The Street Buskers at La Rambla.....

 

Oops! The head is on the table!

 

Buskers on the busy pavement of La Rambla.

 

The versatile man in gold makes everyone laugh with his unique poses.

 

Very difficult to pose as a statue! Not frozen enough!

In Barcelona, people are encouraged to cycle and hence, one can easily hire a bicycle from the many bicycle stations along the pavements. Many of the residents have their own bicycles. In some areas, the pavements are in the centre between two roads. At La Rambla, the pavement is so broad, that people can walk as well as purchase from the many stores selling souvenirs. Hence, buskers throng the pavement in the hope that curious tourists like me will find them fascinating and give them donations.

Soh Wah and I marvel at the creativity and versatility of the buskers. They dressed up as angels, movie characters, etc. There were two men who danced like Michael Jackson. Amazing talent!

Unlike London, the weather in Barcelona was really warm - hovering around 32 to 35 degrees Celcius. I kind of felt sorry for the buskers with their somewhat thick costumes. Some of them work very long hours. It must be difficult to keep still for a reasonable length of time. I decided to imitate them but it was very tough to remain absolutely still even for one minute!

Indeed these buskers have added life and colour to Barcelona and I wish them all the very best.

Gan Cao

The Wet Market at La Rambla!

 

I was pleasantly surprised to see piglets on display. I have always thought that only the Chinese eat piglets which they make into suckling roast meat. Poor little pigs with no chance to grow up!

 

Ham, bacon, etc. on display at the wet market.

 

The fruits and vegetables are so fresh!

 

Chocolates in technicolours!

The hotel which the travel agent in London had booked for us could not have been in a better location. Situated at La Rambla, we were right in the heart of Barcelona, where things are really "happening!"

Soh Wah and I were just delighted with the discovery of a wet market! The fruits and vegetables look so colorful and fresh. I bought some cherries and two huge promeganates. The cherries were only 1.99 Euros a kilo, while the two promeganates were 8.90 Euros a kilo. The two huge promeganates were 1.2 kilos in weight!

As a chocoholic, I was attracted by the stall selling all types of chocolates. The colorful chocolates caught my eyes. I guess I am gradually overcoming my chocoholism, because this time I did not even buy any chocolates! I did not buy any chocolates even for my friends, because if my friends did not collect the chocolates fast from me, I am afraid they would end up in my tummy. So to resist temptation, I thought it would be better for me to buy non-edible stuffs as gifts instead.

So much for the wet market at La Rambla! Will write about the street buskers in my next article!

Until then! Adios! Bye!

Gan Cao

Happiness is .....(41)

 

Jenny aka Saw Lan with Soh Wah

 

A precious reunion with my primary school classmate

 

St. Mary's Hospital near the Novotel London Paddington

For so many years whenever I passed by my school, Convent Green Lane Primary and Secondary in Penang, I would think of my ex-teachers and classmates. How have they been? Are they married or still single.? Are my ex-teachers still alive and kicking despite their golden years.?

Thanks to Facebook, some of us have found one another, and amongst this small group of classmates, the first to meet me is Jenny who lives in London. When Jenny first wrote to me, I asked her if her Chinese name was Saw Lan. She was surprised at my excellent memory.

I told Jenny I still remember her as a very serious girl who would never hesitate to show her displeasure by knitting her eyebrows, and glaring at the source of her annoyance! Jenny said she still remains the same serious type but is now a much more relaxed and happy lady because she has found Jesus!

After a few attempts to meet, we finally managed to meet each other on the day of our departure at Heathrow Airport. Jenny works with British Airways as an occupational therapist, and it was easy for her to meet us as her office is near Heathrow airport. Soh Wah and I arrived early at the airport, and I was trying to send Jenny a short message on my phone, when lo and behold! there she was standing and smiling beside Soh Wah! Soh Wah first spotted her on her way to the washroom, and instinctively felt that she must be Jenny, and asked, "Are you looking for Choo Choo?"

After her O levels, Jenny left for England to train as a nurse. In those days, jobs were hard to come by, and it was the "in thing" to do nursing in England. I was also accepted to train as a student nurse at St. Mary's Hospital. I told Jenny I was so excited to stumble upon St. Mary's Hospital when Soh Wah and I took the wrong exit out of Paddington Station. The huge hospital was just across the river from Novotel London Paddington where we were staying. It was my eldest sister Lee Lee who stopped me from going to London as she said I was not cut out to be a nurse. Jenny said neither was she cut out to be a nurse, but having been in it, she thought she might as well make the most of it. I guess I would do likewise. I wonder if I had persisted on going to London, would I also end up like Jenny, married to a British? Ah! Ah! Do not get me wrong dear readers. I have been and am extremely contented with my present life, but as a writer, I can't help letting my imagination go astray.

Jenny showed Soh Wah and me beautiful photos of her daughter and two sons. Her children are extremly good looking because of the mixed parentage.

Jenny bought Soh Wah and I some coffee and we had a great time, talking about our childhood days in Convent Green Lane. Amiable Soh Wah was able to join us in our conversation. I gave Jenny a small gift - an amethyst bracelet which I bought from Barcelona, and it matched her purple floral prints!

We would be having a class reunion sometime in October in Penang, and I have invited Jenny to be my guest in Singapore. We would take a bus back to Penang together.

Amazing! It has been 4 decades since we last parted after O levels! I am eagerly looking forward to meeting the rest of our classmates!

Gan Cao