Packing up

Hi there,

It's been a difficult week, because it's only today that I'm feeling any respite from my bronchitis. I've been working throughout and I felt wrecked for most of the weekend.

The pic of the week is Gordon, the gecko, who moved into my flat temporarily. He's seen here on the living room wall.

Bronchitis
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Bronchitis is much worse than you'd think. I've had zero energy. I was on anti-biotics all week. They cost a fortune by local standards, €31.40. Anyway, it still took the full week. I'm feeling much better today. The first time that I've felt I had any energy, even though I still have the cough.

Coast move
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The selection of a house on the coast was delayed because of an ad for a condo in Manual Antonio at no cost, in exchange for handling the letting of a second condo. I thought I was perfect for it. But after chasing it for 2 weeks, I eventually got a reply from the guy that he'd already let it to someone. He'd got over 500 replies! It was too good to be true.

So I now am down to two, both in Santa Teresa/Mal País. The one I wrote about before, and an apartment belonging to the friend of a friend of a teacher. I have the wrong number for the second one, so if I can't get a number tomorrow it's back to plan A.

I'm a little behind in packing up the apartment, because I've been sick, so I'm only really getting started on it today.

Dentist
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I had been putting off going to the dentist since I got here. I'd gone to my own dentist before the trip, and planning to make another trip when I was home in July last year. But before I went home, people thought I was mad, because dentists are cheaper here. So I decided to wait until I came back. I then put it off repeatedly, until recently I had a lot of sensitivity to temperature in one of my teeth, and took the bull by the horns. I went to Joaquín's cousin. She was really excellent. I got an appointment within 24 hours. There was no waiting there, I was straight in. It turned out half a filling had fallen out, so I got a new filling and a clean. The cost: €46. Given that at home a clean alone cost me €70 even with PRSI I felt that wasn't too bad.

Actually, because of the cost of dental treatment, and the good quality of care, many people from the States come down here to have dental work done. That and plastic surgery. I have no plans for the latter just yet.

Home in December
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I decided to book my flights home for December, to avoid having problems with Christmas flights. I was glad I did. I picked up my cheapest flight ever. I arrive in Shannon on the morning of 14 December, for a cost of just €387. That's just one way, because I won't be coming back. But my cheapest one way trip before was €565 coming out hear last April two years ago. And my return fare last July was €1,100.
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Well, that's it for this week. Just 2 more weeks in work. I can't believe it after all this time. They have asked me to organise one more pub crawl before I finish up. Probably on the night we finish up!

Until next week,

Chao,

Éamon

Today's Headline in La Nación: 170 arrested for selling drugs to students