huelga general

The general strike is happening; thousands in the streets all over Catalonia, including the firefighers, students, children, the elderly, the local police...a moving site. The busses and trains are on severely limited schedules, the parliament is closed. We are still in our hotel at midday, not on the winery tour that had been scheduled for today and that is goos as we have seen video of highways blocked, and Spanish flags being torn down off public buildings. I think we will stay with our local area today. I am hopeful that perhaps the tourist buses will be running, but we'll have to get down to the plaza to find out. Its a short walk, alongside the young people draped in their Catalonian flags. 

My American friends are leaving today and I have another couple of days to try to experience the museums and monumental sites. My friend encourages me to stay safe but "have loads of fun". Interesting what one finds "fun"; Webster's primary definition of the word is "what provides amusement or enjoyment;  specifically  :playful often boisterous action or speech  

• full of fun"

to me, this whole experience, from the educational aspect through the plans interrupted  by political activity, has been priceless, a privilidge to experience, enjoyable in a primal way but fun, no. Fun is what happens when I hang out with my friends and play games, laugh with family, go to an amusement park or craft fair...fun is a light thing. This is something altogether different. I would not trade it! I am grateful for it, and feel that my life will be better for having had this experience. But fun, no, it's not that. 

It will be ironic if we end up returning to Nashville without seeing the main sights, but it will be okay. We will have to return to Barcelona. I'm okay with that requirement.