to make an offer on it, so off to the real-estate office to sign papers.

The owner is asking €265k, and we are offering €253k to start. Other charges of the purchase: €3k to the agency, €25k to the govt for sales tax, about €1.5k to notary.

Home, and sent a €2k deposit to secure our offer.

Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

In the evening, good news: the seller has accepted our offer, no bargaining !

But less-good news: the agency wants their €3000 fee immediately and in cash (they would charge 20% extra for a bank transfer; I guess they're cheating on their taxes). The papers we signed just say the amount, not the date or form of payment. Probably a factor that next week is August and everyone will be on vacation. So we have to hustle to get as much cash as possible out of ATMs.



Out in late morning with Dora to go to 3 of her 4 banks, to see about fees for writing a bank check (cashier's check). As I expected, fees are extortionate: 0.6% at one bank, 0.4% at two others. On a €228,000 check, that's over €900 fee. Stopped at a notary, too. Called 4th bank: 0.4%.

In late afternoon, out to real-estate agency to sign contract and pay their fee. To my surprise, they said we don't need a bank check for the final payment, we can do a transfer (free). And they wrote that in the contract, in contradiction to the paper signed the other day. Another surprise: the guy living there now has several months to find another place and move out. Originally he was going to have 5 months, we cut it down to 3, probably should have cut it to 2. He doesn't get any money until he moves out, so he has an incentive to get out.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Dora out to work.





Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

On the apartment: Owner and real-estate agency are on vacation for several weeks (things here shut down in August). We're looking to pick a notary and an inspector. We've consulted with Dora's sister in the North, who works for a notary. I'm transferring money from USA.



We found an apartment-inspector, price is reasonable.



Dora out to work.



We found an apartment-notary, price is lower than I expected.

Dora out to work.



Dinner at Peruvian restaurant a block or two from home.





Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

Late-evening Zoom call with family in USA.



In late evening, installed Garuda Dr460nized KDE Linux on my laptop.



Dora out to work.

In late evening, to bus station taking a suitcase to Dora. She's off to Bilbao for a brief trip.





Late evening, Dora returned from Bilbao.



Dora out to work.





Out with Dora to national police, to do next step of renewing my residency card. Took about an hour; even though we arrived right at our scheduled time, they just gave us a ticket and we had to wait about 45 minutes before we got in. Everything went okay, I should be able to pick up the card in about a month, which will make it 5 months to do this whole process. New card will be "permanente", which probably means I have to renew every 5 years.

Dora out to work.

Out in late evening. Metro hot and crowded and humid. Met Dora as she came out of work. Into metro and up to street-festival in Gracia. Train packed, and street outside the station not much better. But got away from that, and to a square where we could sit for a while. Shops and restaurants and lots of people. We wandered a bit, bought a necklace, there was a band playing in one square.

Started heading out, and lucked into a nice community garden where they'd set up a cafe. Had sodas and nibbles and enjoyed it. To metro and home after midnight.







Son and dog left for a vacation, with friends.

Dora out to work.

Dog on vacation: lounging in a creek.



Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

Hot, still weather today. And a couple of degrees C hotter where son and dog are vacationing. But they have a creek and a pool.



Dora out to work.



Dog on vacation: in pool.



Dora out to work.

Rain after 6:30 PM, finally breaking the heat we've had for several days.



Raining steadily this morning; nice. Rained off and on all day. Dora and I out to lunch. Dog and son came home from vacation.



Lovely cool weather. Dora out to work.



Dora out to work.

Out after 2:30, metro to Sants Estacio, met Dora there after work. Quick snack, then onto train to airtport. Got there, shuttle bus to other terminal, into baggage claim, then 30 minutes in line at lost-luggage counter. Dora still doesn't have her suitcase from the Denmark trip, and she's been calling and calling but it seems only this counter can do anything.

She's told the suitcase is here but was moved into storage, because no one ever put any of her instructions into the computer. So with luck, they'll get it out and delivered to us in a week (interrupted by our next vacation).

Bus, train, metro and home by 6:45, tired. But there's a dog to be walked.



To Dora's bank a couple of times, trying to get her credit card unblocked. They say maybe it will be unblocked in a couple of days. Making two big charges was enough to get it blocked, apparently, even though credit limit was not exceeded and associated account has plenty of cash in it.

