Hi all,
Unfortunately my filming has surpassed itself at being absolute rubbish but thought I'd show them anyway. There's a few stills to keep the peace although they're not much better.
Sant Pau de Mar 1983 Story continued....
Most of the lads from the bar were inside the station building by now where Agustí, a compulsive gambler, had started a book 15 minutes previously convinced that Luis was a man of his word and would turn up. As the minutes ticked by and he kept reducing the odds on a 'no show' he started to get rather worried as his bar colleagues started to 'lump on' the said 'no show'.
He had thought he could be quids (pesetas) in here but it wasn't looking good. With two minutes to go before the Talgo trains departure he decided to close the book resigned to the fact that not being at all well off he owed a lot of money.
In the meantime, Jaume had noticed a grey taxi up the hill speeding past the 'El Gaitero' restaurant tooting it's horn. No one else had noticed and he quickly asked some of the lads where Luis lived in case someone could get hold of him. "Vilartolí, but he doesn't have a phone" was the reply. Vilartolí was about 4 miles away and had a small taxi firm of grey cars. Sant Pau de Mar taxis were either black or white.
Jaume then saw Pascual, the Station Master, leave the station building blowing his whistle and waving his flag quite erractically. "Is the train going" he asked. "No, well yes, backwards" said Pascual. He followed Pascual who informed the driver that there was a 10 to 15 minute delay up the line and that he would have to reverse as the Paris sleeper was due to arrive on the other platform. The 8 coach Talgo fitted perfectly at Sant Pau de Mar but the locomotive blocked the walkway.
The new RENFE 354, one of eight all named after holy shrines to 'Our Lady', this one called Virgen de Aránzazu, and introduced in 1983, reversed back....
20190817_211826 by
Christopher Weaver, on Flickr
and then the Overnight Sleeper from Paris arrived with a very noisy SNCF BB 25200 at the helm...
20190817_211928 by
Christopher Weaver, on Flickr
A couple of the lads were still outside on the lookout for Luis but knowing it takes a good five/ten minutes to get from the restaurant up the hill down through the town to the station Jaume went back towards the station building.......
20190817_212218 by
Christopher Weaver, on Flickr
He then asked Agustí, as the train was delayed, if he would be interested in taking a big bet on Luis turning up. "Do you know something we don't?" a few people uttered. "What do you mean" he replied, "Yeah, OK I rang Luis, who I don't really know, to make sure he's on his way and then arranged for some sort of minor points failure just outside of San Cristofol so he'd make it on time."
"Luis doesn't have a phone" came a reply. "Well there you go" replied Jaume, "I just have a hunch alright".
"How much?" said Agustí. "30,000 pesetas (about £150), what odds?". "I can only give you 6-4". "Come on Agustí, make it 2-1, he probably won't show and you need the money to pay out". "OK done" said Agustí.
Two minutes later everyone looked out of the window as a grey taxi screeched to a halt outside honking it's horn. "He's here" shouted one of the guys outside.....
20190817_212328 by
Christopher Weaver, on Flickr
There was much murmuring and cursing inside the station building as although most had earlier put small bets on him turning up, as the time ticked by most had upped their bets big time on the 'no show'.
Luis, oblivious to all of this, entered the station building.......
20190817_212520 by
Christopher Weaver, on Flickr
.... a bit taken aback by all the guys from the bar being there. "We've come to see you off" said Jaume, "Better late than never". "Come on Luis" said Pascual, "the train's about to go". "But I haven't got a ticket yet" he replied. "Don't worry, Jaume has sorted that, there you go" giving him a ticket, "and you're going First Class, he said he'll explain all when you get back, safely".
Luis turned to thank Jaume but he had gone. "Get on the train now" shouted Pascual.
The train finally left for San Sebastián with Luis on his way to Pamplona....
20190817_212543 by
Christopher Weaver, on Flickr
Still bemused why Jaume had bought him a ticket, let alone a First Class one, Luis decided to take advantage of some complimentary small bottles of Cava which he thought would help with his hangover.
It had been a tiring morning and as the train passed Girona, Luis felt very relaxed and nodded off. He dreamt that he was a trumpet player at the bull running festival although he was standing on top of the tunnel portal in Sant Pau de Mar and it had been snowing....
20190814_224851 by
Christopher Weaver, on Flickr
The dream then turned into a nightmare as he was aware of something large making snorting noises behind him....
20190814_225020 by
Christopher Weaver, on Flickr
He woke up with a start as the train entered Zaragoza station and once again inwardly debated with himself whether he had done the right thing. More alcohol to fuel the bravery, he thought,
Back in Sant Pau de Mar, Agustí was a relieved man as although he had had to pay out big to Jaume, with the big 'no show' bets and the excuse side bets he had actually broken even and if Luis still didn't run he might even make a profit.
Sorry so long winded, sorry for the rubbish videos, especially the Paris train arrival and sorry for a rather lame story.
Will do better next time.
Thanks for watching and reading.
Cheers weave
