Our tour is almost over. We return to Madrid and Hotel Zurbano. It was a long drive north, but time for a new restaurant that turned out to be yet another wild event. Eduardo is a sly fox and he knew that we would be amused by the name of this establishment. After dinner, we gathered for a final farewell party, which included dances from our dancers, music from our musicians, a skit of laughter from our ha-ha yoga adepts, readings from Lorca by our poetry enthusiasts, general silliness, and heart-felt commentary. The next morning, most of us were up in the air, flying home and awash with a sea of memories and emotions.
The Magic Bus. Yuval and Oscar acknowledge the camera. Maya premieres the song "Shilita".
[see below] Oscar fills in the blanks and provides a quick quip. Cradling his oud as a teddy bear, Yuval performs 40 winks. In Valdepeñas on the way to Madrid a surprise (again).
The long table of very fine wine and excellent food.
Hey, there's Reuben our driver!
At the other end of the table, beyond the window, a lovely garden with running water.
The musicians celebrate the feast; note Yuval's glasses.
The music and laughter brought the owner, the chef, and the waiters into the dining room, and after a musical piece, they applauded. They were so impressed that one asked Yuval for his autograph, and the owner presented each of us his restaurant's poster. Thus, from a simple roadside detour for a good lunch arose a special event for us and for the restaurant. Restaurant Sucot was a harvest of great memories.
Eduardo and the restaurant owner share a laugh The poster.
Yuval and Norik begin the party. Kaye plays the daf. Bonnie begins her ballet. Dinah reads a poem of Lorca. Sheila starts her dance. Behold, a belly dance!
Careful with centrifugal spins! Is this legal? The reward. Honors for Eduardo. Yuval presents copies of his albums. Tokens of our gratitude.
Shirley reads a statement in Yiddish about this language and its Diaspora culture. Dalia translates. Oscar and Sheila: our video crew. Back to music. Music suitable for ballroom dancing. Foxtrot?
Music and performance by Maya Zebley [Haddi].
Enjoy your trip. Ha-ha. Mike and Maya listen as . . . . . . Lorca gets the last word.
Bonnie, who dances through life with a smile and lets us surf her wake of joy.
Kaye—Oh My God!— whose enthusiasm (meaning god within) propelled us forward to the next surprise and amazement.
Dinah, whose initiative in our lighting sabbath candles took me back to my childhood and memories of my mother.
Dalia, our Jewish mother, with whom I shared hotel rooms and learned more about Yuval and his family than on his website.
Oscar, our resident wit, our Latin Zorba, who ensured through jokes and tales that we remember to laugh and enjoy our foibles and reach for deeper truths.
Michael, a composer, who was aptly composed, calm, and direct, as a schooner running before the wind.
Lara, our alumni organizer and planner. Praise be her youth, praise be she.
Mark, who enjoyed wine and beer and with whom I had instant rapport. The second half of an interesting, loving couple.
Karen, with whom, I much regret, I did not interact purely by accident of bus and dining location and the mutual attraction of other personalities. Her steadfastness and attention to detail are appreciated.
Sheila, the traveling partner of Oscar. I had little conversation with her, for the same reasons, but she regarded herself as fortunate and happy with their unique relationship.
Shirley, who seemed already steeped in European Jewish culture, showed the greatest interest in history on our tour and asked key questions.
Now, to thank our organizers and musicians.
Yuval, the leader, the musician of peace and spiritually.
Maya, of the sweet voice; Norik who rides the wind and plays it, too; Jaime, who perceives the rhythm in all things but still can't grasp all the complexity of flamenco.
Eduardo, who knows the tour business as no other. He quietly gets the job done. .
Was she on the tour?