In the evening, struggling with my Spanish bank on web and phone. Their web site fails to show me a code I need to buy things online, says call them on the phone. Then found out that documents I uploaded to them a week ago never arrived, although their site says the upload succeeded. Finally figured out that the code problem was due to a blocker in my browser, I think. Was able to make the final payment for our coming trip to the amusement park, a relief.



Dora out to work.

Niece and father arrived back from their summer in the North. In the afternoon, sister arrived from the South.

In the evening, Dora's lost suitcase was delivered ! Just in time for our trip to the amusement park. About 6 weeks after it was lost during our return from Denmark.



Dora out to work.

In the evening, out with sister to a concert at 9:30, meeting Dora there. An outdoor string-quartet in the old hospital grounds, lit with thousands of candles, quite nice.

I'm glad it's a short concert, since we have to go home and pack for our trip early tomorrow morning. But of course after the concert, Dora and sister want to go to a cafe for drinks and food. Which is nice, but it means we get home at midnight-fifteen.





Trip to Port Aventura:






Sister flew back to the South. Niece is sick, missed first day of school yesterday because we were on vacation, now missing second day of school too.

In the afternoon, to the apartment we're buying, to have an inspector look at it. About all he inspected was walls/ceiling/floors for moisture and mold. Which he did find, in a couple parts of the master bedroom. Now we are going to try to get the current owner to pay for fixing it. Dora's sister and husband from the North looked at the apartment with us. Pics.



In the evening, four of us went to another outdoor candlelight concert at the old hospital. A string quartet again, but this time with two ballet dancers, and doing Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Quite nice. Strolled down to Sagrada Familia afterward.



In midday, contingent from the North headed back home. Their car has a videoscreen for each passenger, and getting the videos started for the kids took a while.











A worker here renovating the bathrooms.

Progress on the new apartment: the owner has moved out, and today we picked a notary to use.



Dora out to work.

Lots of rain in later afternoon; we need it.



Dora out to a congress.



Woke up to find the electricity off. Eventually found that the main breaker had tripped, easy to fix, then later found that the air-conditioner seems to be dead.

Dora out to a congress during the day, home briefly, and then out to work a 12-hour night shift.



Dora out to a congress.

Technician came and fixed the air-conditioner. Bathroom renovations still proceeding.

Dora tells me she wants to buy an office. No ! We're already buying a new apartment. She's been visiting properties without telling me, is going to a bank to see about a mortgage. But she needs my money to pay half the cost.



Dora out to a congress.

Message from Dora, buy a bus ticket to Madrid for her for tomorrow night, she's going to another congress.



Dora out to a congress.

Worker finished with bathrooms here.

In late evening, Dora off to bus station and onto a bus to Madrid, to go to ANOTHER congress, there.





In the evening, went to an outdoor symphony concert, about 6 blocks from our apartment. Nice.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



In the evening, went to another outdoor symphony concert, same location as last night. More crowded tonight, had to stand, lasted 35 minutes and went home.



Dora home before 8. She went out with me to walk the dog at 8:30, and we went to cafe halfway through. She had a good time at her congress in Madrid.

In the evening, went with Dora to another outdoor symphony concert, same location. This time with a chorus, which I didn't like so much. Had to stand again, so we lasted only half an hour before adjourning to a nearby outdoor cafe where we could hear snatches of the music while eating.



In the evening, went with Dora to another outdoor symphony concert, same location. This time a jazz program, which I didn't like. We were able to sit, but even tnen we lasted only 30-40 minutes before adjourning to a nearby cafe.



In midafternoon, to health center for shingles vaccination. This time I'm sure they gave me the new vaccine; will have to see how it appears in the computer system.

Got an updated report from the new-apartment inspector, and now he's saying there's both condensation and a water leak on the wall in question.



Dora and me out after 10. Metro to Placa Espanya, and met my cousin and her partner, who are vacationing here this week. Up to the MNAC museum, and saw most of the modern-art parts of it (especially liked works by Lluis Masriera i Roses). Down and to a restaurant which had been recommended to them, and the food was very nice. Had a good time.



Cousin and partner came to our apartment to visit, and meet the dog.







In late afternoon, out with Dora. Metro to Arc de Triomf, went to Born CC and a museum in there. To Santa Maria del Mar church. Wandered, then a nice dinner at an outdoor cafe, with huge gin-and-tonic's.







