Sant Cugat is where Marta's house is located, outside of Barcelona. It's a smaller town. Elisa and I wandered the streets until we eventually found the monastery. There was a cathedral and another building next to that. They were from the 9th century, but had been refurbished and even entirely rebuilt in some places. They were having a service inside, so Elisa and I walked around the outside. She described Easter in different parts of Spain for me. Amazing. I can't wait to spend an Easter in Spain.
Elisa and I decided to go into the service. Obviously, since it was all in very rapid Spanish, I didn't understand most of it. But it was amazing to watch. Old women carefully knelt to pray earnestly. Children quietly copied their parents in folding their hands. The crowded church filed slowly up the aisles for communion. I don't know how to describe it. It was easy to see the beauty in their traditions. A beauty that covered generations.
After the service, I did a quick walk through the church despite the crowded halls. I still didn't feel it appropriate to take pictures, so I have none of the inside. You'll have to go yourself!
Afterwards, Elisa and I walked through the shopping center of Sant Cugat. Mass had let out so the streets were much more crowded. Easter is coming up so the chocolate shops were full of their best work. Elsa's face covered cakes. Easter eggs and designs dominated store window. One even had an entire Cinderella castle! Obviously my favorite.
When we got home, we packed up, loaded the car, and took off. We went to aerodrome, met Marta and Arturo, and went to lunch with one other friend.
Lunch was in a fancy restaurant in a quiet part of town. We parked the cars in the parking lot and went on in. After a multitude of appetizers, we had the main course. I had a lamb leg. Yes, the entire leg. Yes, it was delicious. Arturo and Elisa had some meal that requires hands. They give you bibs. You know it's a fancy restaurant when the bibs have bow ties printed on them. Elisa pointed out to me a table behind us. They had brought their own. I applaud their dedication to cleanliness. I also laughed heartily at it.
After lunch, we went outside to head to Olot, where we will spend the next couple days. We were saying goodbye, when I heard Elisa say "Oh my God..." I looked over. The window to Arturo's car had been smashed in. I immediately realized what had been taken. My backpack.
I don't know if I was just in a happy lull about lunch, but I never had the freak out moment. Honest to goodness, my only thought was, well okay then. I began to make a list of what was inside. All my credit and debit cards, my tablet, my driver's license, and my iPod. I had my passport with me. I began to work on canceling my cards.
I tried calling my parents because it'd be easier to cancel cards from America. My mom was in Alaska and my dad was in church. That was when panic hit me. But only for a moment. I felt panic rising in me. And then I thought of all those stupid essays I've been writing. All those essays about confidence and me saying I know the secret to staying calm under pressure. And I do. So I did what I do when you can feel yourself losing sanity in a busy SEAG office. Three deep breathes. Close your eyes. Count to ten. Then handle one customer at a time. One problem at a time. One step at a time. Pardon the French... But I'd be damned if I let THIS get to me! And I didn't.
My next step was to call Johann. If I had a nickel for every time he answers a desperate plea of mine... He found the number for me to call. He also drove to a bank in case it didn't work on my end. Luckily it did. But thank God my brother is the best.
Let me do a crazy big shout out to Wells Fargo. I've never been so impressed. In one phone call they cancelled all the cards, assured me nothing had been bought with them, and made it so new cards would be sent to me in FOUR DAYS. Do you understand how amazing that is?? Four days! Well done Wells Fargo. Well done!
The next step was to go to the police station. We had to file a report. This took a while. Marta, Elisa, Arturo, and I swapped stories of stolen items. We all laughed because life is all about just keeping going. Everyone kept giving me hugs and apologizing. But I was already past it. Such is life! Keep moving on.
Finally, we took off to Olot. The friends we are staying with there live in an old church. Amazing! The actual sanctuary part is still in use as a church, but the back rooms ect are their house. It is so cool. Next door is a graveyard that I intend to check out soon.
During dinner I had the realization my tablet is still connected to all my accounts. I used Robert's computer to contact a very good friend in Colorado. He dropped what he was doing to help. How's that song go? "You find out who your friends are..." He figured out how to lock my tablet from afar. I still changed all my passwords, but he also completely locked up my tablet. The biggest shout out to him ever.
Finally, bed time. I've never slept so well. Nothing puts you at ease like knowing you have friends and family who will drop everything to help. That's how we keep going in life. With that in mind, the adventure continues.
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