Spain

We have been to Spain for a week of touring in Madrid and Barcelona.  To pick out two highlights they would be Picasso’s “Guernica” in Madrid and Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church in progress in Barcelona.  Touring is nice, but I am today thinking random thoughts about travelling.

Aging is a consistent theme.  I have a MTWTFSS pill box for the multicolored dollops that appear to make my doctor feel better.  We are much more into creature comforts than we used to be, arranging to utilize mileage for business class overseas flights, and our hotels if not the best are probably the next to best.  I get tired in the day, and Trophy Wife has said it is much to her relief because for years she got tired when I did not.

Everyone speaks English.  Years ago the waiters and storekeepers could identify Americans by our shoes or clothing.  Now they don’t bother, they speak English to everyone.  A storekeeper told Trophy Wife that he can’t be bothered learning French, German, Arabic and Polish, so he just speaks English to everyone, and that makes it easier.  English is the universal language.

In Barcelona the local language is Catalan which is not Spanish, and to prove their point all the signs are in Catalan, Spanish and English.   Leaving the 180 mph train from Madrid the sign says:

                             Sortida

                             Salida

                             Exit

and upon reaching the doorway another sign says:

                                        Taxi

                                        Taxi

                                        Taxi

which may have been overdoing it a bit.

            There are some things the Spanish clearly do better than we do - public transportation, for example and public spaces generally, whether the Plaza Mayor in Madrid or Las Ramblas in Barcelona.  If our public facilities often seem starved the Spanish public spaces seem spacious and bountiful.  I wonder if lavish public spaces are a beneficial side effect of top-down government, in Spain’s case for example, a long monarchy followed by the Fascists until 1975.  As usual I was appalled by the extravagance of the Royal Palace.  I can’t help it, but how many Mexicans had to die for all that gold?

            We get museum fatigued quickly and enjoy walking around the neighborhoods and sitting in cafes.  In Spain the restaurants open at about 9:00 PM, so many Americans including us find it sometimes too late to eat.  A nice trip.