Talitha's Travels - Spanish Siesta "Bye bye, Talitha" called Jenny, Talitha's owner. *yawn* Talitha took a big stretch as the door slammed downstairs. She could hear the rain hitting the windows through out the empty house. "Ugh. Rain." She said. "There's nothing worse than rain. It's all... Wet." Talitha slowly made her way down into the kitchen for breakfast and some warm milk. "What to do, what to do?" She pondered. " right!" She said. "No more sitting around, it's time to do something!" Talitha knew what she wanted... An adventure. She strutted to a globe ornament in the corner of the living room, spun it and stopped it with her paw. She lifted it to see where she'd fly off too this time! "Spain! Perfect. There will be nothing but sun there!" She darted over to her bed, pulled out her brown suitcase and began to pack some essentials. "Sunglasses. Check. Spanish phrase book. Check. Sun cream. Check." And most importantly, she made sure she had her passport and money. "I'd better get going if I want to catch a flight!" Talitha grabbed an umbrella, put her sunglasses on her head and made a run to the bus stop. Moments later, a bus pulled up to the bus shelter. " I thought you were never going to come!" Said Talitha to the bus driver. "Oh have you been waiting long?" The driver questioned. "Not really, I just hate the rain" Talitha purred. Talitha took a seat and watched the rain trickle down the window for the rest of the journey. Just as the rain began to come down hard, the bus arrived at the airport. Talitha ran into the airport, trying not to get wet. She strutted over to the ticket desk and asked the ticket officer for a return to Barcelona. "The next flight leaves in ten minutes. If you run you might just make it" she said to Talitha. "I'll take it!" Talitha ran towards the terminal gate. "Sorry. Excuse me. Pardon me!" She said as she made her way through the crowds. "WAIT!" She commanded! "Just in the knick of time" smiled the flight attendant. " Thank goodness for that!" Talitha said while gasping for air. He tore her ticket, and she boarded the plane. "24A" she took her seat strapped her seatbelt in and sat back. WHOOOOOOSH! The plane took off. Reaching higher, and higher. Up, up and up! "I love flying!" She said joyfully to the lady sat beside her. "Well that makes one of us!" She said, with fright in her voice. The frightened lady had blonde hair, and dressed all in black with red lips."Oh dear!" Said Talitha. "Is there anything I can do to help?" Talitha smirked. "Is this your first time to Barcelona?" "No, I holiday here twice a year. What about yourself?" "Oh wow. Yes it is. I'm very excited. I love exploring new places" Talitha said to the blonde lady. "Well might I suggest Barcelona beach, and paella as two things you MUST experience while in Barcelona" "Yes. Thank you. I hadn't even thought of where I'd go" She said. And before you could say mucho gracias they had arrived in Barcelona! HOLA! Read a huge sign as Talitha stepped off of the plane. "Hola!" She said, In her best Spanish accent as she headed through the exit. " hmmm now how to get to the city centre..." Talitha stood on front of a huge information board and map. After a good five minutes, Talitha decided she'd take the tram! After all she did have a budget! She checked the tram departure board and casually strolled over to platform 'Uno' Talitha remembered from her Spanish phrase book that uno in Spanish means one. The tram approached the platform. *tzzz tzzzzzt tzz* the wires above hissed. The tram was bright orange, with red sliding doors. Talitha took a seat and waited for the ticket instructor to come over. Now was her chance to put her Spanish phrase book to some use. "Buenas tardes" (that means hello!) "Buenas tardes." He replied. " she then asked him for a ticket to Barcelona using her Spanish phrase book. "In billete sencillo para Barcelona, por favor" por favor means please, Talitha never forgot her manners. You should always be polite. He printed her ticket, took her money and went on to the next passenger. The tram journey wasn't a very long one, but it went right through central Barcelona. Spanish children played in the fountains, ice cream parlours everywhere, and blue skies. Crystal clear. Talitha was in paradise. A distant cry from rainy England! Talitha stepped off the tram, her sandals clicking onto the Spanish cobbles. 'Where too first?!' She thought. She remembered the frightened blonde lady said she must try some paella. She turned to look for a cafe or restaurant. "Hola, senioritta. " said a deep Spanish voice. Talitha looked, to find a black, tall alley cat. "Oh... Hola" she said politely. "You are English, no?" He questioned intently, coated in a think Spanish accent. "I am English yes. And very hungry! Do you know anywhere I can find some paella?" She said to the alley cat. "Ah si. I know where you can find the best paella in Barcelona! I can take you there?" Talitha hesitated but accepted the alley cats invite. "My name is horhay." He said to Talitha as they walked through Barcelona's busy streets. "I'm Talitha" she said politely. "Ah here we are" horhay pointed over to a rustic looking bistro. It was very small with only four tables! He ordered a large paella, and two blood orange juices. Moments later a large heavy looking pan sizzled its way to their table. Talitha breathed in a deep breath, and sniffed in a huge aroma of different smells. "It smells delicious!" She gasped. Talitha couldn't of eaten her portion quicker. After paying, Talitha and Horhay strolled eating ice cream in the hot Spanish sun. More and more people began to fill our the streets. "Where are we?" She asked. "By Barcelona beach come on! Lets go take a look" Talitha felt the warmth of the sand on her paws. Horhay walked back over to Talitha with a frisbee. "Let's play!" They found an empty patch on the beach and began to play frisbee, and others joined in! Talitha basked in the sun, and ate ice cream all day... 'I could do this everyday' she said to herself. She looked down at her watch... Uh oh. Time to go. "Horhay! I have to leave" she beckoned. He sprinted over and hugged Talitha. "I wish you could stay" "Me too... Spain's lovely" she replied. "Jump on that bus there, it goes by the airport. Wait. Get a photo. So we can remember the day" *SNAP. FLASH* Talitha got on the bus, and watched the sunset as the bus pulled away from the sandy strip. A little while later she arrived at the airport, checked in her bags and boarded a flight with a somber swiftness. To make matters worse Talitha had to sit alone! Talitha landed back to a cold and rainy England. "Welcome back" she said to herself. She collected her bag, and waited at the bus stop. "Back so soon" said the driver as he opened the doors. "Afraid so, and to rubbish weather." When Talitha got home, Jenny had already arrived. 'Uh oh' she thought. She ran, hid her suitcase, pine up her photo from the beach and slinked into the kitchen. "There you are Talitha!" She said. "I've been looking for you everywhere." Talitha purred as Jenny rubbed her head. Talitha jumped up onto Jenny's lap and closed her eyes. The end