We had spent the day walking. After a nap and dinner, we spent the evening walking, stopping at fountains to refill our water bottles (hoping that the water was potable), edging through narrow passageways, striding past wine-drinking merrymakers, marveling at stone buildings and at rotting stairs into canals and at the growing moon.
Then, when we were deliciously aware of being lost, we came into a small plaza. A palace dominated the area, with an imposing doorway that at first we thought might be a church (maybe it was). Massive candles in red holders flickered from the balcony. The silhouette of a motionless man stood in a lighted window.
We circled around, trying to peer in through the doorways. A mystery. We consulted our map, and after some discussion, settled on a passageway that we could follow to take us to some other place. But look!
A caped man with a black hood had appeared in the square directly in front of the doorway, holding an ironwork lantern with a candle in it. We stared. He was joined by more caped men, some of them with extremely well dressed women, in sequins, feathers, and silks. They stood there, silent. We huddled in our passageway, staring.
Eventually the doors opened, the people with their lanterns filed in. The doors closed behind them.
Then, when we were deliciously aware of being lost, we came into a small plaza. A palace dominated the area, with an imposing doorway that at first we thought might be a church (maybe it was). Massive candles in red holders flickered from the balcony. The silhouette of a motionless man stood in a lighted window.
We circled around, trying to peer in through the doorways. A mystery. We consulted our map, and after some discussion, settled on a passageway that we could follow to take us to some other place. But look!
A caped man with a black hood had appeared in the square directly in front of the doorway, holding an ironwork lantern with a candle in it. We stared. He was joined by more caped men, some of them with extremely well dressed women, in sequins, feathers, and silks. They stood there, silent. We huddled in our passageway, staring.
Eventually the doors opened, the people with their lanterns filed in. The doors closed behind them.
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