And now, some noteworthy travel news: We were able to use the services granted us by being US citizens abroad. We visited the US consulate in Barcelona to have them do a thorough check of Lael’s passport after it was un-scannable at a Croatian airport security check as well as a German immigration security scan, nearly forcing a series of very unpleasant Q&A sessions…probably naked and cold.
Long story short, the passport is fine but we still might order another one as we fear having a passaport become invalid and forcing a series of strip searches and invasive questions just to get through to the duty free section of an airport and have the right to travel to, oh, let’s say France.
The more noteworthy part was my encounter with other American tourists while waiting in the secure seating area outside the consulate functional area, namely two very lovely and young American girls.
They were there celebrating their graduation from college, one from Northwestern and the other from Illinois, by doing that now nearly cliche act of “backpacking” through Europe before their “real” jobs started in August. They had been in Spain for a few months and loving every minute of total privileged freedom before the crush of the everyday takes them.
Of course, there are no more backpacks these days, and youth hostels, although still in existence and still somewhat popular with a loyal segment of the traveling population, have mostly been usurped by Airbnb rentals for those technically savvy and who can afford them.
Anywhodallydoodle, our girls were in Barcelona to get their travel documents replaced. See, they were down in the south of Spain in one of the touristy beach communities (I didn’t ask which), were partying and doing what young people with absolutely no inhibitions do, and decided to take a swim in the ocean after the sun set. There were new friends and acquaintances, all frolicking in the ocean while their bags, left out in one nice organized pile on their beach towels up on the beach, were stolen. Probably quite easily.
Passports: Gone. Travel Visa documentation: Gone. Drivers Licenses: Gone. Credit Cards: Gone. Keys to the Airbnb: Gone. I imagine panic set in.
The only things not stolen where their phones, thankfully, but leaving a question about just what they were doing swimming in the ocean with their phones. Right…Taking pics for Instagram and TikTok. I forgot. What’s the proper selfie filter to apply to hide the terror while still making your eyes sparkle and taking off about 10 lbs?
So, the police were involved. Police reports were made and were able to be used for an emergency flight to the nearest consulate – in Barcelona – to try to get everything replaced. They were to go right there, no dilly dally, and get it all fixed. So, they did.
Apparently, the consulate staff was greatly helpful and supportive, provided them with emergency passports and visa docs, but of course couldn’t help with credit cards and all, but that’s okay. That’s why God created mobile banking and Western Union.
Tangent: The lack of mobile payments in Europe is a glaring absence compared to the USA. No Venmo, no Square Cash, no PayPal, and very few users of FB. Even WhatsApp payments are mostly blocked for normal users.
They got done with their story and asked where I was from. “Denver, originally,” I said before telling them very briefly that we were doing the whole nomad thing, homeless and sauntering around before finding a new place to live. The cute little college grad in the sun dress, tan, with sparkling white teeth and sunglasses perfectly situated on her head, fresh off the beach and looking forward to getting home to start her life said, “oh, yeah, a lot of older people are doing that now. My parents are doing it, too, but in an RV.”
I wanted to shove an ice pick into my temple.
