stayed in my room all morning. some guitar. some coffee. some this.

i lit out for the train. the 1:45 to paris to connect and visit parish.

but no. i opted for the train the next morning. again. walked back across the street to my beloved hotel and rechecked in. they smiled.

then mourad behind the counter, the fellow who informed me that breakfast to my room would be free of charge, decided to upgrade the likes of me to the executive floor. they gave me the biggest room in the hotel. 226. comes with an espresso machine. it was large enough to rent for a month incase. the bed was 3 pillows wide. a little lonesome, but not much.

so for the day i opted to get laundry done. and then to hit the post office and send a few pounds of clothes home so i don’t have to lug so much. the oil slicker (rain coat) just was not worth its weight. hadn’t used it in a month or so. so home it went. i hope.

then it rained.

the storm came over the town like voo doo. as the thunder clouds built up i headed down to the plaza for one more gander. walked a different way and scoped out my eventual dinner spot. the walk was spectacular. this town has a very quiet grace and a severe loveliness.

the plaza was bizarre in a surreal light. the black mass above smoldering in over the acres of gold leaf that reflected the lighting jabs like nothing i’ve ever seen. i perched myself outside in front of the grand hotel for a beer to soak it all in.

from my vantage point thunder mass took over the entire sky and small rain was beginning to adorn. i sipped like a man who knew.

my eyes felt weakened by the vision. as if they had seen so much beauty they could now close for good. better not though. finished the beer and sauntered back to where i chose my dinner plans.

nestled in under the tarp outside again. and let it pour all around my fish soup. for companionship i texted polly. and my daughter. and whoever would have me. sat there and took in the conversations in mime and cello like chatter.

and that was the day. walked up the wet streets to the hotel.

ventured out for a last beer. and surrendered to the eventual, losing my grip on nancy, letting her go, enjoying the room and the elbow room. a bath. a sleep. a dream or two.

today marked the birthday of rainer’s 60^th year here if he coulda.

him at 60 woulda been something grand. a thunder storm over the plaza. lightning on gold leaf. drizzle dazzle. spine tingle. that smile.