Absorbing Spain

June 17, 2008.

The Spanish sun did not seem very forgiving, but fortunately for us Tuesday brought along with it the sweetest gentle desert wind. The morning was chilly and like ants we assembled ourselves at the bus stop. The bus is our savior every morning. It rescues us from the outskirts of town and transports us into the real heart of Zaragoza.

Exploration. Excitement. Laughter. Learning - these are our goals for the day. The underground ancient water system museum, the palace of Al Jaferi, the food market and shops were all in the list of must sees. The roughness of the black cobblestone streets welcomed long walks down winding roadways drawn like renaissance grids.

We began the day walking by Roman ruins and entering the city’s core. Our mission was to find a pharmacy and bank. The pharmacy was rather easy and we stocked up on necessary goods. However, finding a bank that was open and willing to take traveler’s cheques was an adventure all in itself. Each bank would send us to the next bank and oddly enough, the locals could not give us directions to the nearby banks, often just around the corner.

From far we admired the colorfully tiled roofs of the Cathedrale de Pilar. Once we entered the cathedral, we were swept off our feet by the delicate murals on the domed ceilings and the golden plate of Pilar, which people lined up quietly to kiss as the pews glistened dark cherry red.

Our first taste of Spanish cuisine was outside across from the Cathedrale de Pilar and the Goya memoriam. We enjoyed our bocadillos, Spanish style; large paninis often eaten as a snack, and drank fragrant pineapple juice which has become a stable drink at all times for us.

The market has been one of the most exciting experiences we have had. The fruits were all ripe and ready to eat. The meats and fish smelled cleaner than we knew. Navigating through the stalls we picked up Montego cheese, flat peaches, baguettes and an assortment of delicious, naturally grown fruits. We visited bridges, shopped during siesta time at Zara and Mango and took pictures of everything in sight. We spent the whole day walking, not even realizing how tired we would be the next day. We just wanted to absorb, absorb and absorb everything around us.

The late afternoon came to an end at a café across from the memoriam to Caesar Augustus where we enjoyed coffee with softly whipped cream on top under the setting sun. As we sat under that sun and playing a game at the arched wall, we realized how grateful we were to be in each other’s company and to be in Spain to explore and let our voice be heard at the Water and Sustainability Expo Zaragoza. Tuesday, just like the first day of at the expo was a feast for the eyes.

- Shire Brandi