Day Eleven

My friend Dara and I walked to an "English speaking church" about 30 minutes from our apartments. It was not very 'churchy.' I think Dara enjoyed it though. It was two hours long, with English and Spanish translations. It definitely isn't what I would define as a church, but more as a prayer service...kinda. Mr. Karl would have enjoyed himself if it was a Tuesday night after church. People stood up and told their stories about The Holy Spirit and how they have seen God's works. It was interesting. At one point the translator started preaching about his favorite Bible verse and half the place (of about 60, it was slightly impressive), Dara included, pulled out their pocket sized Bibles and journals to write things in. I felt very unprepared. People were there from all over though. England, Hungary, Americans working for the UN or NATO in Valencia, someone is studying at Berklee here so that was cool. They have a youth group that meets on Wednesdays, which is something Dara has been looking for, so she might end up becoming a part of that, I however will stick to my Catholic roots. They were nice people, but it was not enough for me. The Cathedral in Valencia felt much more like home than the service earlier.

I walked to the 'third center of town' today to get lunch. (There's the Plaza de Virgin, and if you walk around that to go straight, think roundabout, then you reach another, and after that you come to the last one where the post office and tourist foods, Subway, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Burger King, etc. are located.) Anyways, I got paella to go, I don't know if it's a Valencian thing to do or not, but I assumed it was like getting pizza for take-out in America. Paella has grown on me. It's only been a week and a half or so and I've already had it 3 times.

This is the back door to The Cathedral

My view

I went to the 7pm mass at The Cathedral and we were out of there by 7:30. There was no singing, the Spaniards speak very, very fast, and the only words of the sermon I could understand were: let's go, Sabbath, welcome, and for what...? But I have since printed off a cheat sheet! So I'm prepared for next time!  Another group of FSU students were there, they told me I should come with them next time, so I may tag along. However, I much prefer morning masses, because then I go out out to breakfast. I can't go out to dinner by myself after church because Mom is terrified.




Also, tickets to the bus station for our trip to Paris has been ordered and we're moving forward in full force!