At the Half Note

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Unsolicited Advice From Me

1) When your child and her friend start talking badly about one of their classmates, don't allow it.

2) When walking all day in a foreign country, don't wear your cool motorcycle boots just because you want to look good. It's not worth it.

3) Always eat your pasta al dente.

4) At all costs, fight regret.

This Minute

Annie & her friend Giselle do homework and wait for hot chocolate.

What it Looked Like, the Last Day.

From the Barcelona airport, my last desperate and unsatisfying attempt.

I Would...

... like to be painting white stripes on a cow today. I really would.

From My Personal Astrology Planner

Although I'm not seriously into astrology, I have this little book that inevitably, when I pick it up and read what should be going on with me at any given time, is right on the mark. (It kind of creeps me out.)

LEO: You are being genuine, Leo—this isn’t about manufacturing emotions—but no matter how far out there you go, a part of you will be standing back and measuring the response of your audience.

Expect the dance of your extroverted side and your need for self-control to continue until the Sun enters Capricorn on the 21st. You’ll still be having fun then, but the scales might start to tip in the direction of maintaining safety, as opposed to risk-taking.

A bit more restraint with respect to romance, children, and self-expression is healthy. The roaring engine of fun, creativity and boldness will tend to slow you down as you are more selective about what you show and to whom you show it to.

You will probably end the year on a relatively serious note, but not necessarily a somber one.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Me at the Moment

I Love Going Away...

... but I love coming home so much more...

(Much to do in the coming days... I'll post little bits here and there.)

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Sketches of Spain, The Last Day.

I'm emotional today, missing Annie but sad to leave Barcelona. It will be hard to say goodbye to Guillermo, someone to whom I've grown very attached, as well as Gloria and Janna (will post pictures of Janna next week.)

They are one of the most interesting, remarkable and gentle families I have ever known, and my heart will definitely break tomorrow when I say goodbye.

I'm about to run downtown one more time, to walk along the streets one more time...I may post more later but I may not.

Overseas Call

Katie: "Hi honey."

David: "You're in Spain."

Katie: "Yes, I am in Spain."

David: "You don't SOUND like you're in Spain."

Katie: "Hola qué tal? Now do I sound like I'm in Spain?"

David: "Yes, now you sound like you're in Spain."

La Música y Dio

This picture does not begin to convey the physical enormity, the absolute brilliance and awesome beauty of this 13th century, Eglésia de Santa Maria del Mar.

Inside there are alcoves everywhere, religious statues, architecture, engravings in stone, metal and wood like I've never seen before. Candles in red glass burn in every corner and the history is ominous, powerful, spiritual.

I came across the church when I first arrived in Barcelona, then returned there Wednesday night to see a performance by the world-class Flamenco guitarist, Manuel Gonzalez.

At that point I'd been running around the city every day from morning until night, happy, yes, joyful, yes, but always fighting the need to soak in as much as possible and the desire to hold tight to my experience, fearing it would somehow slip through my hands.

But on that night, as I sat in the church and listened to the sounds of the guitar, from which came the expression of a man's complete and tender beauty, did I finally surrender, and it was in that moment I knew, that like the solid and ancient structure of the Eglésia, Spain would remain in me forever.

Observaciones de Barcelona

1) Spanish is not the official language of Spain. The official language of Spain is Castillian and although everyone speaks Castillian, people from Barcelona, which is in the region of Catalonia, tend to speak Catalan.

2) Spanish women, who were once known for their beautiful curves, are now just as skinny as American women.

3) Coffee "To go" is not really a concept understood by the Spanish.

4) There are almost no SUVs in Barcelona.

What it Looks Like Over Here...

Thursday's

Today's

Tres Cosas

I've called Annie every day, and inevitably, during our conversation, she says the same three things.

1) "Mommy, I miss you sooooo much!"

2) "Have the funnest time you can have!"

3) "You'd better get your rest so you can search for the perfect presents for your perfect child."

Day 7 & Day 8 Sketches...

