Kazan — summer 2012

♫ The world survives into another day
♫ And I'm thinking about eternity
♫ Some kind of ecstasy's got a hold on me

Ah, what a good thing to have Bruce Cockburn going through my head today. Yesterday I woke up with that damned song "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon Five, which has to be one of the most irritating tunes of the year.

Another lovely day in Barcelona, although a few clouds are out. I'm hoping that will make it a bit cooler. The climate here feels like Los Angeles to me. A bit below 80°, humid, though not unbearably so.

The breakfast buffet is essentially the same as yesterday, but today I added:

The bowl has a bit of muesli and milk in it, topped with dried apricots. The dark clumps that look like obese cockroaches are dates: very tasty. To the right is an apple tart, very sweet, which makes a glorious contrast with the strong bitter coffee they serve.

Hm. No wonder the Spaniards like to mix milk with their coffee. It's all so very strong. In the American midwest, people at diners will sit for hours drinking 8-10 cups of coffee, which is probably one of the reason why diner coffee is generally weak.

I'll be doing the high points of the town on the tourist bus today. Sort of wish I had brought a murse with me. Today my pockets have to hold:

• The Barcelona card, which gives me unlimited access to public transport
• The tourist bus card
• Camera
• Money
• Cell phone
• Maps
• Credit cards

Actually, I have a packet I wear under my shirt for unpickpocketable money, credit card and ID.