As it was Saturday, with no special agenda for me, for the first time in a few weeks, I slept in. Ana, too, took advantage of a little lie-in. We drank tea in the little kitchen in our pajamas. Tomorrow our twosome becomes three when a 27-year-old American guy comes to stay and study at Don Quixote.
I spent a bit of time organizing some travel. I really wanted to see the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, but I think it won’t work out. Most venues in Europe require advanced sales and the museum is sold out for the day or two that I have the chance. So, now I’m going to San Sebastion on the Atlantic coast near France for three nights. It’s from there that I fly to Barcelona and then to Prague.
I act as my own travel agent and it is time-consuming. Occasionally, I make mistakes. I try not to book anything late at night when I’m tired.
Ana does laundry on Saturdays, so I gave her just about everything I have which left me with a sweater and a pair of joggers. Unfortunately, it still hasn’t really cooled off here and I spent the day overheated because of this outfit.
With our clothes drying on the line outside the kitchen window, when Ana was headed out for some grocery shopping, I went out with her because I was so terrified of setting off the alarm in the apartment yet again. I have it figured out when I come in, but when I leave, even though Ana’s shown me several times how to operate it, I swear she shows me a new method every time.
I walked about a mile and a half to a contemporary art museum called Domus Artium 2002. I loved both the museum and the walk itself through neighborhoods with blocks of apartments, the local vet, cute little schools, and a few fruit and veggie markets.
After the museum, I headed for the Roman Bridge and stopped off for tapas, wine, and coffee at a very nice place full of locals. The bill was 9E which is about $10. Prices are very reasonable in Spain. It makes up for the $21 glass of wine in Iceland.
I made it to the famous bridge after lunch and took some photos, chatted with some American gals who teach English at a primary school in Madrid, and sat on a bench in the riverside park and actually studied my Spanish. Later I did some yoga.
I forgot to say that I signed up at a gym near the apartment and did a small workout last evening. It’s 15E for the week. I was hoping to take yoga in a class but I just can’t find a class time that works for me.
It was time to plunge into the melee of Saturday tourists in the historic part of the town to see some cave (no vale la pena – not worth the effort), though the city wall museum next to the cave was well done and interesting.
I kept walking past my school, through the Plaza Major which was jammed with people and so different than in the mornings when I walk diagonally across it, dodging the trucks delivering beer and food.
Ana made me dinner which was good. She had made homemade jamon croquettes, some pea-potato side dish, and a plate of tomato salad.
Tomorrow is sweet Sunday. My plan is to finish all the travel planning, study, and attend mass at the big cathedral with the ladies.
Again, hover over the images to see if the caption helps explain it for you. I took the time to show you a few of the windows of shoe stores that I pass on my way home every day.
