Quiet, Friendly Girona

I spent my last day in Girona today. Girona (pronounced with a "J" sound) is a smaller town north of Barcelona. It has a small, walled medieval town, which is where my hostel is located. When I saw the beautiful place, I thought, "I get to stay here? And for only 17€ a night?!"

Alberg-Residencia Cerverí is a youth hostel\de facto dorm for students of the University of Girona, just a few blocks away. Living in the room I´m in for three nights is a girl from the university who comes from a small town--muy pequeñito--without a university. We met for long enough to have a conversation this morning when I came back to the hostel to exchange my fleece for a sweater (it´s getting chilly here!). She asked what language I speak. I answered English, but I´ve been learning Spanish for three years, so the rest of our conversation was in Spanish (though, around here, they speak Catalan, which is quite different from Castilian Spanish, really, but somewhat decipherable when written). I introduced myself, and she told me her name as well, ...Leda?... I really don´t remember, I´m afraid. Anyway, I was getting ready to shake hands, but then we kissed cheeks instead! I had forgotten the traditional greeting here! She´s studying biology. She is very nice and very pretty with curly dark brown hair and an olive complection.

The facilities here in the hostel are certainly not luxurious, but they are functional. There are two bunkbeds in the room, and while they are not as comfortable as at the last hostel in Barcelona (which was furnished completely from Ikea) they have served for two good night´s sleep so far. The shower, like the sink faucets, is the kind where you push in the button and water comes out for about a minute before shutting off. It took several times to fully rinse off, but the water was warm. I had been braced for cold!

The breakfast, included in the price, is a hearty breakfast of artisan bread, meats, cheeses, tomatoes, a few cereals, and fruit juices. And of course, coffee and tea. Not bad, at all.

The nights have been quiet, and I´ve gotten the best night´s sleep here since I´ve landed in Spain.

The people are friendlier here than in Barcelona (I guess that´s a small town for you.) I´ve actually gotten several smiles!--from waiters, shopkeepers, and the gentleman whom I asked for directions. I´ve spoken in Spanish more, too. In Barcelona, I´d try to speak Spanish, but everyone insisted on English! I felt so defeated. But here, even when I ask for the English menu or museum guide, I´ve managed to converse in Spanish.

I´ll be sorry to leave tomorrow morning. It´s such a beautiful place. Back to Barcelona, and from there on to Zaragoza! That is in Castilian Spanish territory, so no more Catalan.

Until more, ¡adios!