Blog #8: Trip Anecdotes

Trip Anecdotes

In Madrid

Where is the Bed?

Our first accommodation in Madrid was at the Funway Academic Resort, a student residence recommended by Vaughan for its affordability and proximity to the head office location from where our tour bus would depart.

The modern space, decoration and cleanliness were noted, even though the place was deserted. Our room was tiny, yet functional. However, where was the bed?  Could it be the love seat that turns into a hid-a-bed? No, impossible. Suddenly, I spot a switch on the wall, push it and we hear the bed coming down from the ceiling and almost hitting the top of our heads.  We moved quickly to the corner and laughed. –How interesting – we thought.

That night we slept well because we were very tired, but it was impossible to get around the tiny space when the bed was down, even to go to the washroom. The next morning, while Nadia was sleeping, I dared to push the button up to allow me to move.  She of course, woke up startled and then broke out laughing, begging me to stop the bed before it reached the ceiling at crushing point.


Lost Backpack
When we left Madrid to join the tour, we took a cab. The cab driver was unpleasant, to say the least, and drove away with Nadia’s backpack. Nadia realized this once the tour bus was ready to leave Madrid. We panicked, and thanks to our supportive tour guide, Felipe, we were able to trace the taxi company. The tour bus could not wait, so we left without Nadia’s backpack, which greatly upset her. Later on we were reassured that Nadia’s backpack was recovered and delivered to the hotel. Fortunately, she managed well without her backpack and was able to overcome this inconvenience with my support.



 Ziva, Our New Friend
Thanks to inquiring about Jewish tour guides in Spain, I was led to Ziva, an Israeli Argentinian who now lives in Madrid. Prior to starting our Andalusia’s tour, Ziva kindly took us on a walking tour of central Madrid. We connected naturally and her time with us was most enjoyable, a bit too short, yet meaningful. Coincidentally, Ziva is acquainted with two people I know in Israel, both Spanish teachers. Ziva is enthusiastic about organizing a tour of Israelis in Spain, targeting Spanish students.  A small world, and a big idea!

Unexpected Shabbat

In Madrid Nadia and I enjoyed a Shabbat dinner at the parents of our Israeli friend Yael.  While Yael was not there, her mom Leslie opened her home to us with warmth. We enjoyed meeting Yael’s grandmother, sisters and cousins. We were very grateful.

In Córdoba

Nun in Córdoba's Cathedral
While at the stunning Cathedral in Córdoba, I lost sight of Nadia. I worried a bit but it didn't take too long to spot her talking to a nun escorted by a male church attendant. Nadia in her usual style was befriending them, talking about her place of origin, and how much she loves Spain. All three of them were chuckling along. Suddenly, the nun, a little lady of about 65 tells Nadia – why do you wear such low cut shirts?  Pero hija, ¿porqué estás tan descotada? Nadia did not take offence and smiled respectfully as if she were listening to an elder. The encounter ended on a happy and playful note.

In Ronda

Accident in Ronda
In Ronda, Nadia tripped and fell, causing one of her knees to bruise badly. I was very scared when I heard her hit the floor, feeling the pain as if it were mine. While several came to her rescue, I attended to her like a mother whose baby has been hurt. Thank God, Nadia was not hurt seriously. One never stops being a mother.

In Transit in Andalusia

Felipe, Our Andalusia Tour Guide
Felipe was extremely kind and helpful, but his poor English drove us up the wall. He made so many mistakes in one sentence, that at one point I covered my ears feeling upset. In one occasion it got to me, so I corrected him in a loud voice, stating that his English was not good. I guess I blew up, but realized I had made a mistake by embarrassing him in public. It did not take long before I apologized and took responsibility for my lack of tact. I encouraged Felipe to work on improving his English, since he was already a great guide, and his bilingualism could really make a difference. Felipe and I ended up hugging each other and making peace. We were both coming from a very good place. I learned a lesson!

For the record, Felipe repeated this sentence again and again over six days, and Nadia and I cannot forget his accent:

De pipl from de grin lábel, rimemba, wi pic yu from yur jótel in seven tiry, rimemba, the grin lábel jótel, rimemba.

In Barcelona

Doors Shut in Barcelona’s Metro
In Barcelona’s busy train station, Nadia and I go separated. After boarding the fast train, the doors slam shut pushing me out almost to the point of hurting my arm. If it were not for the people behind me, I would have fallen to the ground. Besides the scare, I worried on how Nadia and I would find each other. She knew our destination, but not the station name and we had no mobile to communicate. Thanks to a friendly lady from Bolivia who escorted her, Nadia made her way back to the original station, yet I was not there any more, as I had made my way to our destination assuming she would be waiting for me there. I suddenly imagined myself lost in the forest, and instead of running around I decided to stay put. Thank God, Nadia appeared at the station accompanied by the lady from Bolivia, who made sure Nadia and I met. What a miracle!

In Toulouse

Violets and Toulouse
Did you know what Violets's and Toulouse have in common? I didn't until I spotted the purple flower in many souvenir shops in Toulouse. This got confirmed once I entered a store called "Les Tresors de Violette."  The delicate flower is Toulouse's emblem as you can find out in this link.
https://www.accorhotels.com/es/travel-guide/toulouse/eventos-y-festivales/fiesta-de-la-violeta-e-127ahdg2277.shtml

In Paris

Security Alert Above the Eiffel Tower
After we enjoyed the 365-degree view above the Eiffel Tower, we decided to take the elevator down. As we started the descent, the attendant got a call on his mobile, hung up and looked concerned. He announced to the crowd that police security requested us to return to the second level until further notice. Of course, people started to question what had happened. While we waited, we heard police sirens announcing a potential danger, but still ignored what had happened. In the meantime, I was able to access the news on my phone. They said that the Tower was being evacuated, as someone tried to threaten security with a knife. Another news clip stated that a suspicious package had been delivered. Thank God, after waiting for one and a half hour, we all made our way down safely.