New Car-Finally!!!!

We finally were able to get the car purchase done back in June.  It was a back and forth between a small SUV (earlier post) and keeping our crappy mini van. In the end the new car purchase won over and we decided on a 2013 Hyundai Sonata.  The actual purchase was pretty painless and the dealer we bought from   was fairly easy to deal with, for the most part.  I was able to get quotes from three different dealers and the one that gave us the price I wanted won out.  They did try to give us close to nothing on our mini van, typical low ball tactics but since I knew that I could get more money for it I sold it that weekend for what I wanted. Not too bad!!!  

Well, pictured above is our new ride.  Pretty, sleek, and lots of electronic goodies to keep us entertained.  Susan is happy, JA fits well in the front or back, and I get to feel happy that I won't be getting calls from Susan saying "Juan, I just heard a new noise coming from the van".  Lord, I dreaded those calls.  Anyhow, the only drawback?  My epic trip to Spain next summer is very doubtful.  Unless a miracle happens I don't think we can go .  Maybe if I went by myself...

El Camino del Norte

Click for a sample of El Camino del Norte video

I think that those that know me have at one time or another heard me talk about a trip of a lifetime that I want to do:  El Camino de Santiago.  I have been planning, reading, learning, inquiring, and basically obsessing about El Camino or The Way of St. James.  I have been wanting to do this pilgrimage for years but only in the last two years have I been seriously concentrating on how to bring it about.  Middle age bucket list or just a desire for adventure and a sense of freedom?  I don't really know but it doesn't really matter, does it?

For those of you that don't know this trek is a five hundred mile "hike" across northern Spain.  It has been going on for about one thousand years and the idea was that it would bring about absolution of your sins if you made it to the end. For El Camino Frances it starts in the French Pyrenees at St. Jean Pied de Port (some say that it really begins outside of your front door as you take your first step) and it ends in the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela when you reach the cathedral.  If you walk it all the way through it usually takes about four to five weeks.  I am focusing in doing El Camino del Norte which basically works its way through the coastal areas of  northern Spain.  Guaranteed to be green, wet, cool, and challenging topography.

Well, for me it is even a bigger challenge because I am a type 1 diabetic.  This means that I have to plan everything carefully with my health needs first and foremost.  It is sort of coming up with a plan "A" for everything, with a plan "B" just in case that doesn't work, and possibly a plan "C" if everything goes wrong.  Whew!!!  I am tired and I have yet to take the first step.  If you are not an insulin dependent diabetic you probably don't quite understand what a challenge this is for me (or other diabetics).  I'll have to carry all my diabetic supplies with me, snacks and glucose tablets to compensate for the daily twelve to fifteen mile daily treks.  Plus, all the other items like clothes, personal items, sleeping bag, extra socks, underwear, shorts, shirts, pants, rain gear, etc.  All this has to weigh in at or less than ten percent of my body weight to avoid over packing and possibly injury.  Remember, you have to carry this stuff on your back for about five hundred miles.  Thing is that I can't wait to begin.  But as things usually work out it might not happen next year which is when I was planning on doing it.

We have to replace Susan's car as it is really tired and worn out.  We can't do that and save for a trip of this caliber.  Short of winning the lotto or maybe finding sponsors (major pharmaceuticals maybe?) it is just too hard to come up with the cash.  The three most expensive things are the airplane tickets, food, and lodging.  If it was just me then I could probably do it but Susan and Juan Andres will accompany me on this trek.  So whatever expense I have will be times three.  Regardless, I am buying my backpack this coming Father's day.  I plan on getting all our gear this year so I can spread the cost over several months.  I am a firm believer of paying cash for stuff.  I'll keep posting from time to time with pics of the equipment and progress reports.  Who knows, I might just get lucky and unexpected money will come my way?

