ConSynPro

Now writing from Salamanca, Spain, hidden behind a hedge downtown at one in the morning. At last entry I was heading up on the airporter to the Anacortes ferry, to interview in Friday Harbor. On the way from Anacortes to the Island, I spotted a blow on the water, which repeated about six times - whale sighting! I pulled out the compass and measured the arc as the ferry turned, estimating our location in the Sound by comparing it to the transit map. Arriving on San Juan Island, I jumped on the bus to have a look around - plenty of time for an hour at Lime Kiln, aka Whale Watch Park. After observing the current, I climbed over to where I believed the orcas would approach, laying out and scanning the water and opposing bank across the Strait. No orcas today; but a beautiful, serene moment it was, listening to the wind and watching the current. I was surprised to witness a large shooting star to my left, visible even in the daylight. The interview went fairly well: my mind was slow, but by the end I realized I could be happy there if able to find some way to live off the low, part-time income. I hope to win an offer. After the interview, nothing seemed to work; the ferry broke down and we were stuck on-island. I didn’t want to leave anyway, and the place didn’t want to let me go. The long delay had its reward: on the return crossing the sky and water joined in sunset perfection, casting a salmon-colored glow over both. In that moment I hoped to return. However, in Anacortes began what is now days of missed connections, delayed transit, and unnecessary waits while trying to remain calm and patient during negotiations with staff. They had me captive for fifteen hours before I made it out! No matter. The flight was excellent, also affording some rest. Upon our descent into Madrid, it was wonderful to see the golden hillsides and tile roofs from the air in the morning light. The day was spent on the Madrid Metro - after first finding the regional train station and reserving a seat to Portugal, I suddenly realized my bowler hat was still on the plane! I had less than two hours to get it and return in time. The Games of Lugh now posed the challenge of a timed Metro slalom course - I ran with the duffel to make the connections, speaking and thinking in Spanish along the way. Vale! Arriving at the desk, sweaty, I encountered a sexy agent who gnawed on the stud in her upper lip, adding the next level of difficulty to my search: she instructed me to collect the hat within the ‘Labyrinthe.’ I chuckled; the labyrinth? OK; go! More running, weaving, sliding and speaking my way through the multi-level maze, finally arriving at my prize… after replacing the hat upon my head, a simple ‘Gracias–Adios’ sufficed; now I was running even faster, nearly out of time… Finally reaching the station, I glanced up at the board to discover I was minutes late; the minotaur snarled! Accepting the result, I reserved a spot on the next train to Salamanca. That is what brings me here, hidden behind the hedge downtown, across the street from the noisy lovemakers, with hours to wait before showing myself and entering the station for travel into Portugal.