Time is brief! And as is such, goals will be kept to a minimum. Today, two primary goals. The first – make a triumphant return to the Horse and Groom, this time gaining entrance and securing a pint. Yesterday I had noticed a sign on the front door of the bar which, in addition to notifying the public that salted beef is now served on the premises, indicated that the Horse and Groom is open up for busines on Sundays at noon. The second goal was to not miss my flight to Valencia later that afternoon.
While sipping my victory pint I concluded that this bar could not be the same bar that was immortalized in Danny Wallace’s Yes Man. Simply too small, the vibe – yes, I know it was a Sunday – was such that I spent several minutes flipping through an electronics catalogue on the bar. I simply cannot accept that this was the bar of lore which I had been on the hunt for. Either there are multiple Horse and Grooms scattered about London, or I am mistaken on the name. I never figured it out.
Later in the evening, after a 175 euro taxi ride from Valencia to Denia (pricey, but well worth it – the scenery is quite pleasant on this particular stretch of road, and sitting in the backseat of a cab means one can enjoy it) I found myself strolling around Denia. Denia is a resort town, which means that lots of retired English people descend upon the town throughout the summer. Listening to English people complain is comical to say the least – the vocabulary, combined with the accent, means that walking behind an old English couple complaining about rice and the hot weather is a treat. But the point is that Denia is typically a quiet town on the edge of the Mediterranean. Except tonight, June 29th 2009! A disharmony of honking horns filled the evening air, and Spanish flags waved wildly from cars cruising past. And you would honk madly and wave a flag if your country just won the European Championship, too.
