"In Europe, as on other continents, there are holy places connected to great spiritual work. The four centers of Europe are St. Mark's in Venice, Portofino, Assisi and Avila. I have now visited and revisited them all. Wherever I have been and worked, saints have arisen and carried out my work afterwards."

Herbert was ordered to return to Avila in ten days to visit this place, and sit on the same rock on which Baba sat every day.

Baba's disclosure that Avila was one of the four main spiritual centers in Europe and that he had visited it in the ancient past was a surprise to them, as Baba had never before mentioned that he wished in particular to visit Avila. He had left the arrangements of their Spanish trip to them. It was their London travel agent who had suggested stopping at Avila on their way to Madrid!

They left for Madrid the same day, arriving at ten that night, and went to the Hotel Principe Don Juan, at Calle de Recoletos. Baba had informed the men, "The rest of our time in Spain will be pure rest and relaxation. It will be a holiday."

Baba wished to come in contact with the masses, so each day they would stroll along the crowded streets of Madrid. The air was clear and bracingly cool, and the sun was brilliant. Baba particularly enjoyed standing among the crowds in the central square of the city, called Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun). He came to this square several times every day and would stop for a second and look in all directions. Baba explained, "I have an agent in Madrid who works under Christiano in Rome, the one who holds the key to the whole of Europe. The Madrid agent is young and strong. Both are supervised and directed by me."

Despite his European clothing and beret, all the Spaniards would turn and stare at Baba as if drawn to something they could not resist. Baba explained to his companions why the Spanish people reacted thus, "It is due to the internal work I am doing, as I move about quite unnoticed at other times."

At night on the 25th, they went to a rather seedy cabaret that was frequented by prostitutes and the like, yet there were colorful gypsy flamenco dancers on stage whom Baba enjoyed watching. He was no doubt also working for the welfare of this class of humanity in unseen ways. Baba and the group then went to see the movie King Kong, starring Fay Wray. ("Perfect technique, but childish," were Baba's comments.)

As they were walking back to their hotel, the local Spaniards turned again to look at Baba as he strode by them on the sidewalk, and some actually followed him out of curiosity.