We arose early, Elida after only 2 hours of sleep because she visited all night with an old boyfriend. We are headed to the city while Maria works. Maria drives us and drops us close to the metro station. The metro in Madrid is easy to navigate as long as you ask for the map. We waited a day to find that out which made things interesting.
Our plan today is to see several places by foot after using the Metro to get to the one main square. We come out of the Metro thinking we are at the Plaza de Mayor but later, much later, learn we arrived at the Plaza del Sol. We walked for blocks passing ornate buildings. A chariot with a warrior mounted on top of a high building appears and as we round the corner there is another on the opposite side of the building. They loom large over the street below. To think of how they were raised to those heights is to see the ingenuity of mankind. We round another corner and an ornate church appears. We step inside to see statues, paintings and domed ceilings. Three men are present and praying. We say our own prayers and then I pray for the three men who all wear a burden on their faces. Etched in their expressions is deep pain. I pray for healing and comfort.
On we walk to the next church, then past gardens and fountains. We stop for a croissant and tea and coffee. We also eat another pastry with chocolate and it is divine. We shop for souvenirs from street vendors picking up gifts for the kids. We will each transport these gifts across Spain and Italy and eventually home. We walk across the street into the median to take a picture of the fountain with Neptune. We are the only ones braving the crossing. Their is no sidewalk around the fountain but it is beautiful, Neptune in all his water glory. He is my favorite of the ancient Gods.
Next we head past the hanging gardens. They are being watered and they are incredible. The gardens are hanging from the side of a building. There are many types of plants; vines, trees and flowers. It is spectacular. On to the Reina Sofia National Museum. Currently on display is the Dali exhibit. We buy the tickets even though they are for 1:00 and Maria tells us that is too late. We go and look through the rest of the museum Picasso's and other artwork. I tell Elida that we should head up to the Dali exhibit and see if we can either ask to exchange our tickets with someone else for a different time or ask the person at the door to let us go in early. We head up the stairs hoping. The lady at the door listens as we plead our case. She at first says no and then ushers us in. We feel fortunate. Dali's work is interesting. He places things in each painting that repeat such as clocks or ants. One painting makes me question, "Was he a supporter of the Revolution or against it?" The painting has Lenin's face on the keys of a piano. It is my favorite by far. There is so much symbolism in his work. We enjoy every minute of the exhibit.
Alas we have to meet Maria and so we are off. Once we meet Maria we go back to her apartment to pack and have a lunch. Jorge, Maria's man arrives home and we are off to Galicia. Elida and I get the back seat. We tease that this is an unusual role for us as single mothers. We decide to pretend we are the kids. "Dad, where are we going? Dad, when are we going to be there? Dad, what's that?" We all laugh and then Elida and I fall asleep, exhausted from our travels. Maria takes a lovely picture of us crashed in the backseat. When we awake we have stopped for fuel. Now we are awake to observe the beauty of the surroundings. There are small villages surrounded by farmland. Open fields and then red-tiled roofs with majestic cathedrals jutting to the sky rise from wheat fields. Then we hit the mountains, climbing higher. These green mountains are lush with vegetation. There are little houses tucked into the hills. Part of these hills are a portion of the Camino, The Way. We have talked with Maria's sister about hiking the Camino on a future visit. The scenery is extraordinary and surprising.
We arrive at the house in Galicia and head for dinner to a little village on the bay. Octopus is the specialty in this area and I have decided to eat everything put before me this trip. It is served in two different ways, neither of which I can explain but it was tasty. We have bread, wine and other things as well. We visit with the family; Paz, Oscar, Maria and Jorge. It is such an enjoyable evening. Elida and I decide to pay for the meal as a thank you for letting us stay. We head up to the cashier and Oscar basically dives over me pulls my credit card from the girl and gives his instead. He is spry for an older man, must be all that tennis he plays. Check!
Oscar tells us the history of Spain from the Celts to the Gauls, Moors and Romans. He explains the four cultures of Spain and languages. Galicia is highly influenced by the Celts as we will see many times while we are here; from a small parade of villagers marching the streets with bagpipes playing to the dress they wear. It is a surprising history I would have never known if not for this encounter with Maria and her family.
Influences have changed the course of world history but we often don't notice. I have taken notice here in Galicia.
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