Our stay in Barcelona was happily extended thanks to the amazing Jami, an old Moontriber expat from LA who took us under her wing and showed us amazing kindness. Hurrah for generosity! She let us stay in her home, told us all the best spots to go, and totally made our time in Barcelona magical. We extended our stay until yesterday afternoon and then, when the train to Madrid was full, yesterday evening. We stuck our backpacks in lockers and headed off to Sagrada Familia, which was predictably amazing. That Gaudi, man. Wow. As cool as Sagrada Familia was, though, it couldn’t compete with Park Guell. THAT was the best.
Our arrival last night in Madrid was wonderful. David, Javier’s boyfriend, picked us up at the train station and brought us to Bluefish, an american-owned bar where Javier (and formerly Ashley, Javier´s friend and Columbia Publishing Course alum) works. We eased into Madrid with drinks and conversation, all in English! Yet again, Europe proves that the US’s de-emphasis on language is an absolute crime. And yes: I am guilty of this de-emphasis. I waited until my final years of both high school AND college to get my language requirements out of the way. Oh how I wallow in my hypocracy! Proof that I really am an American.
On the agenda for today: a haircut and shoe shopping for Andreas. I´m hoping that Javier’s impeccable taste can rub off on my dearest boyfrie husband. Then perhaps we will go out tonight. Who knows! All options open!
I think we´ll stay in Madrid for the weekend before heading up to Paris to hang with another ex-pat, our beloved Nate Dawg. Then eventually back to the Tour du Bon for a last hurrah before heading home next…uh, Tuesday I think? It´s going to be a weird homecoming: I’m in flux with work (never did find out if the paper wanted to continue my contract, and in the meantime Danger Island offered me contract work 10-20 hours a week starting when I get home), and there are rumblings of post-Burning Man earthquakes in our Seattle social circle.
Ladies and gentlemen: Summer 2004 is definitely closing. Both literally (equinox in less than a week!) and figuratively. Hurrah for introspective autumn & winter!
Oh, and at some point remind me to tell you about Kiki the worm.
One Response to “Madrid”
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Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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megan
September 17th, 2004 at 7:05 am
what did i tell you about park guell, huh, huh? so glad you got to go there and extend your stay. LOVE that city. did you ever find shoes for you? curious to see what a spanish haircut will look like. and i hear you on the language thing. i kick myself all the time over not paying better attention in spanish class. shame on us!