Vignettes

Well, it's been a while since I've written, and a lot has happened. Therefore, in order to avoid creating a long and drawn out description of the events that have taken place (which would be a waste of your time and mine), I've elected to just write some brief summaries. So first of all...

"The World Really IS Small!"
I never believed this until I met Morgan Campbell at Medievo in Salamanca, Spain. Medievo is an awesome spot btw--for four nights a week they have a special where you can drink as much cerveza, sangria, or calimocho as you want for only 4€!!
But anyway, that's not the point. What I'm getting at is that Morgan is from Camden, SC! A town with a population of about 7,000. And in case you didn't know, I grew up in Camden as well. Now what are the odds of us being in Salamanca at the same time?! I would really like to know that!

"Don't Take the Night Train"
Well, this title speaks for itself...unless of course you like pay an extra 25€ to (try to) sleep on the hardest mattress(?) you've ever slept on in your life with the flattest pillow(?) you've ever encountered. Unless you like to be forced into a horizontal position due to the fact that if you try and sit up, you'll hit your head on the bunk above you. Unless you like to be cramped into a cabin with 5 other people who snore, and talk, and come in and out, and eat smelly salami sandwiches. Unless you like to be freezing cold one minute and sweating bullets 5 minutes later. Unless you would like to live in these conditions for a total of 9 hours (3 hours more than you thought because your train is running late)...then please...heed my advice...take the day train.

"SALUD is awesome!"
'Salud' is the word that you will see on the side of a building that is one of many state-run hospitals and clinics. The only reason I have experience with a Salud hospital is because upon boarding the train to Zaragoza, I made the unfortunate discovery that I had left my antidepressants at home. We would only be gone for 2 days, but it worried me still. I normally don't disclose my medical history to strangers, but most of the people reading this blog already know my situation. The problem with taking antidepressants is that if you stop suddenly, the side effects can be very uncomfortable and range from headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and irritability.

So Kent, knowing that he would be the one who would have to deal with it, kindly suggested that we try and get a couple of pills just to tie me over until I got home. I agreed, so we went to a pharmacy. The friendly woman behind the counter pointed us in the direction of the 'Salud' emergency room. Wait...emergency room? "Wow" I thought, picturing a waiting room full of wounded people...I don't know if this is really that big of a deal. But our curiosity compelled us and we went anyway. To our relief, there was only one other person waiting. The woman at reception took my name, address, phone number and asked to see my passport. Not five minutes later I was talking to a doctor. I told him my situation and he said he would give me a couple to tie me over until I got home...and that was that! No charge. And I'm not even a citizen! The whole deal took about 30 minutes, and then we just walked out. Wow! And how much is an emergency room visit in the states again?


Well, I have more to write, but I will save it for another time. Thanks for reading everyone! Until next time...