Any one of Burgos Cathedral's stunning treasures
would take away the breath of even the most ardent atheist. But to
have them come at you one after the other for an hour or more is to
risk dying of a-respiration. One is left pondering, not what a work
of God is man, but what a work of man is God. And also where all the
wealth came from at time when 98% of parishioners were dirt poor.
Apart from the South American gold mines, of course.
There was a Mass taking place in the largest
side-chapel. Tellingly, the 8 celebrants (4 priests and 4 rather
elderly altar 'boys') outnumbered the faithful. Even before account
was take of the organist. I couldn't help wondering what went through
the minds of the priests as they gazed out - in the modern fashion -
of the ranks of empty pews. So few people to appreciate their
singing
On the mundane level, my colleagues' recorded
guide in English took longer than mine in Spanish. As The latter uses
more syllables and, indeed, words than the former, this could only
mean the Spanish guides spoke more quickly or imparted less
information.
Seven is a good number to have in group,
especially so (even more so) when of you are in this world and one of
you operated in a parallel universe.
I could well be wrong on this - and maybe it's a
function of the number of stars and, thus, the prices - but I get the
impression that hotel receptionists these days are doing the work of
two before La Crisis. Not that they ever seemed overworked back in
those days.
Shortly after I wrote the last paragraph we
arrived at tonight's hotel in Logroño, where the 3 staff on the
Reception first told us we had no bookings, then told us we did but
not as per my confirmation, and then finally photocopied all our
passports, rather than just write down the numbers. When I queried
this, I was told it was in case the chief of police dropped by and
asked to see them. Presumably a descendant of Franco
Finally . . . Another verse from the Rubaiyat
of Omar Khayam:-
Myself when young did equally frequent
Doctor and saint and heard great argument
About this about that. But ever more
Came out of the same door as in I went.
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