Wanderlust and Words

Estacio del Nord, Valencia, Spain My brother will be leaving later this month on a cross-country train journey. But I will be surprised if he travels through any train stations as elegant as the Estacio del Nord in Valencia. Estacio del Nord The station was built between 1906 and 1917 under the direction of Demetrio Ribes. It’s in the modernist style incorporating wood, ceramics and metal. The attention to detail is outstanding. No one who walks through this building can remain untouched by its beauty. The building is a celebration of Valencian life and culture. The façade of the building is festooned with oranges and roses, and mosaics by Josep Benliure in the original waiting room illustrate scenes from Valencian life. Train Travel in Spain I enjoyed travelling by train in Spain. Stations are right downtown; trains are comfortable, frequent and on time; and the fares are reasonable. My most expensive trip was about $75 one way for a 3 ½ hour semi-direct journey. 50-min...

I have now watched four different sets of Semana Santa processions in Spain and, from my very limited perspective, they are a mix of pageantry and community party. There may be a touch of religion, but tradition and ritual are far more important. And the alcohol starts flowing the minute the procession is over. Everyone, from very young to very old, participates in the parades. I saw mothers carrying youngsters and fathers shaking their heads over kids who no longer wanted to beat their drum. The parades are super informal. Someone will drop out of the procession to hug a bystander. There are huge gaps between sections of the parade, with family and friends following “their” section. The processions are very informal. There are a few police officers and cars to clear the streets of traffic, but no barricades. Amateur photographers will stand in front of the procession to get a good photograph. Jesus proceeded through the streets of Jumilla on a donkey on Palm Sunday, and he stopp...