3-12-93

Wow, I am here! Albert and Maria met my train at the Barcelona-Sants terminal. I knew them immediately – Albert is a crazy driver – I thought that we would die, but it appears that here everyone drives like maniacs.

Maria is studying English, so she practices on me. For only learning for four months she isn’t that bad.

The first night Maiol was at a concert, so Maria and Albert brought me home and fed me dinner. I’m afraid that I will gain a lot of weight because they keep feeding me and their feelings are hurt if I don’t eat it all!

Anyways, the first night we had dinner – macaroni, spanish ham, bread, etc. I went to sleep at about 11:30, but Maiol woke me up at 12:30 and wanted to go drinking. We went with his friend Jo…George.

The bar was long and narrow and played old American music – CCR and so forth. I drank seven or eight beers – don’t remember coming home at all! The next day, Albert woke me up at 2:30 and when Maria came home at 3:30 we had lunch.

First – their shower is different – to get hot water, first you twist the handle clockwise and then you pull up. The first night I didn’t know this and so I took a cold shower. Also, the toilet handle is in the center of the toilet lid, and you pull it up! Very different.

Back to lunch – we had lamb ribs and artichokes, potatoes (baked, semi-boiled) and alioli (spelling?). I LOVE the alioli!

Then Albert took me to his bar in the subway, where Maiol was working. Maiol made me hot chocolate – very creamy and rich. Then Maiol and I walked to the Sagrada Familla. I don’t think that a person can comprehend how magnificent it is without a firsthand view – we went on the elevator and then we got out and walked through the narrow pathway, on winding stairs, to the bridge from one tower to another – I still feel dizzy when I think how high it was. It was amazing beyond belief! I think that now I understand how hard it was for Mom and Jenny to explain everything.

I find that I am spending so much time speaking English so that others understand it, that when I think in English it is more like pidgin English than regular. Even as I write I am finding it difficult to put my thoughts into comprehensible words. I am afraid that when I get home I will not know how to read these words and understand them. However, it could also be the four Spanish beers that I just drank.

Back to yesterday – Maiol and I came home and he went to basketball practice. I talked with Albert and Maria for a while, then Albert took me to the basketball gymnasium to Watch Maiol practice. Then we came home and Maria had made a special dinner for me – a Spanish omelet with artichokes, a salad, and leftover potatoes.

Maiol came home and we watched "Three Men and a Little Lady". It was in English, but it had Spanish subtitles – I found that I tried to read the subtitles rather than listen to the words.

Today Maiol and I got up and went for coffee and croissants. Then we took the subway to Las Ramblas – a street that is filled with street vendors and has lots of personality. Then we went to Maiol’s school. He had a class in Irish history and I took notes for him while he slept (the class was taught in English). After class we went for Italian food – very good, but very expensive. Afterwards we went to the bar and Albert brought me home. Then Maiol called and asked me to meet him at 5:15. Albert drew me a map, but I read it wrong and ended-up about 10 blocks from where I wanted to be – Yikes! Luckily, I finally found someone who spoke English and they helped me.

Maiol and I, along with George, Ferran, and Guillam went for drinks. Maiol had only one beer, because he had to go to practice, but the rest of the guys kept buying me beer while we talked politics, etc.

They drew me a map and I got home just fine – I don’t know if it was the alcohol or the map that helped.

When I got here, Roger was home from skiing, but Albert and Maria were gone (I guess that I should write are gone, as they aren’t home yet.)

Roger seems to be shy, but he may just be tired.

Tonight I am going to meet Maiol after practice and then we are going out drinking to celebrate the birthday of one of his basketball teammates – more later!

I knew them immediately,  Maria is studying English,  spanish ham,  played old American music,  the toilet handle,  alioli,  Sagrada Familla,  I am afraid that when I get home I will not know how to read these words and understand them,  Spanish omelet,  Maiol’s school,  George, Ferran, and Guillam,  Roger

Move on to the next entry

Return to the previous entry

Return to the Introduction to A Traveler's Diary