Category Archives: Spain

Watches of unexcelled precision

Posted on June 7, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

(The title is from a spam I received today, which poetically reminded me: “Long ago did fashionable wrist watches become an integral part of image!” Ah, long ago…) Yesterday, I sat with dozens of nervous people in the waiting area … Continue reading →

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Good old golden rule days…

Posted on May 23, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

A few weeks back I enrolled in an autoescuela (driving school). It has the unlikely name of “Racing School” (something you’re not likely to be doing on the busy streets around here). Although I got my first driver’s licence 20 … Continue reading →

Posted in Barcelona, Spain | Leave a comment

A knight “errand”, part III

Posted on May 12, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

Our last chapter left our hapless hero preparing himself mentally for a gruelling visit to the comisería. It was an unusually cool Thursday (at the end of March), and it went something like this: I’m sitting outdoors, with frozen hands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Barcelona, Spain | Leave a comment

Sweet, sweet rain

Posted on April 17, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

Ah, that sound is magic…it’s pouring rain outside. It’s the first time we’ve had any serious rain since I arrived in Barcelona almost a month ago. The entire region (Catalunya) is suffering from a drought, the reservoirs are very low, … Continue reading →

Posted in Barcelona, Spain | 1 Comment

Dreams of fútbol

Posted on April 8, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

Last night, after 17 days in Barcelona, I dreamed of fútbol. Sure, I’m aware of the extreme passion people here feel for their (our) team, Barça — which includes meeting them with hate-filled protests at the airport and cursing them … Continue reading →

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A knight “errand”, part II

Posted on March 30, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

Dulcinea and I arrived at the Oficina de Extranjeros, near Estació de França train station, around 11h30. There was a milling and frustrated crowd of immigrants outside, wanting papeles and work permits. There was a metal gate with a guard … Continue reading →

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A knight “errand”, part I

Posted on March 28, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

I arrived in Barcelona a week ago (in the famous Spanish novel our hero arrives there just before the end of his story, but (hopefully) it’s toward the beginning of mine!). Spent a nice four-day weekend with my “Dulcinea” (something … Continue reading →

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Catalonia Dreamin’

Posted on March 20, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

I’m Barcelona-bound, at last. I had seven months of visa-waiting (almost to the day). Now, seven weeks after that (precisely to the day), my house is under new ownership, my worldly possessions have been redistributed, given away, sold, or are … Continue reading →

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Calling all cars

Posted on February 26, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

What have I been doing for the last few hours, days, weeks? I’ve been writing letters and calling companies, governments, departments, divisions and issuing bodies, telling them to take me off their lists, to move me, to update or cancel … Continue reading →

Posted in Just...life!, Montreal, Spain | Leave a comment

Things in Spain are moving quickly

Posted on February 21, 2008 by El jardinero zurdo

Note that I’m no longer talking about visas, or about my preparations to move, but rather about the AVE, the Spanish high-speed train, which today (February 20 when I started this post) made its first runs between Barcelona and Madrid. … Continue reading →