Coming to you live from Málaga via dongle!
Imagine my shock and horror surprise when Manolo informed me the other day that his apartment in Málaga didn’t have internet. Well okay, I’d half expected this to be the case as he only spends occasional weekends here, but there I was left with just a few short days to find a solution. Because my whole “being on holiday” image included me sitting on the apartment terrace, looking out at the Mediterranean and listening to the waves, with a cold beverage , a good book, and Shadow at hand. And so I went of in search of a dongle …
Some of you may not know what a dongle is. I had no idea until a couple of months ago when I was having an IM chat with my Twitter buddy WeeRascal (who I had the pleasure of meeting in person when he visited Seville last spring) and he told me about his dongle, which he was using for internet access while away on a weekend fishing trip. And I realised that he was talking about one of these wonderful gadgets, and thought that “dongle” was a cute Scottish sounding nickname that WeeRascal had made up for his. But it turns out that they are actually called dongles worldwide – learn something new everyday.
My dongle search took a few days and I finally decided to go with this one from Orange. It’s pay-as-you-go and also offers a special week-long rate that is much cheaper than the daily rate. And so I’m all set. I also love how this dongle is colour coordinated with Shadow and his little orange technogel feet. 😉
But the fun doesn’t stop there. While I was at Orange I noticed they had a special offer on the same service I have with Telefónica (telephone line, national calls, TV and adsl) for waayyyy cheaper. And so I got on the phone to Telefónica and told them that Orange was offering me this great deal and what did they want to do about it? And they have pretty much matched Orange’s offer. It’s slightly higher, but Orange was also going to charge for installation and – frankly – they have the worst customer service. So I am happy to stay with Telefónica and I am very pleased that dongle shopping ended up actually saving me money. Because dongles aren’t just for vacations! I will also use it to show off Sevilla Tapas to prospective restaurant clients, and both Nog & I will be able to use it for English classes away from home.
I know some people love to “disconnect” on holiday by disconnecting their mobile phones and computers. But I would hate that. I like feeling connected! 🙂
casa azahar 
So happy that you can enjoy your time at the beach as you envisioned it. It’s the way I liked spending time in Orlando, FL, too–good coffee, a lovely breeze, the waterbirds in the little lagoon and me, writing and researching overhead on the condo’s balcony.
I could write all day long in those circumstances.
But at Malaga, I might be tempted to walk on the shore…early in the morning, or at dusk.
Enjoy, amiga!
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Disconnecting is OK, but I prefer to be connected myself. It’s a good way to share what is happening and what I am seeing as I travel too.
Enjoy your holiday.
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even though I can’t help thinking that a Dongle sounds rather rude, I hope you use it as often as possible. And I salute your haggling skills.
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I seem to have a rather temperamental dongle. Had trouble with it after setting it up yesterday, and again this morning. But it seems that if I sit on the sofa in the living room it connects just fine. Not as fast as my adsl connection at home (oh, forgot to mention that I also got Telefónica to upgrade my adsl – told them the Orange package included a higher speed option) but it’ll do. Beats having to go to an internet café, though I’m told there are several free wifi areas around town with nice terraces. But I prefer not having to drag Shadow all over town. It’s nice just sitting here, still in my nightdress, and chatting with you all.
Haggling skills were honed in Morocco, Sled. After a couple of false starts, Susan & I got into haggling in a big way and quickly perfected a couple of “skits” in which we took turns being the disapproving friend. Worked a charm.
Between having internet at the apartment and my iPhone in the streets I am managing to stay well connected, Zeus. Some on Twitter might say too well connected, but hey, it’s my holiday and I’ll post if I want to! 🙂
Early morning walk on the beach coming up, Gaelen. Well, early-ish … it’s going on 9 o’clock now. Also have to go in search of some REAL coffee. Manolo doesn’t have a coffee maker here and Nog’s instant stuff is, well, gross. Love your new avatar, btw.
Hasta pronto…
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such problems, az! Having to be in cruddy ole’ Malaga! 😉 Glad to hear you’re walking the beaches, nothing nicer than a lovely, warm and sunny beach.
Your dongle sounds like it has the same connection problems a lot of cell phones have (which it sort of is) — great reception on the top of the toilet with your arm bent to the right, lousy from the comfort of your sofa! lol
I’ve been looking for a pay-as-you-go dongle over here, and no such luck — no contract, no dongle.
Getting close to moving time, so I’ll have to find some form of interwebs option — can’t hack dial-up for a second longer than necessary. 🙂
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Glad you got it sorted. My wee dongle has proved to be very valuable – it has got me out of many tight spots. Happy dongling!
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I got all nervous-like when i went on vacay once where i couldn’t connect. I honestly thought the internet just wouldn’t be the same without me, but when i got back, folks were all “Gee, have you been gone?” Of course, you’re quite friendly and cheerful and needed, whereas i’m a huge crankypants.
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Just found this comment in my spam file, Anne. Huge crankypants indeed!
I’ve discovered a way of dealing with my dongle’s temperamental issues … I just keep disconnecting and reconnecting until the darned thing finds a better signal.
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I’ve got a built-in dongle in my wee notebook. That’s good because dongly things tend to get broken. I’ve already had to replace my blue tooth dongle. It broke in a security control during my latest trip to UK. It did work after that if you cuddled it gently and not really needed the blue tooth appliances…
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My god my ignorance of things electronics is accumulating almost faster than the electronic things. Dongles now? Sounds extremely convenient and cool, I’m glad you have one because I wanted to hear all about Malaga.
Don’t forget to wiggle your toes in the surf, now.
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Your wish is my command, hmh…
Dipping toes in Mediterranean
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“I was having an IM chat with my Twitter buddy WeeRascal and he told me about his dongle”….
“it has got me out of many tight spots”
Refuses to read further for fear of losing that little daydream…
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I just love the word dongle. I first came across it on Mr Fry’s ‘The Dongle of Donald Trefusis’ audi series (on which I am hooked) – have you heard it?
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The word “dongle” makes me want to giggle. I’d also probably find myself calling it a dingle-dongle.
I’m sorry your dongle is turning out to be temperamental, but glad it’s keeping you connected. Keep up the good work, wee dongle!
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I’m glad you got it! The worst part of my Greece trip was no internet at the villa. I think I would have been MUCH happier if I’d rented a dongle, too.
That apartment certainly looks cheery and comfortable. Ocean view, no less. I hope you’re having a lovely time. Looks like you are!
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“great reception on the top of the toilet with your arm bent to the right, lousy from the comfort of your sofa!”
That made me laugh, SC. My dongle seems to prefer the livingroom to the bedroom, and is also much friskier at night after around 10 o’clock. But so far no acrobatics have been required.
I wonder who coined the term dongle … and why?
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As a computing term it goes back about 20 years (to my knowledge) as a security device for software. You would plug it into (for example) a serial port on a computer, the software would then check for it’s presence on loading, and only complete if the dongle was there.
I remember thinking it was a joke at first, and wondered if I was being set up along the lines of “Go to the stores and ask for a long weight”
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Yep – Wordcraft used one in 1980, nearly 30 years ago. Sad thing is, I remember it!
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I’ve also had a nightmare with my dongle !!
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