In midafternoon, Dora and I went to have teeth cleaned at dentist. But they want to do a deep cleaning, and the pain was too much for both of us. So we made appointments to come back some other time when they have a doctor to give anaesthetic.



Still fighting a cold/allergy I've had for several days now.



Sister arrived from the South. She and half the household (not me) are going to Paris tomorrow, for a medical congress and tourism.

My headache is worse in late evening, just in time for Zoom call with family in USA.



Before noon, Dora and sister and son and niece into a taxi and off to Paris.

Quiet day, except for walking the dog, which I did at 0830, 1230, 1530, 1830, 2200.

They arrived okay in Paris, but I think their apartment is tiny.



Messages from Dora in Paris, she doesn't have internet on her laptop, only data on phone. She wants me to figure out how they can take transit, but started by giving me a slightly wrong street name. Got it figured out eventually.

Later heard they've moved to a new AirBNB.







To medical center to give blood and urine for tests.



Crew from Paris returned at midnight-45. Dog is ecstatic.



Out at 9 with Dora. To an office to ask about her pension, then to a cafe, then to one language-school office, then to another. Home around 2, tired.

In early evening, out with Dora. Picked up my renewed ID card, the whole process took about 7 months. Card is "permanente", which in this case means "good for 10 years".



Apparently we're still on for doing the apartment-closing on Monday. But I've been jammed up on doing the money-transfers, they didn't get the information to me until today, my bank isn't open until Monday, the closing is 10 AM on Monday morning. It's going to be a disaster, everyone will walk in and I'll say the transfers haven't happened, we have to cancel. Dora refuses to concede that there's a problem. We should reschedule.

After consultation with the real-estate agent, all of my concerns are waved away. We'll rely on owner's insurance company to fix the wall after we close. I'll try to do transfers the morning of the closing. If the transfers don't happen, the closing will happen anyway. I don't have payment info for the notary because we'll do that later. Dora will be at the notary without me, and send me pictures of what she's about to sign. All of it seems sloppy to me.

In midafternoon, four of us off to a nearby gym to sign up for memberships. A semi-family deal, I think it's going to cost about $160/month total. Took a while to get signed up. Out, shopping, home, then Dora and I back to gym to use the facilities.

Used various machines, did some light hand-weights, but mainly I did four 5-minute sessions on the stationary bike. That was enough for me. A start.





Up, took dog for very brief walk (it's raining). Called English line for my bank at 9 and they answered right away, I was worried I'd have to try for an hour or more. Started transfers to pay for the new apartment.

To notary by 10. Met the current owners, with real-estate agent. Got various papers, and the office checked that my transfers were in progress. Then the actual notary joined us, and went through the contract very fast. Eventually contract was signed, keys given over, we got a copy of the contract, and a big bill I have to pay (mostly sales tax). Done.

Dora's son joined us afterward, in a cafe. Eventually out, and to new apartment. One surprise: they've removed the refrigerator, washer, and microwave, so we'll have to buy new ones. Dora had assumed we'd get all those, and waved away my questions about it. Also the energy-efficiency inspector says the water-heater is old and inefficient, so we should replace that. For an apartment in fairly good shape, our list of things to buy or have done is pretty long.

Home, and sent money to the notary to pay for their services and pay the 10% sales tax to the government. So that's a total of €255K I've transferred today.

Son went to gym in the afternoon. Dora and I went late, 7 PM, prime time and it was crowded. Dora said she was going to do the jacuzzi, and I felt superior doing five 5-minute shots on a bike, but later I found she did a spinning class, 45 minutes of biking.



Son's laptop is failing, runs extremely slowly, like 1000x slow. I ran diagnostics, and they all passed except for the battery test.



Dora and sister have found a bunch of fraudulent charges on their credit cards, so they have to deal with that.

To gym in midafternoon. Did 6x5 on the bike and a couple of minutes on a stair-step machine.



In later afternoon, Dora told me she was taking a train in the evening to Madrid, to do a medical course there tomorrow.

At 8:30, into metro with Dora. To Sants Estacio, and found a mob-scene. Turns out all the long-distance trains have been stuck for 3 hours or more, maybe because of rain (later heard, major flooding in Zaragoza). Dora's going to wait in hope that her train will go; I went home. Raining steadily when I got home.