Today is one of those days that make me feel very melancholic.  Thirty two years ago my grandmother Amparo died tragically in a car accident on a highway in Spain.  My sister and I were spending a month in Mexico City with our cousins while my parents, brother, and grandmother had flown to Madrid.  The purpose of the trip was to take my grandmother back home to Gijon, Asturias after she had spent the better part of a year with us.  She had undergone open heart surgery here in the US and the recovery period afterwards was spent with us.  I was only fourteen years old and I remember that it was a wonderful time spent with her.  She was looking forward to seeing my grandfather once again after the difficult time with her surgery.  I believe that my grandfather was also happy to have her back since he had spent that entire time alone in Spain.

Well, much to our misfortune the road to Gijon from Madrid was wet with a light drizzle.  I don't know if it is fair to lay blame on anyone or if it was just a sad and tragic accident.  The facts are that my dad, much younger then, offered to drive.  My grandfather, always in charge and not wanting to give up that authority decided against it.  They stopped for a family lunch not far from Segovia and my grandfather's rule of always sleeping in the car for about an hour after eating was quickly discarded by him.  Why?  Only God knows.  The sad truth is that shortly after eating they all got into the car and started to drive on the highway to Asturias.  My dad was uneasy because he could tell that my grandfather was a bit tired and not fully rested.  Also, my grandfather had wine with his meal as it was customary for him.  Nothing unusual since this was very common in Spain, although nowadays the police has really cracked down on drinking and driving.  My grandfather at the helm, decided to pass a slower truck in front of him.  As he was passing he realized that a much faster car was already coming from behind  trying to pass him.  He over reacted by trying to pull back into his lane but due to the slick road he lost control.  The car went out of control, sliding from one side of the highway to another destroying the metal barriers and the car as well.  The final blow that killed my grandmother was the car finally flipping over in the grass median and landing on its roof as it slid to a stop between the oncoming lanes and the lane where my grandfather was driving.  Everyone in the car was banged up but no serious injuries except for my grandmother's.  She was just too frail to sustain such a violent blow.  If memory serves me I think that she was killed instantly.  I got to see a picture of the car afterwards and it looked completely demolished.  I am always astounded that I did not lose my parents, brother and grandfather as well that day.  It's really hard to bring these memories back up.

I miss her.  I have missed her all these years and I remember her fondly.  She was always fiercely protective of us as we were her only grandchildren.  We all grew up living together in the same house in Gijon and I have nothing but wonderful memories of her.  Always loving towards us and she would do anything to please us.  I believe that we brought a joy to her that only grand children can.  My dad being an only son was intensely attached to her.  We all loved her greatly.  She was from Merida, Mexico and she exemplified the typical Mexican grandma.  I know that my father's relationship with his father was forever damaged after this tragedy.  The relationship had never been good between them for numerous reasons but I know that my dad has always blamed his father for my grandmother's death.  My grandfather has since passed away and I think that my dad has probably made his peace with him.  Only he can answer that question.  One thing that I do know is that my grandfather, never one to show emotion or too much affection, as he was in his last days of life in Gijon back in February of 2006, would call out to her "Amparito, Amparito..."  I hope that they are both together and that one day I will see them again when my time comes.  Os echo de menos a los dos.

Well, it looks like our minivan will soon be off to another "lucky" user.  We are now looking at new SUVs or as they are designated by the trade, CUVs.  We have been trying our different ones, sitting in them, looking at their amenities, etc.  They all have pros and cons.  Since it will not be my vehicle but Susan's she is quite excited to finally get a new car.  The finalists are as follows:  Honda CRV and Hyundai Tucson.  I have been doing the research, i.e. Consumer Reports, Edmunds.com, Cars.com, etc. and Susan has been doing the part she finds interesting, driving and asking what colors it comes in.  Oh, and does it have leather?  She is really big into leather interiors.

Anyway, I will be honest when I say that I will not miss the minivan.  This is a 2002 Chrysler Voyager with just the basics. Power windows and AC but not much more in the way of luxury.  It has been pretty reliable but due to age and manufacturer little things are popping up that need fixing.  I have taken care of most of these but I realize that this is the perfect vehicle for someone who needs a vehicle with lots of space and loves to tinker with their car.  That is obviously not me.  This Saturday we will get a chance to drive the Hyundai so hopefully that will seal the deal.  Which one would you choose:  2013 Hyundai Tucson  or 2013 Honda CRV?

