February sunshine

It feels like weeks since I last saw the sun. Actually there have been a few brief spells since Christmas, but a sunny couple of hours this afternoon is notable none the less.

I had an unexpected call this morning from the bank. Actually a text message and automated calls to both my mobile and home line. My bank card was used in Bogotá last night. They declined the transactions and are sending me a new card.

What interested me is that they gave the address where the card was used. With only a little effort I could learn from Wikitravel how Bogotá street addresses work, and find the place on Google Street View. It turned out to be a Santander branch.

It's a reminder of how the internet not only allow a highjacked card number to be used on the other side of the world, but also allows me to follow it. Virtually that is - I have no desire to go to Bogotá myself after reading in the same Wikitravel article of the perils of travel by taxi.