Trying to Fulfill All of the Promises

I have been here in Barcelona for 11 days. I spent the first three.5 without my luggage and the first five or so with my good friend Martina. It all balanced out. She has an artist's way of seeing the world which offered a great lense for the city in my first few days that helped me get over the absence of my stuff, somewhat. She is also very open and social in a way that I used to be and desire to be again; it's appropriate for this city, this continent. I now have an invitation to visit Poland and Northern Italy. Poland seems most likely. I mean, who goes to Poland in February? Somehow seems like the thing to do, and almost getting arrested with people builds a deep sort of bond. I'll get to that. To get my bags I was given a number which I called several times a day without an answer, until I finally got someone. She told me to call back, no one answered. I finally went back to the airport and was sent around to several people who couldn't help me. I was then directed to a room full of baggage and I helped a man find my bags. I spoke four-year-old Spanish and he spoke no English, and talked the entire time. He remembered my record box and was able to locate my other bag because of it. And then I found myself at a party on the beach with an Australian, 2 Italians and 3 Poles. I like how so many of my experiences here start like bad jokes: an American, Italian, Spainiard, and a Russian walk into a dance club....

I told a number of people that I would blog regularly about my travels. I haven't. It's simple. I like to write from my own computer and for the five weeks I spent in Seattle I only had wireless connection when I would bike into the Cafe Luna in downtown (can you call it that? middle town?) Vashon. My five weeks was a wonderful and simple time. I reconnected with people, ran into people at random, and just had a great experience. It was very heart-touching, soul warming. I think it was a good bridge experience between New York and Barcelona.

I think that one of the reasons it has taken so long to start writing is because I have wanted to write about that time, and my first week here, my impressions, the events, the meals; it's all been a bit daunting, especially while searching for housing. So I have decided to just start where I am. I'll go back if it strikes me or seems especially relevant. In the meantime you can see photos at http://flickr.com/photos/brotherbeat/.

I finally found a place and it was as simple as I thought the whole process should be. The process was as annoying as searching for housing always is in a city where you don't really know people, adding to that a serious language deficit. Phone conversations were often difficult for me and the other party. I've been overusing a verb tense and underusing one not usually used in English. Still, I walked into three homes in particular and really liked the space and the roommate I met. If the rooms had been offered I would have taken them on the spot, but there were other people who were part of the decision. This place I walked in, thirty minutes late after running around looking at places and realizing I couldn't find his street in my guide book. When I arrived I looked at all of the space, stepped out onto the balcony, and after we answered each others basic questions, I asked if there were a lot of people to consider. He said yes, but he liked me. Simple. I moved in the next day and the Israeli man who was staying in my room has been intermittently sleeping in the living room ever since. My room is much smaller than my last and instead of the Barcelona balcony I dreamed of I have a window to the stairs and courtyard. But I have a very warm and kind roommate who made lunch for me my first two days here and, said goodnight darling as he went to bed our first day together. We have so far shared food, wine, and political impressions of both our countries; it's a good life. And to top it off I have the lights over Montjuic to welcome me home on the weekend. Jose said that he asked them to turn them on to welcome me to the neighborhood. I think he was kidding, but who knows? He's a really nice guy.






I will start posting images from my time in Barcelona soon.