My AirBNB host had suggested I take a cab, and I thought with a backpack, 2 suitcases, a mask (now at hour 20!) and a shield it might be good not to be navigating the metro and searching for elevators.
Good plan! My cabbie dropped me off right in front of the building. I followed the check in instructions Raul had provided with no problems, and by 1pm I was dropping my baggage at the apartment and heading off to explore.
I stepped out the door and immediately fell in love with my 'hood. There is a metro stop across the street. There is an "express" grocery store in the bottom of my building. At the corner there is a triangular plaza lined with restaurants with outdoor seating. Everyone is walking with purpose and there is an energy. I'm gonna like it here.
The two things I needed to do today were open a bank account and get a local SIM. I knew opening the account would be challenging - global efforts around Global Financial Crimes and Anti Money Laundering has mired the account open process in reams of documentation. But I found a smaller bank 1 block from my house where two ladies my age (one with excellent English) bent over backwards to help me. Next I popped two doors down into a telefono accessory shop (covers, rings, plugs, earbuds, etc.) who just happened to have a fantastic plan available.
And at that point, I crashed. Seriously. I'd been 22 hours wearing a mask and catching drips and drabs of sleep. Plus the sleep-debt since the middle of last week. So I came home to my sweet little apartment, and took a nap.