September 30, 2014
As I sit sipping a café
con leche on a warm Malaga patio, it seems surreal that only a few days ago
I was telling friends, family and others that I would soon be spending eight
months in Spain. Back then, it seemed only vaguely true, an adventure happening
in the future that I was both looking forward to excitedly and second-guessing
in turn. But at last here I am, on the last leg of my journey, waiting for a
bus to my soon-to-be new home of Linares, Spain.
Almost immediately, some of my expectations for southern
Spain have been confirmed. Sitting on a patio facing the street, I notice
vespas scooting by, palm trees lining the streets, conversations taking place
in rapid español andaluz, and other
café customers sipping their coffees while leisurely smoking a cigarette. This
is no 11:00 a.m. on a Canadian Monday: the café is surprisingly busy and there
seems to be no rush to finish coffee or meals and scoot off to work. A pleasant
surprise comes at the end of my meal: my delicious ham-and-cheese sandwich and
two cafes con leche cost a mere 5.25
euros.
It has been a long journey to get here—and there are still a
good 7 hours to go until I reach my final destination—but despite the struggle
to keep my eyes open and focused on my watch and my luggage, I’m full of
excitement and anticipation.
‘Ta luego!
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