h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, it was never my intention to *over organise* everybody. In fact, that was the reason for the 'info packs'. So we could meet up on Thursday and I could give them to you all and then . . . well, whatever. I thought it would help with knowing where to go, what to see, etc. I never said any of this had to be done with me and Noggin.

So, I guess Thursday dinner is off then since everyone wants to do their own thing. I'll just leave the info stuff at your pensión/hotel. You can pick it up at the reception desk.


az

I think Thursday dinner is a great idea - we'd still be up for that! I mean, the Spanish eat dinner about 10 at night, right?


(Hmmm, who was it who described trying to organise a bunch of researchers as like trying to herd cats...)

Oh gosh! What have I started!

I was really looking forward to the Thursday dinner!!!

I just didn't want you to have to go to loads of trouble to meet us on Thursday afternoon when we know that you're really busy with the business.

*Goes to hide behind monitor and feel bad*

Two more for Tapas/dinner on Thursday night - please

Me too, unless I'm already !

We've made a reservation at the Cervecería Giralda on c/Mateos Gago for 8.30 on Thursday.

It's the one you can see here

http://www.sevilla5.com/eat-drink/giralda_es.html

not to be confused with the Restaurante Giralda on the corner.

Noggin

That looks fab!

(Strange how many of my current conversations involve arrangements for drinking....)

B

Whoops - off line for a couple of days and 47 posts all in organisational mode here.

Az - thanks for your wonderful help and offer to meet me at the station. I shall do my best to catch the train I hoped for, although I have a knack of getting lost finding my way to bus stops at airports/the right platform at stations etc. The big stuff I'm OK with. I usually find myself on approximately the right continent.

I shall wear a goo blue hootoo T shirt (underneath loads of jumpers and stuff, which I will probably have stripped off by Seville, if not in Jerez already!) and phone/text you when I get on the train from Jerez, as you request. If I miss it, I'll have fun sussing out Jerez until the next train goes, but that will mean missing lunch with you lot, so I really will try hard. There's always the option of a taxi from the airport to the station in Jerez. Like Z, I never really include taxis in plans, but what the hell.

Finally broke the news to hubby : "You do realise that it was next weekend I was going to Spain, don't you?" Oh - and the tight money situation resolved itself this morning - I found an envelope in among some papers in the kitchen as I tidied up. It looked like junk mail, but I opened it - and inside was a cheque for seven hundred pounds sterling. Dividend on shares I have. So one round of cava or a round of tapas will be on me!

Many thanks to Az for all this level-headed organisation and preparation for us.

I had almost forgotten that we were going to be in a city with a rich cultural heritage and lots to see - so far I was just looking forward to seeing you lot and being somewhere where the crocuses aren't shivering on their little stems.

Better go and check out a bit of history and stuff. Don't want to look silly at the Seville quiz, do we?

>> Oh - and the tight money situation resolved itself this morning - I found an envelope in among some papers in the kitchen as I tidied up.

Wooo HOOOOO!

They do that to make you open the junk mail, of course!

Az, Noggin, is there a weather site with numbers and pictures for monoglots? I am just engaging with the dual concepts of having to restrict myself to cabin baggage and the fact that whatever the weather is, it won't actually be grey and +7C. A website'll help me know what to blow the moths away from.

B

Yup - MoG found this for us a while back: http://www.exploreseville.com/weather.htm

Tomorrow I embark on the Adventure! Wooooohooooo!

Looks like Seville will be a bit chilly by my standards, no need for me to pack sandals for this trip. That means more space for az.

Definitely count me in for the Thurs. night tapas! I can't wait to meet y'all!

Seville Quiz? Oh well, it'll give me an opportunity to reinforce the stereotype of Ignorant American.

poop. My desk is total chaos, I've misplaced the paper with your mobile number on it, az, and I've no idea which email it's in. Could you email it to me again, please? Today (at last) I'm organizing all my travel and contact info in one document.

Here you can check flight status online, I usually do this before I go to pick up people from the airport in case there's a last minute delay so I don't have to hang out waiting for the plane to arrive. Can that be done there as well? I'll be on British Airways flight 7087 (Iberia--IB4143) arrive Seville 14:50. Will definitely call from Heathrow if I *know* there's a delay, sometimes they happen once you're already sitting in the plane, though, and the weather forecast for that day shows rain.

The rrrain
in Spain
falls main
ly on
the plane.

According to that 10 day forecast it's going to be in the 70s by the weekend.
WooooHoooo - where's that toe-nail paint?

Come to think of it - where's my sandals?

Brilliant news about the find, TC - see, you were obviously destined to come to Seville

And I am obviously destined not to.

I am struggling to find a sitter for the cats. I'd planned on putting them in a cattery but I don't have their full vaccination history so no reputable cattery will take them. The really annoying thing is if I'd noticed what the date was 2 weeks ago, I could have got it all organised then. I could right now.

N

Blimey, that was all rather nerve-wracking!

I've tracked down the cats' previous vet who will fax their history to my nice new vet and I am taking them in tomorrow to be given a once-over. If they need jabs they'll have them. But the really really clever thing is that I've found a cattery with an isolation pen who can take them even if they don't have a full history of vaccinations.

I'm-my-way-to-SEville-yadda-yadda-SEville
Da-da-DUM-da-da-DUM

Phew! Delighted to hear that!

Now, keep fingers crossed for us - Dai has still not recoverd from his illness, and is due to go to hospital tomorrow for tests

*fingers crossed for Dai that all goes well

And here's a couple of s for the pair of you

Oooh. and and another .

*worried*

B

Oh goodness - setbacks all round. I nearly had to give up this morning because I couldn't find a hotel for Thursday night (my flight leaves so early on Friday that I have to go up on Thursday evening and stay overnight.) However, have now found one that was very friendly and will pick me up on Thursday night and organise a taxi for me on Friday and even pack me a breakfast at 4.30 a.m.

- just had a thought - will Spain be changing to summertime this weekend, too?

I hadn't thought of that, TC. Well, at least it won't affect people's arrival times at it will happen over Saturday night.

Goodness, after all you're going through to get here you're probably going to end up as jet-lagged as MoG might be.


az