Day 11: Arcos

(Some vivid and some rather hazy memories, writing this in Tirupati on day n+2)

Saturday night ended disappointingly early because of my shoulder trouble. I usually wake up after 6 hours of sleep, but when I woke up I realised almost 9 hours had passed since I fell asleep. It was just what my body needed at that time, I'm sure. I had been on a perpetual high since my trip started, had had a lot of walking, less sleep and generally a very high level of awareness. The shoulder pain could also have been linked to the fatigue, that was suggested by the unusually long sleep that night.

So Sunday had to be REST DAY. Luckily Esther had also exactly the same plan. The trip to SEville had to be postponed to the next day (Monday), coz Esther's cousin wasn't in town - so we'd have to go and stay in Seville for just one day, and in a hotel.

It was a leisurely morning. Among other things, we got on the internet to figure out where we'd be staying in Seville, my flight to Barcelona and staying options there. For breakfast, we had something like chocolate and bread - or maybe that was the next day, but yeah, twas neither fantastically memorable or forgettable and hence rememberable)

The plan, as I said, was to relax. The venue, couldnt have been better. Esther's home, her relaxed family, the relaxed swimming pool, the relaxed sunshine..... aaahhhh...

Once we got there, I got into a very animated conversation with Esther's dad about football. He went about in Spanish, waving around his arms and widening his eyes from time to time. And of course I went about in English. I'd have done Hindi and it wouldn't have made a difference :) But it was so cool, coz we were actually understanding each other, talking about Barcelona, Real Madrid, and watching the highlights of a friendly Real played. Then Esther's grandma joined in the fun. The channel on the TV had changed by this time to a series about Bullfighting and the legendary Torros of Spain. Esther's grandma was the one doing all the talking now, and she really seemed to like my occasional head nods, even if I didn't understand much. It elicited the most beautiful, sweetest toothless smile from her, which I had so fallen in love with! As my sister put it, she was just a very huggable person.. you look at her, and you want a hug!

After the Spanish conversations, it was time for lunch and this time, being a Sunday, the menu was more elaborate! Churros con chocolate, beans stew, pisto (veg mash), berenjenas y pimiento frito (aubergines and pepper) and OF COURSE, TINTO!!! Its amazing how quickly people disappear for Siestas once lunch is done! We headed to the pool instead and today, I was going to go in for a dip. By now, I'd worked up a VERY dark tan, and it was just going to get darker... (My dad was shocked to see me when I returned, he said - "You went to Europe, its cold there, and people become white.. what have you been upto!?!" :D Then I had to go on to explaining how South of Spain could go all the way upto 40 degrees in Summer, and how I was out in the Sun swimming!)

Anyways, it was a most relaxed afternoon and evening, swimming, frolicking in the water and playing silly games with the kids (Esther's cousins). We headed out around 10pm after a short trip to Esther's grandma's house where we were staying, for dinner and some drinks. It seemed like a Spanish McDonald's we went to and I ordered a patata rellena which is basically stuffed potatoes. It was with some Mexican sauce and had a nice slurpy spicy twinge to it. We got the food packed and sat at Sonia's bar and had our dinner along with some light drinks. I had white wine, served complimentary from the ever-sweet Sonia, and we chatted into the night.

I remember not thinking too much about the next day. We were going to Sevilla and I'd not heard anything about the place. I was going to go, as usual, with an open mind :)