Fragment: SPAIN

Ok...so I finally accept it: I'M IN SPAIN!
It has taken me some time to finally appreciate the fact that I am HERE. But I finally realized, I am exactly where I've been wanting to be for quite a while.

Having coffee with my girlfriend every morning before she goes off to work; stopping at random smokey bars for a cafe con leche and a bocadillo; taking the metro to the city centre making myself believe I'm a local; wandering through the tiny, maze-like streets of the Gothic Quarter; eating the super lunch menu at charming restaurants (which includes 2 entrees, bread, wine and dessert); hunting for unique accesories
on which to spend my little euros; jumping of joy every time I bump into an antiques fair or any other street fair; walking around with a map and NOT getting lost (!); eating lots of bread at all hours of the day; drinking wine and/or coffee at every stop I make; fascinated by the "living statues" on Las Ramblas; photographing the amazing architecture of Gaudi at Casa Batllo, La Pedrera and La Sagrada Familia; walking through the magical Parc Güell; reading, writing and spending lots of time with myself; hostelling and meeting other wanderers (love it!); "renfe-ing" my way to Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid...hmmm...

NOT BAD, eh?

Fragment: BLISSFUL SOLITUDE

As I wander through the charming, little streets of Madrid, I wonder: What ever happened to BLISSFUL SOLITUDE?

Everyone that knows me KNOWS how much I enjoy being by myself...whether I'm just hanging out at home or traveling around. I've never understood when friends have told me: "Please come with me! I don't want to go ALONE!" My response to that has always been: "WHAT?! I always WANT to go ALONE!"

I've always been characterized as one that enjoys solitude a bit too much. I've never had a problem with traveling ALONE, going to the movies ALONE, drinking a bottle of wine ALONE, sitting at a restaurant ALONE, having a cup of coffee ALONE (well, with a book in hand, so not that ALONE)...and all these times, I've felt BLISS. I'm always ranting on how great it is to enjoy SOLITUDE!

So, today, it comes to my great surprise, that...for the first time in ages...I FEEL ALONE...scary!

I am exactly where I've been wanting to be in, like, FOREVER! Spain! I've dreamt of walking through these tiny, cobblestone streets hunting for unique treasures...and I HAVE! But, I feel...incomplete...a weird sense of emptiness. I don't want to walk these streets and find these treasures...ALONE...and it is SOOO weird to feel this way.

Maybe...deep inside, my heart knows...I was not supposed to be here...ALONE...

"Vicky NENY Barcelona"

I just saw a film recommended by my lil' brother, and have ABSOLUTELY loved it (he always gives wonderful recommendations)!

"VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA"

Four fabulous reasons:

-Scarlett is one my favorite actresses of all times...and plus, she's so HOT! I hate her, in a good way ;)

-Barcelona is the set of the story...who knows me, KNOWS how much I want to go to this place!

-Hot spanish actors...so great to see them act...and basically, to just SEE them :)

-I'm such a CRISTINA!!! Felt so connected to some of her thoughts...SOME, I've specified, SOME ;) There's one scene where the narrator says something about Cristina that screams out NENY all over the place! It's so cool when someone or something speaks the language of your soul :)

And the narrator says: "It was only Cristina, as the last days of summer expired, who began to experience an old familiar stirring; a growing restlessness that she dreaded but recognized only too well. Suddenly, thoughts started taking precedence over feelings; thoughts and questions about life and love, and as much as she tried to resist these ideas, she could not get them from her mind..."

The following scene is just amazing! When Cristina comes out and expresses what she has thought about, Penelope Cruz bawls out, and makes an OSCAR winning performance :) Check it out!



In the end, I couldn't help but smile again, as the girls prepare to leave Barcelona and the narrator says: "Cristina continued searching, certain only of what she didn't want..." :)

Ohh!! And I loved the BARCELONA song used all throughout the movie, and the spanish guitar playing scenes! I have the same reaction as Vicky everytime I have the chance to experience guitar playing :) *SIGH* I love the guitar!!! This video I found on youtube.com of two guys in Barcelona playing flamenco!