Random thoughts of an insomniac

How did we manage travel before? Before mobiles, line, viber, email, Internet, Skype.....I think I have it all covered. Last time in this part of the world I would get a half dozen coins, find a public phone and make my bookings whilst blocking one ear from the road traffic. Not sure if it is better or worse....or just different.

I am not really an insomniac , I have just woken half an hour before the alarm....as I do, and do not want to wake Marjan.

We went out for dinner last night to the place recommended by Manuel, our host. No, he is not from Barcelona. He is from Broto, the village down the valley, and married a local girl. They still think he is foreign with his lowland ways. The place was not open at seven, so we came back. It was very quite and Manuel said  that occupancy closely matched weather predictions. It was going to be quiet for a few days and improve with the weather leading into the weekend.

Went back to the restaurant at 8 and still closed. A bit disappointing as it is Michelin rated. So we went to another recommendation. This time a mum and dad operation. Well dad brought out the menus and wine, mum brough out the soup, a son brought out the mains, mum again for dessert and her sister took our payment. We could not bring ourselves to eat the veal, a local specialty, as we had made friends with some of them. So pork for Marjan, and a local trout for me. And yes Liz we upped the alcohol. The €15 menu del dia included a bottle rather than a glass of wine.

We are planning on adjusting our eating on environmental grounds. We feel that when we fly back to Oz the perturbations in the earth's orbit caused by the shifting position of so much mass could tip global warming into a dangerous phase. Still I might be talking through my hat and we'll just keep enjoying the food.

Spain has always had cafeterias, panaderias, carnicerías, cervecerías and the like. We are now seeing hamburguéserias and sandwicherias. And a talk show host in full flight on the travails of a celebrity said ' era bueno tener ese feedback'. If you do it in a spanish accent it is a scream. Especially so because as I recall Spaniards don't do feedback.

Finally it is nice being out of the major city. We seem to be among the few non-castellano speakers around here. Whereas in Barcelona we were among thousands of other tourists, here most of the tourists are spanish.

I hear Marjan stirring. So we will start up and head off on the road again. 

Talk again from San Sebastián. Looking forward to a Skype date with the grandchild.