Today I slept in and did not get up until about 9am--very late for me. I started out by cleaning up the apartment and doing a load of laundry. Then I went out for a walk and to have some cafe con leche (some good coffee not the vending machine stuff from the school!) I also wanted to see where the Don Quixote Language School which many of the students I have met on the after school tours attend. From my trusty map, it seemed to be very close to me. Imagine my surprise to discover that I can actually see it from my balcony. My street, Avinguida de Roma, is a split sort of street and the far lane is actually a different street and is where the Don Quixote School is located. Of course, I walked around several blocks before I discovered this. Dumb, I know, but you would have to see the layout to understand my confusion.
As I walked, I picked up a few groceries at interesting looking places. I dropped these things off at home and went to pick up the rest of the things that I needed. I decided to quit buying the tiny bottles of wine and just go with a big one. I also bought a big jar of olives and have told myself that this is the last time I buy olives. I have always loved them and they are so cheap here, plus so interesting. You can get them with pits, without pits, stuffed with pimiento, garlic or anchovies and in small cans or big jars. Ok, I got a big jar, but that's it. No more. (good thing I can't check my blood pressure here!). I also found that I can get a good sized wedge of brie for 1E. Camembert was 1.3E but I haven't tried that yet. So, wine, cheese and olives, what more could I need. (well, I did get milk and another tortilla de patata)
When I returned, I found the door not double locked like I always do when I leave and found the woman from housekeeping inside making up the 2nd bedroom. She told me that I am to get a roommate this afternoon. Well, that is a surprise. I was beginning to think I would be alone for the whole time. No sooner did she leave than the door opened and a young woman from Holland walked in. She will be here a week. She said, in very good English, that she has to cram for a week for exams and then she will be off. So, I will have company for a week. I must say I have mixed feelings!
I left her to her unpacking (she told me her name, but honestly she will have to spell it for me!) and headed off toward the National Museum of Catalunyan Art which I heard is free to enter from 3-6 pm on Saturdays. I spent more than an hour there. Not only was the art very interesting, but the building itself was quite beautiful. I am hoping to go back another time. After I left there, I killed an hour at Las Arenas and then walked to Mass at my local church. It was the Palm Sunday service, and many people carried leaves of some sort, but they were not the palms I am used to. The Mass was supposed to be a bilingual Mass and I was wondering if it would be said in both Catalan and Spanish (and it was but not all parts in both languages just parts of it were in one of the two languages but mostly Spanish).
I returned to my now shared apartment and found it all dark. So my new roommate is either out or gone to bed. I think I will quietly read a book.
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