THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE PERIOD OF WORLD TRAVEL 125crossed the River Manzanares, and climbed the opposite hill to the beautiful moors and park.During our journey to Spain some of the party had mentioned a desire to see a bull-fight, otherswere not in favour of it. Our last Sunday a bull-fight was held in the afternoon at the Hippodrome.Baba told us to book seats. As the first bull came in one of the ladies began to clutch herneighbour's arm and shriek every time there was a possibility of anything happening. One of theIndian boys began to look very green. Baba was bored and thought it childish. After the secondbull was killed we left, that is before the real entertainment had begun. Baba said that his workwas accomplished there so it was unnecessary to stay longer.We left Madrid on the 31st and arrived at Barcelona on 1 November early in the morning.That day Madrid had sent a special delegate to authorize Catalonia to administer its ownlaws, and this was the day, the hour, and the place. There was a great procession of all thenotables of the district and Baba looked from the upper balustrade as they marched in state up theGothic staircase. It was the seal on the new federal State ... This was one more example ofcoincidence. None of us knew that this ceremony was to take place. With our guide we then tookthe bus to the summit of Mount Tibidabo (1,700 feet). From the terrace the view is magnificent.In the centre of Barcelona is the magnificent Plaza de Cataluna, much traffic, and many people.There among the crowd we sat in a café (as in Rome), then we walked along the thronged streetswhile dusk passed and the city lights were lit. Always masses of people, little they knew whowalked in their midst. His work done, we went to the station and left at 7 p.m. on 2 November.We arrived at Marseilles the next morning at 7 a.m. Enid from Milan and Otto from Zurich werethere to meet us. To the Hotel Bristol for bath and breakfast, then Baba had private conversationswith each. We were so happy and conscious of an exceptional flow of love and power so greatand marked that we all felt overjoyed and lifted up for days afterwards. At noon we were on theViceroy of India, together in his cabin we sat in silence at his feet, our hearts too full to speak.The cabin was full of silence, outside on the dock someone played on a concertina.On 2 November Baba left for India, arriving on the 14th. He went to Nasik, and at the end ofthe month moved his headquarters back to Meherabad. There he remained practically inseclusion for some months, receiving visitors only on Thursdays for three hours in themorning.