A note about language. I have been having a good time trying to speak Italian and there is no doubt that a working knowledge of Spanish is helpful. However, it does not always translate.
Yesterday Nelson and I went into a shop to buy a new converter so we can plug the computer and the rest of our North American electronic devices into the power source. (The one he paid 30 ruprees for in India sparks and smokes and worries us a bit).
We communicated what we wanted to the couple in the store, and I asked "Quanto costa?" Which does mean "How much does it cost?" The man said "Cinco euro" and looked expectantly at me for the money. I said "No tengo nada" (Which is spanish for "I don't have any") and pointed to Nelson. The man and his wife burst out laughing and, using sign language explained that I had just said, more or less, that I don't know how to swim! Not exactly the message I was trying to convey but a great language lesson, anyway.
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