We were standing outside the tourist office in the beautiful city of Girona in Spain and taking in the stunning old buildings while figuring out our route for the day – a walk through the city alongside the river, a visit to two of the famous cathedrals, exploring the Jewish quarter and then a climb to the wall walk, which towers high above providing stunning views and runs for at least a mile and then maybe lunch!
While we stood figuring out the route I noticed a woman in a green and white dress with blue shoes and an unusual light green heel.
“Aren’t her shoes unusual” I commented to Dee. I got a strange look!
We went about our stroll, taking in the stunning architecture of the shops that ran along the river, we explored the few bridges, popped over to Independence Square and then went to the first Cathedral.
There she was our lady with the blue and green shoes, standing ahead of us in the queue and she asked for the headset with the tour in Russian.
Her hair was tied up nicely, she wore a gold watch and some discreet jewellery.
We collected our headsets and they took us from station of interest to station of interest, each with a sequential number in your headset that told you all about that part of the church.
Our Russian friend was one stop ahead of us as we went from station to station.
At stop number 10 we were overdosing on too much historical information and we just wandered on until we completed the visit and went on our journey to the main cathedral in the city.
The location for this was stunning, at the beginning of the Jewish quarter, a huge imposing building towering over the city. We climbed the steps to the cathedral, grabbed our headsets and started the 1,2,3,4 sequence of each historic spot within. There was our Russian friend again with the unusual shoes.
Judging from the guests in our hotel many Russians seem to come here on holidays.
The fantastic hotel where we were staying near Lloret de Mar, the Santa Maria, seemed to have many while we were there including a group of women, who were definitely enjoying themselves by the pool, at the bar and at breakfast – the Cava was flowing on the one morning when a ferocious storm spent the day visiting.
After all, what else could you do?!
Was our Russian friend alone I wondered?
If I was alone, would I go visiting cathedrals or even come on a holiday like this by myself? It must be difficult for anyone who is alone I pondered.
We hit fast forward, exited the cathedral and wandered through the Jewish quarter, passing the beautiful, unusual shops, restaurants and buildings and then we made our way up, up, up to the beginning of the famous wall.
Climbing those steps was tough in the heat, when in particular en route we had to pass a few restaurants with people enjoying paella and cold drinks!
The wall towered over the city and it snaked it’s way parallel to the river on the opposite side of the city centre. We walked and walked and eventually came to the end of the wall and back where our day started near the tourist office.
With the knowledge we now had of the city we made our way to the Jewish quarter and settled on a beautiful old restaurant and sat outside to enjoy the food and the brilliant pastime of some people watching.
The menu carrying salesman at the front of the restaurant carefully moved in when anyone showed interest in the menu. All dishes were for two, and we settled on a walnut, blue cheese and apple salad for €16, which included two glasses of Cava. The dish was huge as well as being delicious and we just had to order ‘Dos copas du vino blanco‘ to complete the course!
The people watching was as enjoyable as the meal as all sorts of unusual people, young and old passed by … holidays are just great!
Our Russian friend came into my mind as I thought about the ‘meals for two menu‘ at the restaurant.
As I sat there I asked Dee “would you come to a place like this on your own”?
No sooner as the words came out of my mouth, our Russian friend with the blue shoes and the lime green heels walked by.
How is it that the second we think about someone, they appear?
I swear, there are no coincidences, we are all truly connected, even with Russian women in Girona!
There would be no need for dinner after that feast so we bought a baguette and some cheese on the way back to the car to eat later on the balcony of the hotel.
That was a good day ..
Greg
Greg Canty is a Partner of Fuzion Communications, a full service Marketing, PR, Graphic Design and Digital Marketing agency with offices in Dublin and Cork, Ireland
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