Her train eventually left, at 4 AM.



To gym in midafternoon. Did 6x5 on a bike.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.

Dora arrived home at 1 AM.



At 10, Dora and I met workers at the new apartment for an evaluation/plan. As feared, and I wished we had learned from inspection before we bought, the electrical needs a complete rework: new wiring, new outlets and switches, new breaker-box. We're going to do a major upgrade of the air-conditioning; current unit is from 2005 and is undersized and only in living-room. Lots of other stuff: fans in bathrooms, new faucet and maybe replace sink-and-counter, add a sink in small bathroom, new beds, some cabinetry in kitchen so we can have a bigger refrigerator, replace damaged woodwork, more. Guy pointed out some water-damage from the bathroom sink that the inspector missed, I think. I expect we'll spend at least €10K upgrading and furnishing this place. Maybe €15K.

As usual in Europe, the floor-numbering in this building is complicated. They go: 0 (where the building door is), E (entresuelo), 1 (our floor), 2, 3, 4, A (attico), SA (sobreattico), then stairs to door to roof.



To gym with Dora and niece. Did 6x5 on a bike.

Dora's cousin and his coworker came to dinner. They're truckers, driving all over Europe. Dora cooked a big traditional Peruvian dinner.

Water-heater has stopped working.



Prodded Dora and son to call water-heater repair, they didn't do it until midafternoon, but then the guy came in less than two hours and fixed the machine (€45).

In evening, a rush to buy tickets so Dora and I can go to the South tomorrow, returning next day. She needs to have medical scans, and her sister there can arrange them quickly. So bought tickets on Iryo train, to Sevilla. We'll do local train to Jerez and then bus or taxi to Sanlucar.



Up at 5. To metro after 6. To Sants Estacio, and caught our 0705 Iryo train to Madrid. Full, but comfortable, I paid for comfort class.

A 1-hour layover in Madrid station, then 1050 train to Sevilla. Train only about 1/4 occupied.

Arrived at 1345 or so, in a hurry to get down to Sanlucar. But all local trains are sold out for the next couple of hours. Miraculously, fast phone and internet work by Dora, son and sister finds a BlaBlaCar doing just the trip we want, right now. Into a taxi, and with a great deal of trouble found the BlaBlaCar, and off we went.

Arrived at Sanlucar hospital at 4:15, and soon found that the doctor who was going to do the scans as a favor to the sister went home when his shift ended at 3. So we're out of luck.

To sister's house, had a bite to eat, then Dora rushed off in a taxi to have maybe one scan done at some other place ? Not sure. Then her sister went out to do errands and maybe meet Dora. I'm left to loaf and take a shower etc.

Dora and sister home at 10:15. Dora had one scan, the more important of the two, and has a big IV tap in her hand. I thought because she's going to have another scan tomorrow, but she says no, she is going to do a platelet treatment on herself tonight. And we have to gather things from sister to take back to Barcelona. I think she should skip the treatment, take out the IV, and get to bed ASAP.



Dora spent all morning doing a platelet treatment, doing injections into her face. And she's trying to stuff 4 suitcases of stuff into 2 suitcases. And she said we had to go to the Post Office to ship something, but that never happened. I got more and more nervous as time ebbed away. Finally got out the door after 1 to go in taxi to catch 1:15 bus to Sevilla. Two big bulging heavy suitcases and 3 small bags and our personal bags.

And we did catch the bus, and it did have seats availabe, and we did get to Sevilla, had a bite to eat, Taxi to train station and onto fast train to Madrid.

Arrived, taxi, home before midnight. Dog is ecstatic to see us.



Peeling 5 Kg of apples to make apple pies.

In the afternoon, my sister and her husband came over. They're on their last stop of a 3-month European stay. They got to see and walk the dog, and saw the old apartment and the new one, and we had a nice lunch with them.

To gym with Dora and niece. Did 6x5 on a bike.



In early afternoon, to government office to do a couple of procedures, including a permit to start renovations on the new apartment. Apparently the price quote we're getting is somewhere around €10K plus 21% tax. Doesn't include beds or fridge or washer, may increase with new water-heater, new ceiling, new parquet floor in hallway. We should have an actual quote around Monday.

In midafternoon, hauled heavy apple pies and other stuff to sell to niece's school.

