November 11 - last day in Murcia

Spent a really nice afternoon & evening with the birdie. We tried to have paella but it was too late. Instead we had pastry filled with chicken & seafood and a long talk about the nature of heaven.

After lunch we went to the casino which was small but beautiful inside -- like everything else in Spain, under renovation. We missed the box on the outside of the door for the ballroom and couldn't figure out how to get the lights on but a French tourgroup came in and they put a euro in the slot and the ballroom blazed to life and these older French ladies were waltzing away to the music. There was a collective "awww" when the lights and music went off again. And finally -- on my last full day here -- I walked back out on the Traparia and found that the doors to the cathedral were open! So I spent a happy hour or so looking at each chapel. Beautiful art, inspirational setting, a few dead guys. I was deliriously happy to have finally seen the cathedral, and just in time.

After the cathedral I dogged A while she power shopped and then at 9 we headed back to the apartment to make "burritos". After a shower at midnight and an hour for my hair to "dry" while reading the Magician's Nephew, I finally went to sleep.

later that day ...
Spent the morning repacking and packing again all my stuff and what A wants me to take back to the States for her. And buying a few last minute items -- a blue and gold mug for T, ingredients to make a Murciano tapa, snacks for me, etc. etc. I called him a little while ago and we had a great talk... I'll be glad to see him soon.

We left for the bus station as soon as A got out of class but by the time we'd drug all our things to the bus station we had missed the earlier bus to to Alicante and there was only a 5 pm and the flight was at 7:30 -- couldn't determine if that would leave us with enough time so A called Juan and begged him to please help us out ... I gave him 20 euro for the gas, I felt so awful about having to bother him for a ride. In the bus station was the one time I allowed myself to have an "ugly American" moment -- sometimes the language barrier is so frustrating and a little humiliating too. Makes me realize how it must be for the Hispanics in the U.S. Anyway, we made the plane in plenty of time, connected in Madrid and got here to Barcelona. Hotel is small and old but exceedingly clean and has a tiny balcony that overlooks Las Ramblas -- at night it looks like something out of a picture book. Tomorrow we head for the Sagrada Familia...