Wolfing down comida but one large chicken thigh and polenta doesn't seem enough. Yesterday I started at a new studio 2 hours a day (and ran everywhere back and forth to move my stuff), and by evening I did not feel normal, so I went to Corte Inglés (the department store) and bought 3 chicken thighs, a salmon filet and a jar of pate (for the liver). Thank God Dr. Lee put me on spirulina, royal jelly and ginseng before I left. I missed them one day and felt awful.

The people at Oscar's bar would have good reason to think of me as "suitcase girl" - I don't know how many times I have rolled suitcases back and forth across the bridge since October; embarassingly many. Probably one good reason why Oscar doesn't seem very interested that I am back.

But as of yesterday I am no longer quite as unstable - at least I hope not. I was really happy when I came back and met Concha to get the keys (a different Concha - a photographer about my age). She was cool, as I had judged the first time I came. And the apartment has more light than I thought. She said, "Estoy contenta que has venido. Me cayaste bien." (I am content/happy you have come. You "fell well" to me - kind of equivalent to "you sit well with me".)

There is one somewhat large problem - she smokes. I thought it wouldn't be a problem because it is natural tobacco that she rolls herself (besides, she wants to quit). I have found this practically non-offensive, while the commercial kind I can hardly bear for a moment. Probably because it was well ventilated at Mara's place and at Homayoun's. But last night Concha was a smoking night owl, and my room door is two doors that don't close well. Maybe I can give her motivation to quit, but I don't know if that is really a good idea.

I am happy with my new studio. It is only 15E per month more than the old one but I can have 3 times as many hours. It isn't as nicely kept up - there are 3 adjoining studios, all a bit dusty and with beaten up floors, but the price is right. It also gives me a chance to go to a quiet part of Triana every day.

I cleaned the dust off the iron railings on my 6 inch balcony (no exaggeration!) and put a small, cheap potted plant there. At the moment - 2:30 in the afternoon, I've been airing the place out with the large balcony door wide open. During the height of day it is not too cold for that. I shall now have a siesta and worry about being clean and looking for work later on.

This place is an old building with very high ceilings and archways. It is not in wonderful repair, but not bad either. There is a dentist office below us, and we are on a narrow but somewhat important thoroughfare, as it is a one way street that curves around, giving motorists on a main artery nearby a chance to turn off and go in another direction, reaching another nearby (one way) artery. Thus it is much louder here than Sachiko's place, or Mara's along the river. It is near one good bar for getting molletes with tomate y aceite, although this morning when I went there, it seems they've stopped having proper molletes. Just beside the bar is a tiny church with one of the most interesting pasos during Semana Santa - an ancient hermandad (brotherhood) that has very interesting Jesus and Virgen Maria statues - this means I can see it from above, provided things work out here. On the other side of the bar is a very nice plaza always full of tables during eating hours, and backed by a pretty orange building and church. It is an absolutely central location, perhaps even better than being right near the cathedral, as it seems close to just about everywhere.