In early evening, into costumes and to niece's school. I thought we were going to a party, to serve food. But it turns out the party was earlier, we're here just to repackage the apple pies into salable form and retrieve the baking dishes. Confused, but I'm used to it.



Met my sister and her husband at Arc de Triomf, gave them a little tour of Parc Ciutadella and Born. Had a nice dinner at a Basque restaurant.

To gym, did 6x5 on a bike.



Had lunch with my sister and her husband near Sants Estacio.



To medical center to get vaccinated for flu and COVID.

To gym, did 6x5 on a bike.

To dentist with Dora, but soon she was in and getting anaesthetic and a cleaning, and I was on my own. They did an x-ray and exam on me. I thought I was going to get anaesthetic and a cleaning too, but then they were saying no, I need a special cleaning for about €150, and maybe other stuff all adding up to €550. Waited until Dora came out, heard three different stories about what I need or what they can do for me, decided to do nothing. Dora has to go to a class, so we left. Then it turns out I'm signed up to come back next week for a free cleaning of some sort, with anesthetic. So I'm confused.



Finally we have a quote for work on the new apartment. It's €21K, not the €10K we were guessing. Doesn't include furniture (beds, sofa, etc) and appliances (fridge, washer, microwave, new water-heater) and painting all the walls. Includes new parquet floor throughout the whole apartment, which I didn't know they were recommending. Includes new ceilings, which my previous estimate hadn't included. We want better air-conditioners, might add another €2K or so. Supposedly they wanted to start today, but we got the quote at 3 AM last night.



Workers came over to go through the contract, and various clarifications and choices of the work. By picking better brand of air-conditioners, total has increased to €23K (still with furnishing and appliances and painting additional). No new water-heater needed. Parquet to be picked later. By increasing space for refrigerator, we lose a set of kitchen cabinets, with no replacement proposed. And we're assuming we have to pay to repair the water-damaged wall in bedroom; previous owner's insurance says it's condensation from normal use. Previous owner's insurance MAY cover water-damaged wall in hallway. The work is expected to take 1.5 months, an increase from 1 month mentioned earlier.

Then we went to the new apartment, and changed some decisions. We can avoid losing some kitchen cabinets. And instead of replacing parquet flooring throughout the apartment for €3500, we'll do just the hallway for maybe more like €500. The rest of the parquet isn't perfect, but it's good enough.

Today's a holiday, the gym closes early. Rushed to gym with Dora, did 2x10 on a bike before we had to stop.

Dora's going to a Madonna concert tonight with her sister and her son, and at the last minute she realized she never actually bought a ticket for herself. Was able to buy one for €85, I'm surprised they weren't sold out.

Dora, sister, and son out to concert in the evening.



Dora and niece off to Madrid. But they missed their train, had to change to next one.

Sister back to the North. But because of overbooking, she had to wait for a flight 7 hours later.

Chilly and windy in the evening.



To gym, did 4x10 on a bike.

Chilly and windy in the evening, again.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



While walking the dog, went to new apartment to check on it. Nothing has changed, all contents still there, no signs of any work done.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike, on slightly higher effort setting.

Dora and niece home from Madrid, at almost 1 AM.



Workers showed up at new apartment to do work, first time I think.

In midafternoon, I went to have my teeth cleaned. Hated every second of it, but necessary.



Workers busy in new apartment. I went there to put the work-permit on the door.

In early afternoon, made a massive run to the pharmacy, with a stack of prescriptions written by Dora. 8 medicines for her father, with 4 more to pick up tomorrow. 24 items for Dora, a couple of them supplies such as gauze, but most medicines, and they did't have about 6 things she wanted. Total was €68 or so. [Turned out later, some of the things "for her father" are not for him, just on his card.]

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike. I've been trying to lose some weight recently, just weighed myself at 101 Kg. With height of maybe 1.83 - 1.84 meters, that gives BMI of 30. Not good, but I care more about my shape than my weight. If I had more muscle and less fat, those numbers would be fine with me. I'm 65 years old, if that matters.



In late afternoon, went to new apartment to check on workers. They're busy, chiseling through walls to expose electrics, air full of dust, they're wearing respirators.

Dora falling asleep in her food around 9 PM. She was at a bank for hours trying to arrange a special account for her autonomo/business. Not sure when it will be active. Finally she goes to bed, saying wake her up at 1 AM.

