letter from Barcelona

So you ask what have i done so far?

Well, I am going to tell you even if you didn't ask.

I have gotten lost. Repeatedly. But not so much since I started using the "Barcelona at a Glance" and maps apps on my iPhone. So I am the nerd staring at her gadget instead of the nerd trying to refold a map. (And if only all the streets had their names clearly posted and I had some basic sense of direction I would always know where I was, am and headed.) I have seen ancient Roman walls, a cathedral under construction and lots of other amazing architecture. (Saving Gaudi for tomorrow's bike tour. I told my friend Lori G. that I wish I had more money because lots of neat stuff has her name on it - literally!) I've seen pretty old buildings covered in graffiitti, a big brass cat and a French movie at a meetup I found online that may be one of my favorite flicks of all time ever ("Amelie" - highly recommended.) I got a wild hair and had it cut by a guy named Leopoldo, I've rambled down the Rambla and plucked a cheap Barca t-shirt from a sales bin. I had coffee and muffins with a sand sculptor (thanks, Nuria!) and had my Tex-Mex accent sniffed at by a Spanish waiter when I ordered a tortilla at a patio cafe. (Yes, a tortilla here is an omelet in Texas. What do they call the flat things you wrap around fajitas here? I will find out!) I am happy enough with my private room here at the Hostal Centric - featuring a private bathtub, a firm mattress, free in-room wifi and a tiny balconet and its view of the recycling bins below where I get to hear the tinkle of breaking glass from green-minded citizens all night long. And finally I am appreciating the extra 5 euros a night I am spending for the luxury of AC way more than I thought I would.

That is all. For now.

(Blogger and Flickr are not playing nicely together tonight, so you will have to go here to see the photos that go with this blog entry.)

Eliot's latest

My nephew rocks.

selling out

I have some nice things with which I must part:

1990 Toyota pickup: plain vanilla with little rust, 134,000 miles, standard shift, runs great. Camper top. Mechanic says it was the best engine ever built and quite possibly has another 200,000 miles on it (body may not last that long, however ;-) Asking $1500.


Jeep Wrangler bicycle (pic): aluminum body in very good shape - needs new spokes, probably a new chain &; possibly some brakework but the bike itself is sound and was very expensive new. $100 obo.

SPIsandy at gmail.com for more info.

what's this turtle days thing of which you speak?

If you like weird, then you should really be at Mooncussers tonight for the silliest celebration we have here on South Padre Island. Kayakers - King & Queen Sargassum and their court - paddle down the bay lighting tiki torches to welcome the nesting turtles. They arrive right about sunset (7ish?) at a bayside bar where they are greeted by conch blowers and drummers and ukulele players and hula dancers. We welcome summer. We welcome the turtles. We welcome the opportunity to show how seriously we do not take ourselves. And then tomorrow night we dress up like different sea creatures and head for the Turtle Ball at Amberjack's.

It's a lot of fun. And it's free! (At least, tonight's stuff is. You can buy your ticket to the Turtle Ball at Paragraphs for $20 or pay $25 at the door.) All money raised goes to Seaturtle Inc - a most worthy cause.

This video is from two years ago. We've gotten better since then, I promise!
'

sandyfun

I are a star
thanks, Jackie

Thank you, sponsors

sand/fire sculpture for my dad's wake

photo by amazin' walter