Trip 2: From the Hotel to Alarconia American College
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schulmanator: thank you very much for your comment! It comes from a real CJ authority who has spent lots and lots of hours CJing and has seen lots and lots of CJ's
abcvs: thank you too! I hope the title it's not the only thing you liked
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Sol Meliá Alarconia Hotel, Carrer Blau (Blue Street) 8:30 a.m.
As I promised yesterday, I was waiting for the researcher in front of the hotels main entrance; while listening to the radio. The national electoral campaign had began and all political leaders were taking their positions and making their propaganda, using the radiofrequency for this. There was a hot discussion in antenna now.
My customer appeared at 8:32 a.m. He was carrying some papers covered with a plastic sleeve, and the English edition of Alarcònia Avui (Alarconia Today) newspaper. I knew that in this hotel, it was offered free-of-charge. I turned down the radio volume while saying:
"Good morning, sir!" I said.
"Good morning" he replied, entering into the taxi.
"Alarconia American College?" I asked, knowing the answer
"Sure."
I started the engine and drove along Blue Street with the intention of getting to Carrer Diagonal (Diagonal Street).
We were now in the crossing with Blue Street, Carrer de l'Estació (Station Street) and Carrer de Correus (Post Street).
"Oh, no!" I shouted.
"A traffic jam?" he asked, clearly worried.
"Yes, this part of city gets impossible in rush hour. But it's the faster way to go to the coastline because if we went through the CBD we would have even more problems" I explained, trying to see further.
We had spent twenty mintues in the traffic jam before when I saw some students claiming they were late to an exam in front of the University of Alarconia Business School.
During this time, my customer told me about him. His name was Wilheim Edelmann and he was Austrian, but had studied in the best English and American medical schools. He was married and had two children, 9 and 7 years old.
When we went out the jam, we crossed Avinguda de l'Electricitat (Electricity Avenue) and we continued to Avinguda de l'Atlàntic (Atlantic Avenue).
"This avenue circles the island" I said, to talk about something. "This is the oldest part, behind those hotels, you can see the Casc Antic, Old Quarter in English".
"Is it very old?" asked Mr. Edelmann.
"The city was founded in 1718. But forget about narrow and complex streets. It was designed by the most enlightened people, built in a perfect grid of 5 east-west and 5 north-south direction streets. The first ones are named A, B, C, D and E and the latter ones are named 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5."
"I didn't know it..."
"But the grid pattern was discontinued because the island's hilly landscape made it impossible to apply."
We continued along Atlantic Avenue and entered in Barri del Port (Seaport District).
"What is this building for?" asked Mr. Edelmann, pointing the complex we had at our left hand.
"Skysea Hotel, the largest one in the nation." I answered.
"Isn't it too close the coastline?"
"Actually, this hotel is the cause for the Coastal Law, it was enacted to avoid that something like this happened again. It banns the construction of skyscrapers along the coastline."
We passed through the Atlantic Tunnel and turned right to get to Avinguda de l'Eixample (Extension Avenue). Districte de l'Eixample (Extension District) begins here.
The Extension and Alarconia American College have a common history. Inmigration. North American inmigration to Alarconia has arrived in two different phases. The first one, after American Civil War, many people from the southern US; came to Alarconia seeking jobs in our seaports. They built Alarconiatown (nowadays, part of North Extension) and boosted our country's economy. Due this influency, English was made co-official language in Alarconia in 1870
The second phase of North American inmigration came with 1929's Great Depression. Economic crisis arrived everywhere, but Alarconia was less affected due the amount of inmigrants that came to its shores. These people founded the town of Americana and colonised all the north face of Illa de Nova Catalunya (New Catalonia Island). Approximately, 80% of north island population is from North American origin.
They were the reason for Expansion District, it was built to provide housing for sons and grandsons of these inmigrants. Later, they demanded better facilities and, with a mix of public and private funding, they built Alarconia American College; which motto is "Study here as you would do it in the US".
The AAC is one of the four unviversities in Alarconia and the second most prestigious. It also plays the role as a nexus between Alarconian universities and United States universities.
We were about to arrive. Turned left in the first crossing, taking Bruce Street (here, streets and squares have English names) and arriving in front of the Alarconia American College.
I stopped in front of the AAC colonnade and stopped the taximeter, 27.40 AL$. Mr. Edelmann looked in his wallet and took three 10 AL$ banknotes. He told me to take the change (2.60 AL$) as a tip and opened the door.
"Good morning and good luck in your conference!" I said him.
"Good morning to you too!" said him, hopping off the taxi.
I started the car again, running along Bruce Street. Then, I went under the Banc de Comerç d'Alarcònia Building; there's always somebody looking for a taxi.
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