My Spanish Journal: A 'black sighting' was quite rare

 BARCELONA, Spain:

Yesterday was my final day in Spain, and hence, this is my last journal entry, but even after spending a full week in Barcelona, to be more specific, I am yet to discern whether the Catalans are fond of black people.

The country's second largest city perhaps has the least black people in the world. A 'black sighting' was quite rare; well apart from yours truly and the rest of dark-skinned reporters who were covering the 14th IAAF World Junior Championships.

One morning, I went for breakfast at the hotel where I was staying and it took a great deal of courage not to just bear the hunger, turn around and walk out. The place had a human canvas of white that turned and looked at me in unison when I entered the door.

Then to compound the peculiar situation, there was no empty table, so the maître d' pointed me to one that had an empty chair. I slowly chose from the offerings, as it was a buffet-style setting.

I greeted the table with a 'hola' before sitting down to my meal. What I chose to eat did not require me using the knife that was provided, but I could have used it instead to sever the awkward silence.

I cannot use one experience to judge the people of Barcelona and I do not intend to. I do not have much else to go by where comparison is concerned, as I did not get to go anywhere. Well, with the exception of the Camp Nou, home of Barcelona FC, but it was no 'Theater of Dreams'.

With the seven-hour time difference between Jamaica and Barcelona, Spain, when Jamaica was sleeping I was working and when Jamaica was working, I was working.

Before departing for Spain, persons were telling me to enjoy myself, even persons who have been on numerous assignments abroad. The time to do so just did not present itself.

Overall, though, it was a good experience and something that, if given the opportunity, I would do again. Thanks to my employers for having had the confidence in me to send me off on such an assignment, where I was my own supervisor.

I have run my leg and I will now hand the baton over to colleagues Andre Lowe and Ricardo Makyn. Go get them in London!

Adiós mis amigos.