Even in Europe, I’m haunted by ATT. If I weren’t so lazy, busy, distracted, overwhelmed, confused, etc. I’d pull the thousand ways I’m connected to them. I got an unlocked iPhone with a EU number, don’t even use my U.S. phone and they still find a way to tact on extra charges. FUCKERS!! Is anyone old enough to remember when we actually wanted to break up ATT? Well, we did it and now look.
Of course the 12 mosquitos that are in Spain have found me and I want to claw my knee off where the latest bite occurred. It’s the middle of the night here. I woke up to go the bathroom and then just stayed awake. It happens to me when I’m churned up about this or that – usually good things, like thinking about where we’re going next. Or bad things like why did I have to submit my grades to USC a thousand times before it finally worked?
Re: news. I know far more than I want to know about US, but far less than I thought would leak through. Once you’re here, you realize, “oh, America isn’t the center of the universe.” I can only say via my most unscientific survey, people in this country hate him. Young people, old people and those in between.
It’s also been surprising how little English is spoken in Spain, even Barcelona
. Since, like the majority of Americans, I’m mono-lingual (unless you count my vast knowledge of curse words). It’s truly embarrassing when I go abroad because it always reminds me that I’m an American Idiot to quote Green Day. But I did take Spanish in grade school and junior high, even got A’s. But that doesn’t stop me from using the six words I remember – only incorrectly. Example. I continually say “gratzie” (Italian) instead of “gracias.” So I don’t even get to use my six Spanish words because they always come out in a different language I don’t speak like French or Italian.
This trip, thus far, it’s been Cava. Haven’t gotten to the land of Prosecco yet, but I hope by the time I do, they’re selling the low sugar one. I’m close to turning into a block of sugar.
As long as we’re on the subject of food, I haven’t found it as wonderful as I’ve heard. I’m not complaining but, for my palette, it’s French and Italian over Spanish. The people, however, like the Italians, are extremely friendly and helpful. Like Italy and France, it’s loaded with roundabouts that we really screw us because the GPS is also a second or two behind. When I think we used drive around foreign countries reading actual maps, finding obscure towns and now we get lost with a satellite and voice directing you, theoretically, to the right spot.
We went to the Dali Museum in Figueres and it is well worth it. I’m not the biggest Dali fan, but this gave me an appreciation of him – his sense of humor, his range of talent and his true genius.
Today we spent on the Costa Brava which is quite spectacular. (pics forthcoming). It was an absolutely gorgeous day for it. We drove and wandered around, had a delicious lunch at a restaurant on the beach that was highly recommended and excellent. It was the first time we took the dogs along with us for an outing. Spain isn’t nearly as friendly to dogs as France and Italy. There are even signs to keep them off the beach. But since we knew we’d be outside all day, we liberated them from the small “castle” we rented and took them to see the Mediterranean. They loved it of course. Who wouldn’t!
They’ve also bonded with Ron and Chris and, of course, Debby and Michael who they see more frequently. All four have been added to Tootsie and Kukla’s collection of furniture. They just flop on them or jump on their laps whenever they compelled, which is often. The dogs seem so content. I want to say even easier than last time, but I’m afraid that kind of thinking will lead me the assumption that they will remain so and, undoubtedly, I’ll end up greatly disappointed. Somewhere a dog disaster waits. It just hasn’t happened yet. It nearly did when Tootsie found a way into an ancient drain pipe which lead to the road outside the villa. Fortunately, Michael was wandering around the property and saw her. Tootsie’s just a trouble magnet, as well as an attention magnet. At one point, while I was holding her in a busy public square, discussing the architecture with our friends, I turned my head and came face to face with an Eastern Europe woman who was virtually French kissing Tootsie and speaking to her in Ukraine (or something). Although I couldn’t understand the words, but the meaning felt clear, nonetheless. Fortunately her husband appeared and dragged her away, blowing kisses as she disappeared into the crowd.
This trip, unlike our last, we’re away from the big cities so there isn’t as much political turmoil going on around us like last time with Calais, strikes in London and the like. It’s much more mellow. Hopefully, that will make me/us more mellow since we were both so stressed and crazed before we left. The Trump debacle hasn’t been a boon to my mental state. It’s made me so miserable and crazed. Hopefully, distance will help and maybe, MAYBE make me semi-sane again. Although our last stop before returning to the States will be Paris which could be very interesting. I don’t know how Macron is playing in the States but here, he’s the star of the moment. Merkel’s party winning in one of her opponent’s stronghold’s in a good sign for the EU, so that too has changed the mood. Where there was fear in the last few months, there’s now hope, promise and sense of unity. In other words, the total opposite of how America feels. Or at least felt a few weeks back.
If you asked me right now at 4:30 AM what I miss most about the U.S., I’d say “The Americans.” We’re having a helluva time trying to watch it on Amazon here! Yep. that’s the big problem of the week. Lucky me.
The range of his work is staggering!
This is so cool because you stand on the top of stairs and look through rope which is “hair” and its that perspective that turns the image into a face.
T
Ceiling in the main gallery