Originally Posted by sfolawyer
It occurs to me that I might get a pre-paid SIM card here, with a small amount of minutes, so that I can use the phone right away for emergencies until I get the local SIM card.
You should be able to purchase a SIM card at the airport upon arrival. They are MUCH more readily available in Europe than in the US. If you tell us where you are arriving I'm sure someone here can even tell you where in the airport to find such a shop!