SPAIN IS AWESOME! Monday was another day full of train rides. To tell you the truth, I am not sure how we did it, but somehow we ended up in Barcelona. I think we transferred 4 times but that is a rough estimate. It was all smooth sailing, though, so I can´t complain. While long travel days can be tedious, thus far they have proven to be good journaling and reading\relaxing time. I do remember arriving in Barcelona with our new found California friends. Somewhere along our trip we managed to pick up two very lost American boys. You think of a backpacking excursion to be a time to grow up and learn about the world...that is if you make it through. These boys are not going to make it to the end of their trip much less gain maturity. "Fabio", our Italian club owner wanna-be forgot that the 80s ended over 10 years ago. It was a good laugh though. His companion was a floppy haired surgeon wanna-be who could not fathom why their travel agent didn´t tell them they were going to need to use public transportation. Conclusion: these boys are going to end up drunk and in jail calling mommy and daddy for more money to come home...aaahhhh vacation. This live entertainment was a great pass time for out trip though.
Our Barcelona hostel = weirdness
The antisocial reception guy greeted us with not-so-open arms where we followed him to our close quarters 10 bed hostel room where the lights were kept on until 3 am. I slept well.
Tuesday we trampsed around Barcelona seeing all there is to see. Las Ramblas, the Gothic quarter, the water, the usual tourist stuff. Tuesday night, however, goes down as one of the best nights of my life. On our walk down Las Ramlas we stopped at the Flamenco bar Dan visited on his last trip to Barcelona. We booked dinner and tickets to Tuesday´s show. All day was pretty much just killing time until our Spanish dinner and Flamenco.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Arrival for dinner was at 830 where we were seated and surrounded by tuxedo dressed waiters ready to meet our every need. They served us a pitcher of sangria and directed us to the lavish buffet. Every dish was pure Spanish awesomeness. Seafood, stuffed avocados, paella, veal, rabbit, etc., etc., etc. Once we finished off several plates of that it was time for dessert. Creme caramel, fresh fruit, churros stuffed with bananas, etc. This dinner alone would have been enough for me to entitle this a top 20 greatest nights. OOO it was just beginning. From the dining room, our penguin waiters directed us to our seats in the tightly packed stage room. We sat in the second row (about an arms reach from the stage) directly in the center. Placement couldn´t have been better. With our glass of champagne, we were ready. This is a show that cannot be described or recorded. It is the total of the experience that is so moving. There were two guitarists, three men singing and clapping, 2 male dancers, and 5 female dancers. Dan has told me before that Flamenco, in his book, is the most passionate music in the world. After seeing this show, I cannot argue with that. Every move is synonymous with a clap or a stomp or just the right silence. The performers, as many times as they have seen their fellow dancer do the same steps, watch intently at every step, so intertwined with every beat. The music and the dance steps are so closely knit that they become one thing and every person becomes a passionate expression of the whole. If ever you are in Spain, if ever you are in trains reach of Spain, come experience this Spanish tradition. I guarantee it will move your spirit.
Wednesday: Yeah it was pretty much the beach all day. LIFE IS AWESOME!
There is one week left of this amazing experience. Tomorrow´s location is TBA. I am not ready to come home. If you feel compelled to send me enough money to stay the rest of the year, that would be great. :) LOVE YOU ALL!
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