At 1 AM, I find out she's going on another trip to Madrid. She wakes up the whole household with her last-minute emergency stuff as she gets ready to go. Finally at 2:30 or so she's into a taxi to the airport, I think.



Son and I go to new apartment to make decisions about AC outlet positions and related things. Gets complicated, involving arrangement of furniture in main room, and when I suggest waiting for Dora to get back from Madrid, I find out she's going to be gone for 5 days. And the woodwork in the main room has peeling laminate and needs to be replaced; there goes another chunk of money.

The work so far has been demolition: pics.

There's also a squeeze with paying the workers. She needs to pay out of her new account, but who knows when that will be up ? Later I get cash in case there's a way that could be helpful, but I don't think so.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.





[Continued from last night] Dora is stuck in Madrid, needs to pay for courses and hotel, but none of her three or four credit-cards work. Last night, I tried to pay for her (USA-based) course, but failed. This morning, trying to fix her credit cards. But she has to push buttons in phone app, and send info to me. And app is failing. Tried another account. We're communicating over WhatsApp, but she keeps going away and not sending codes to me in time. [Turns out she lied to me, she's in Las Vegas. And she arrived too late for the exam which was the main point of going.] Now she's trying to abandon her course and hotel, and fly back today.

Workers came and I paid them €1600.

Got one of Dora's credit cards charged, I think. She's going to take the slow, cheaper way home. Wait half a day in LV airport, fly to NYC, wait half a day in JFK, fly to Barcelona, I think. And she's tired and stressed at the start of it.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.



Surprised when Dora arrived home before noon. She talked her way onto the earlier flight (through Atlanta) for no extra charge.

More things she didn't tell me about: She's forming a business to cover her medical practice. She's spending €2K on instruments despite me saying no. And she signed up a trainer for her son despite my saying no.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.



Sick in afternoon: upset stomach, feeling weak, some chills, maybe some fever. Went to bed.

Didn't sleep well at night.



Still sick: feeling weak, queasy, headachey. Skipping gym today.



Feeling mostly better.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.



Looked in new apartment. Not much progress on the work, probably since we haven't paid them on the schedule the contract calls for. I had cash to pay them tonight, and Dora was going to get more cash, but the workers had left early or just were working somewhere else, we missed meeting them to pay.

To farmacia with Dora for another huge load of medicines (€154). I think she's giving away some to friends, and maybe stocking up for the family ?

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.





Out at 12:30 so for an all-afternoon death-march of errands with Dora. To phone shop, business-card shop, printer cartridge shop, bank, new apartment, post office, bank, restaurant, new apartment, cafe, management office for apartment, phone shop. Not as bad as other death-marches we've had, since this one was all-local and the weather was nice and we got a fair number of things accomplished. Paid €3400 to the workers.

One surprise: the building-association for the new apartment has zero money in the bank, might even have debts. Failed recent building certfication because of it, and each apartment has to pay about €2000 over the next year (and that might not be the end of it) to create a fund. I had asked about exactly this, at multiple points during the buying process, and got stonewalled by everyone including Dora. Now she says she asked several times, and the agent stonewalled her.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike. At home, Dora slept for an hour or two in front of TV, woke up thinking it was morning already.

At night, couldn't sleep at all. Finally Dora gave me a pill, which did what I expected: didn't quite get me to sleep, but made it very hard to get out of bed at 6:30 for Dora's early appointment.



To hospital early so Dora could have a scan. I'm falling asleep.

Then to notary to yell at them about how the apartment title came out: despite our trying to put everything in Dora's name, it was put 50/50 in our two names. They changed their story a couple of times but finally said registro requires it that way. They didn't explain this to us when we were closing. Dora filled out a complaint form. Ultimately, it doesn't really matter, but we wanted it our way.

To a cafe, then I went home while Dora and son went on to do more errands far away.

Feeling a bit tired, maybe a bit of a cold.



Out before noon with the workers, to go shopping. Drove out to mega-stores outside Badalona. First to ObraMat, where we picked up a few things. Then to IKEA.

After much looking and time spent, we bought about €2000 of stuff: a fridge/freezer, a washing machine, new deluxe shower hardware for both bathrooms, new sink-cabinet for big bathroom. No amazing bargains, I think.

