After zipping along at 250 kph on the train from bustling Barcelona, we are having a short break in downtown Zaragoza along the way. Very impressive central city area. Very clean, huge tree lined avenues. Wide streets lined with well presented shops and coffee/eating places, huge catholic structures obviously designed to intimidate us mere ants on the planet.
But where are all the people?
We are in a great hotel with plenty of friendly staff. But it feels almost empty. Terrific buffet breakfast for just a few participants. Yesterday, only a relatively few people out and about-maybe it was still siesta time.
In our spare moments we have taken in some english speaking TV. Most of it must be some sort of media joke as what passes for news these days is almost endless trivia. Nothing on BBC about European floods but film coverage of water in a remote gorge in some out of the way spot on the planet called Tasmania. BBC coverage of long dead Margaret Thatcher fans longing for a return of greatness in Britain, including the almost inevitable interviews with an aging spitfire pilot and the usual right wing, public school educated clown, still defending the empire against those continental huns. Long may they wait or perhaps they will sink further soon
A channel change to Russian TV and an interview with an overweight Kevin R opining about Chinese agression and the counter threat from an Australia doubling its defence budget. Who pays this clown to tour the globe listening to himself?
In desparation, another channel change only to get screeching Hilary. Switch off.
We are now heading into very warm weather in Spain-over 34 degrees today. So we may have to slow down a bit as we explore the city from Roman ruins, through Moorish times and of course Mr Goya who left a bit of his work around here for us ants to regard.
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