A Stone's Throw

practice your aim. you never know when you'll spy 2 birds at once.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

on the shores of years

November 8, Tuesday - Barcelona, Spain

An absolutely fantastic day.

Last night was how i imagined eating in Spain. An American, a German, an Argentinian, and a Frenchman all sitting around using the universal language of slang and hand signals, eating a meal of soft white cheese, chorizo, calimari, mussels, fresh bread, cherry tomatoes, and the ubiquitos bottle of wine. How delicious can you get?

Today was given over to the Museu Nacional DÁrt De Catalunya. And what a grand museum it was. Absolutely huge in scale and scope, the museu sat atop a hill like a castle, overlooking the Olympic grounds and the entirely of Rome. The collection was extensive, though focusing solely on Catalonian artists. It began with a series of frescos from the 1100´s from churches like Santa Maria in Taull, depicting the Christ and the apostles, with events from the Epiphany to some heinous interpretations of the Last Judgement. It then went on to feature so much religious art that it would make your head spin. Of note was the Caravaggio exhibit, who´s work was absolutely stunning, especially ´Sant Jeroni Penitent´, and ´Flagel-lacio´, whose work reminded me of my friend, the late Harry Antis. Harry would be proud to know he could have had his art sitting next to Caravaggio and the big C would´ve been asking Harry how he painted what he had.

The rest of the day was spent wandering the streets of Barcelona, getting lost, trying to figure out how to ask for directions in Catalonian (which I found to be the primary language here, not Spanish), and exploring the colorful and strange open air markets that sell everything from figs to goat heads. And despite my attempts, I couldn´t get the merchant to explain to me what one would use a goat´s head for.

Tonight shall be the Mediterranean, and stars, and wine, and fellowship of travelers on the beach to celebrate a union of wanderlust and one small birthday at midnight that I almost forgot about.

Cheers and goodnight -

Before midnight, of course, I remember - Happy Birthday, friend Dave!

- C

7 Comments:

  • At 8:26 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Happy B-Day, Caleb. You are doing something your grandfather would never in a million years have dared to do. DAd

     
  • At 6:44 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Feliz cumpleanos a ti. Espero que tengas una dia grandiosa. Espero que fuimos con tu. Nostros tengamos mucho amor para tu. Tendras mucho divertido. !Escribes pronto! !Adios!

    PS. Treinta es un numero grande!

    Birdie

     
  • At 7:27 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Hi, and Happy Birthday! How are you doing? So you are the big 30 huh? I hope you come for Christmas because is isn't Christmas without you here. Have a good Mediterranian meal. See-ya!
    Your Littlest Sister,
    ~Annah

     
  • At 7:50 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Happy Birthday To You
    Happy Birthday To You
    Happy Birthday Dear World Traveller,
    Happy Birthday To You.

    Betcha thought I'd forget, huh? Not a chance!!!

    Sarah

     
  • At 7:43 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Hey man, a happy birthday to you! I was "stuck" in Vegas last week, and I think it was harder to find a computer there than it is for you. I was able to barter a few minutes off of a fellow geek convention goer for a leftover bottle of Starbuck Frappacino from the morning breakfast...but alas it wasn't long enough to post. So, a belated Happy Birthday to you. I did miss our annual celebration this year...but Spain is so much more exciting than that. - D

     
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