Paying was an adventure. Apparently they don't accept cash at all, so the €700 in cash I had was useless. I maxxed out my credit card with €900. Dora managed to get her IKEA Visa activated, and put €600 on it. The head worker maxxed out his card with €430, and the other worker put €30 or so on his account. I paid them back in cash right away.

Picked up the stuff, loaded the truck, to new apartment where 3 guys were waiting to help unload. Home by 5:30 or so.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.





Son left for vacation in Nice France.

To new apartment with Dora, to decide about some wood-laminate in living room. Place is busy, 4 workers. Electrical conduits have been cemented-in in most places.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.



In the morning, Dora collecting food for a food-bank, at a local shop.

In the evening, out shopping with Dora. Painful: all the shops are crowded.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.



Out on another death-march with Dora. To bank, where I find out she's trying to apply for a loan to buy a private office (my attitude is: over my dead body). Into center, to pick up repaired laptop, and leave another for repair/upgrade. To a fast-food place to use bathroom and get a snack. To language-class office. Metro to near home; I hit ATM and then went home, Dora tried to go to a dental appointment but was too late. Later she has to go back into the center to another language-class office (but she ended up going to the library instead).



Son is back from France.

Dora paid €900 to workers from one of her accounts. Later paid another €2100.

Out with Dora on a semi-death-march: two medical clinics, mostly waiting. Bought an external disk drive.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike. Knee still hurts from trying a step-machine last time, not going to do that again.



Out all morning with Dora, to banks and shoe-repair shop.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.



Weather turned colder in afternoon, as forecast.

In evening, Dora off to Madrid for a class.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.





To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.

Thought Dora would be home last night, but now she says she's staying in Madrid all week. She's found a nice and cheap hotel a bit outside, likes it.



Apparently Dora was on a local train outside of Madrid when it crashed. She bumped her face a little, didn't stay to have any doctor look at it.

Sister arrived from the South.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.

I'm told Dora went to an ER to be checked out for any head injury from the train crash. She's okay.



Dora arrived home before midnight.



Dora kept me off-balance all day, never did walk the dog properly or go to the stores or go to the gym. In afternoon, we went to a Chinese restaurant, then in evening some relatives from Peru came to visit with us.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.

Sister went back to South.



Out with Dora in late afternoon. To bus station and bought tickets to North for Christmas. Then to a restaurant for dinner. Afterward, Dora was falling asleep. Then her stomach started feeling bad. Stopped in one cafe mostly to use bathrooms. Into metro, and she seemed do okay on the train. But then up on the street, she was falling asleep, felt bad, could hardly walk. Finally got moving, got home, and she went right to bed. With bad sleep habits, too much stress, taking too many pills, some medical issues, lack of exercise, overweight, I worry that she's in bad shape.



A long list of errands to do, and we really only got out to one of them, the tax office.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.





Paid €7000 to workers from one of Dora's accounts. About 6000 of it should go for air-conditioners and related parts, rest for labor to install them.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.



After a day of various things, Dora has an MRI scheduled for midnight ! So she and I are out to go to it. She went in at 0005 and out at 0130. But the technician says the image was blurred, probably Dora fell asleep in the machine and moved a bit. Home and to bed by 2:20.



To medical center for a pneumococcus vaccination.

To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.

Late-night Zoom call with family in USA.



Father and niece off to the North for the holidays.



To gym, did 3x10 on a bike.

At 11:30, trying to sneak into bed in the dark without waking Dora, I found (the hard way) that she was sleeping with half a mug of coffee (and half a dozen other things) in the bed. The coffee emptied itself onto the sheets, had to remake the bed before sleeping.



Dog went to stay with son's friend for the holidays.



Son left to go to the North.

Another death-march day of errands with Dora. Out at 10:45, taxi to language school, did stuff there, stopped for breakfast for Dora, to train, train to metro to hospital, did laboratory but offices are closed, out for lunch, back to hospital, delivered presents, to ECI post office, Dora spent 1.5 hours writing Christmas cards, finally sent them, taxi, and home by 8:45 at night.



At 0740, Dora popped open the bedroom door and said "workers are here !". News to me. I stayed in bed. They fixed a door in the other bedroom, and looked at a piece of furniture in my bedroom for a minute or two.

Dora out to a lot of medical appointments. I went to gym, did 3x10 on a bike.







Trip to Ampuero in Cantabria:

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