A Lot of BULL - continued

And so there we were on an old country road in the mountains. While I was going through my suitcase for the hotel paperwork, César decided to go into the trees to pee, the joy of being a boy! While he was gone I thought it was interesting that there was a big wind that had picked up in the trees across the road. It dawned on me that the 'breeze' was accompanied by a loud thudding noise and I looked closely across the street and at that time César came running up to me at the car and asked what it was. I thought wind at first, but then we could make out the shape of animals just beyond the trees along the road. We froze in surprise as the thundering passed by, and then from no where we heard the sound coming back our way and out of the trees ran a big bull!! We all three stared at each other, a stone's throw apart. I'm sure the bull was quite surprised and what a picture it must have been to see César and I run to the doors and jump in his car. We stared at each other for a moment, or an hour and I finally got the camera and we backed up to get a picture and when we did, the bull ran back into the trees, lost to us forever! Once the fear and shocked passed, it was hilarious that we had met a wild bull in Spain! I so regret not thinking to get out of the car long enough to get a picture or two! But who knows what our bull would have done, seeing me so close again. And so quite relieved, we called the hotel and got directions and went on our way,sure that seeing a wild bull across a small road from us had to be the thrill of the trip! What could top that? And I much preferred seeing him run free than in a bullring being killed!! And believe me, this story is not a bunch of bull!

We finally arrived at our hotel and it was as incredible as I remembered it from the tour that went there for snacks. We checked in and enjoyed a nice dinner in the restaurant and spent quite a while outside on our private balcony overlooking the beautiful ocean hitting the rocks below. We had snacks I'd taken and the wine the travel agent sent me and before we knew it, it was 2AM! César fell asleep quickly and I knew he was tired from working the night before and driving so far that day. I couldn't sleep so I went down to use the internet and spent almost 2 hours talking to the night manager and couldn't fall asleep until 5AM! The time change is so hard for me. I was awake at 9 and somehow made it through the morning awake! We had breakfast and decided to make the 'one hour' drive to Santiago de Compestela, the famous pilgrimage site. The 'one hour' drive was much closer to 2 hours and when we got to the town we couldn't find the church right away. We did laugh about believing the time that Europeans tell us something will take. We learned better on other trips. The cathedral was absolutely amazing! It was beautiful and ornate and very impressive. We arrived at the end of the mass and the organ music was gorgeous! After purchasing a cd from the Spanish serenade singers who were there, we walked back to the car and decided to have a nice lunch in Vigo before I got back on the ship. We were both so tired and when we got to Vigo the ship was much further away than we had expected and I later found out that another ship had taken the pier where we were supposed to be. By the time we found the ship we were not anywhere to have lunch and I knew he was concerned about his long drive home alone so we said goodbye much sooner than we had expected. That is always hard for me, not knowing if and when we will be together next. I won't be going to Portugal for my birthday this year,he just can't get off work so the future is unknown.

I am so used to being alone but after spending time with such a wonderful friend who takes such good care of me, it is hard to be alone again. I couldn't resist tears when I was asked how the trip was. The nice crew member who okayed my paperwork had to meet me at the ship and get me reregistered to get back on. She was so sweet and said that she really liked me and would I like to have dinner with her and some friends to keep the tradition of knowing crew alive on this trip too. How sweet that was! And I believe I mentioned that César's roommate from his Australia contract is on the ship, and he said he would like to get together with me too, so that will be fun. He knew all about me from César and had seen pictures of me. Small world in the cruise industry after all. And so, I have now adjusted back to my lone existence on the ship and the pleasure of company for 24 hours is history now.

And luckily I have so much to look forward to ahead of me, it will help. Tomorrow we arrive and I will be spending the day with my own taxi and driver and spend as long as I want at Monet's Garden, a perfect day! And then the next day I will already be back with friends again! Alec and Diana, who I met on the Antarctica cruise will meet the ship and we will get to spend the day together! I'm excited to see them and be together to see England. We might be joined by Terry, who I also know from another cruise, but I haven't heard yet. How lucky I am to have so many friends to be with this trip. If it is indeed the last long trip I get to take, what memories I will have! Bull, and all! And so, hasta luego!