Fiesta 2012 in San Antonio

Well, it is Fiesta time once again in San Antonio, TX.  All sorts of parties and celebrations are going on around the city.  Today is the Battle of Flowers parade so many kids and parents are off today, myself included.  The weather is not too hot so it should make for a great day to go out and have some fun.  We usually go to the Fiesta Garten at http://www.beethovenmaennerchor.com/ but it seems like many of my friends from UTSA have other plans so we will not be getting together.  Too bad as it is always a lot of fun.  We'll plan for next year or maybe for Oktoberfest in the fall.  Cooler temps and just as fun.  Happy Fiesta 2012 to all!!!

What sound, what presence…bellisima macchina

Let me build this story a bit to get in the appropriate frame of mind.  My route home takes me in front of the new Porsche dealership, which happens to be very modern and sleek yet sadly hidden behind the off ramp from the highway.  Someone must have gotten a great deal on the land because it is rather inaccessible and takes away from the experience.  I also happen to go by the Ferrari dealership, which in this case is rather ugly and is overshadowed by the much more attractive Audi dealership.  I guess that the Ferrari dealer can get away with the cars being the shining jewels in the rather ugly crown that is their building.  You don’t stable beautiful stallions in a shack.  I think that if I had the money I would fly to Italy to buy my car in Maranello just for the full experience.  But, I digress.  Back to the story.  As I am driving home yesterday on IH10 in San Antonio, TX I notice that right behind me is a 458 Italia.  Black on black with a menacing frown, wide, and very sleek.  My little MazdaSpeed 3 looks like a toy by comparison.  The weather is overcast and it is a fine temperature outside.  So, I turn off my radio as I want to hear this cavallino as it rolls down the road.  I roll down the windows and when the highway opens up he gives it a bit of gas and passes me on the right.  I have to admit that the black color is not as attractive as Ferrari Rosso but I like it nonetheless.  As he goes by I can see the yellow brake calipers.  They pop out and make the wheels look astonishing.  This is getting better by the minute.  I can hear a snarl coming from his trio of exhaust pipes coming out dead center in the back.  I am fully engaged now.  The sound, the presence, the angular and purposeful body lines, it all takes me to another place.  I don’t even try to catch up to him.  What for?  I have been in the presence of a God and being a mere mortal I can only smile knowing that such a beautiful sight is rare and should be filed away for future recollection.  

Back to work today but very excited because I have heard from a work colleague that the outdoor store REI will be opening here in San Antonio in the Fall of this year.  I am preparing for our family trek next year across Spain (Camino del Norte http://www.caminodesantiago.me) so I plan on buying all our gear this summer.  I might not buy all the equipment from them but I can certainly get some good advice and some items as well.  I have been carefully planning our trip, and I have the schedule written out and travel dates set.  I am still working out the infinite number of details that need to be looked at but all this activity it keeps me excited.  Now, I'll be honest, I have been daydreaming about winning the lotto (who doesn't?) and if we did win we would have enough money to go this year.  And we would be able to do the entire five week trip.  Next year I will only be able to do about two weeks of solid walking before we need to fly back to the US.  This will leave us with the task of coming back the following year to finish it out.  Not the way I want to do it but I don't have an option.  Thus, the daydream of winning the lotto.  I am on my way to but a ticket...or two.

Last post in 2007????

I can't believe that I have not posted since 2007!!!  Not that I lead such an interesting life but I should have kept up because it is always interesting to read old posts.  Sort of a snapshot in time of what goes on in my life as the years go by.   Well, I'll make it a point to write something at least once a week and maybe this will become a habit.  I am making some plans for summer of 2013 so maybe I'll start there.  I'll leave with a picture of our little Schnauzer and our boy's 15 year bday.  He is growing up and soon will be a college bound kiddo.  Wow!!!  More to come...