first impressions

Big Jim has safely arrived in Islamabad. He gives Gulf Air very high marks as an airline. He's settling in at the Holiday Inn until Friday, and then he plans to move into a private guesthouse. They are very reasonably priced, about $20 a day, and that includes an evening meal and laundry service. Big Jim, or as he's called in Pakistan, "Mr. James," said he felt as though he was back in Morocco as soon as he stepped into the airport...everyone trying to make a buck. Someone trying to take him in his cab, even though there was a driver waiting for him...the driver trying to get him to stay at a particular guesthouse, probably a friend's or relative's...the hotel waiter who assures Mr. James he has a very good curry spice connection, etc. Mr. James has also found US dollars are much more appreciated than euros, which seems odd given the dollar's continuing falling value. I'm sure he'll find out why that is. Everyone has been very friendly. In all of our reading, people say time and time again that Pakistan is just as safe as any Western city. The border with Afghanistan is dodgy, and he plans to avoid that area completely. Unfortunately, Pakistan gets a lot of bad press and is often lumped in with Afghanistan. He misses all of us at Calle Salares, but he is also very excited about the adventure. He's keeping a journal, which I'm hoping he turns into a blog as well. Here it continues to be chilly weather....lots of snow on Maroma. The Christmas decorations have been hung on Calle San Antonio, and pots of poinsettias line the streets. The pedestrianization of the streets still hasn't happened, although no one is surprised. Nothing happens per schedule here. The posts put in place to keep people from driving into the main plaza have been stolen, twice. I'm off to the post office and then to buy some Christmas cards. With all of the excitement in the past 10 days, I almost forgot there is a big holiday coming up, and I am woefully unprepared. And I leave for the US in 8 days! hasta manana, mylifeinspain