Sunday, September 27th - Salou, Spain

The thunder storms they have predicting finally arrived last night.  I managed to sleep quite well through them but I did hear several very loud claps of thunder and the rain was really coming down.  This morning when I got up it was definitely cooler and fresher and there is a lot of water in puddles and streams on the street.  The whole promenade area has several walkways from the street to the beach and they curved downward to the centre.  I can see that the one in front of my place now has water in it.  People can still walk all around the promenade and even down the pathway.  They just can't walk down the lower centre part of they might get their feet wet.

It was still cloudy and there was a chance of more showers and thunderstorms so I didn't go too far today.  I took the time to get some work done.  Of course I say that almost everyday and then I get sidetracked doing something totally non productive and another day goes by with nothing to show for it.  Oh well, such is the life of one waiting for a passport to return before they can move on.

I did some blogging.  I read a bit.  I looked at the budget for Malawi.  I sorted through more stuff.  I ate a couple of meals.  Gosh, that's about it and the day is done.  I never even went out despite the fact that the afternoon and evening thunderstorms never did materialize.  It didn't get too hot but it was nice and I certainly could have been out for a walk.

So what can I tell you about Salou that I haven't already told you?  Nor much.  I think I've already mentioned everything at one point or another in various blogs.  It's a nice little town about 100 km south of Barcelona with great rail and bus connections to wherever you might want to go.  Tarragona is about ten kilometres away and has a great Roman town and fortification (still intact) and I hope to go there someday next week.  Reus is also about 10 kilometres and it is totally different.  Gaudi was born there and they have a large Centre devoted just to his work.  As well, most of the town is of a more modern architecture and apparently very interesting to visit.  I may make it there someday as well.  The other towns in the area are pretty much the same as Salou so I probably won't visit them.

Oh, I guess I could tell you that while I was not accomplishing much today but rather just lazing around most of the time, the person I will be working with in Ethiopia and Malawi was in Germany running the Berlin marathon.  I have a feeling she is going to have just a bit more energy than I seem to have so I hope I'll be able to keep up with her.  The latest on that part of the trip is that I will be in Ethiopia from October 10th to November 23rd and then in Malawi from November 23rd to December 12th.  It is all still subject to change though, especially the starting date which seems to keep getting later and later all the time.  It's a good thing I like it here in Salou in my little apartment because I really can't stray too far until my passport and visa get back to me.

And with a treat of some microwaved popcorn and time to read my book, my day is finally over and I'm off to bed.