... will be coming later.

I'm leaving la casa for my last full day, the air is fresh, the sun is bright... and as they say here in Catalonia, adéu!

(By the way, on my second day here I decided to forgo France...)

Photo: The balcony of Gloria's childhood home, Barcelona.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Day 6

As I experience Spain alone, I often find myself wishing I were experiencing it with someone.

Then I remember, I am.

~Katie

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Sketches of Spain Day 5

Returned from a Flamenco-filled and magical night out, tomorrow is already here and I must sleep.

Love,

Katie

Photo: The backyard.

Lunchtime at Guillermo and Gloria's

Since I arrived I’ve spent most of my time out of the house, and today the rain offered the perfect excuse to stay in with Guillermo, Gloria, and their lovely daughter, Janna.

Gloria made a lunch I will never forget; delicious, truly memorable.

(I chopped the lettuce and tomatoes, see?)

Tortilla de Patatas by Gloria

Wikipedia Says:

Tortilla de patatas (potato omelette in Spanish) is a popular dish in Spain that can be served either cold or hot. It is also served as a tapas dish. Although potatoes and eggs are the basic and often the only ingredients of a tortilla de patatas, other vegetables can also be found accompanying it such as onions and, more rarely, red peppers, chives, artichokes, ham or even chorizo, which is then called tortilla paisana. In Spain the dish is also sometimes called tortilla española (Spanish omelette) to differentiate it from tortilla francesa (French omelette).

It should not be confused with the Mexican tortilla, made of unleavened flour.

What it Looks Like Over Here...

Yesterday's cup.

I didn't have any today.

(Just kidding... I didn't have my camera today.)

9 Days Is Not Long Enough to Be in Spain...

...but it's too long to be away from my little girl.

They Journey Back to One's Self...

Where does it begin?

Does it begin when you're a child, or when your heart was first broken?

Or does it begin long before you were ever born?

~Katie

A Gaudi Stairway

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Día de la Constitución Española

That's the holiday today... but Guillermos' lovely wife Gloria found an adaptor for my laptop anyway.

I'm off for the evening, if I return at a reasonable hour tonight, "Day 5" will be posted later.

xoxox

Sketches From Spain Day 4, No Color

Yesterday while taking a siesta (Oh how I could get used to the siesta), I smelled something burning in my room. The adaptor for my laptop, you know, the one that turns it European? Well, smoke was pouring out of it and...until I replace it, I´m sorry to report there will be a delay in photo postings here at The Half Note. (I really wanted to share the photo of the Tuesday´s cup of coffee... damn!)

I visited a home (La Casa Batllo), designed by the genius and revolutionary Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi. I´ve never been very interested architecture, but whoever this man was, whatever beauty lived at his core, I felt it in every corner, every curve, and in every piece of material used, and I left the house utterly moved by his creation.

I would enter a link here, but google only comes up in Spanish and there´s no place to translate to English, so please, look up Antoni, or Antonio Gaudi and come see his work when in Barcelona.

Have I mentioned that the weather has been beautiful? Of course we won´t entertain the idea of global warming while on holiday, but Barcelona is usually quite chilly this time of year and so far I´ve not needed so much as a sweater.

Today is the first day of rain but of course, it´s a light rain, a sweet rain...

One more thing, since I´m using Guillermo´s computer, (He´s a writer and though completely generous, one does not want to overstay their welcome on a writer´s computer), and since today it is a holiday in Spain of some sort (Note to self, find out what holiday it is today), and since I may not come across an open store that carries an adaptor, I will be off the blog until further notice.

Much love,

Katie

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Sketches of Spain Day 3... a Day Late...

The two top pictures are of the Plaza Del Rey. I am humbled and overwhelmed by its history and its beauty, as I am by so much of this city.

Mi Obervaciones de Barcelona

1) The vibe in Barcelona is very much like New York City.

2) Spaniards don't tip waiters well, but they don't hesitate to give a beggar or a street artist 5 times the amount they give a waiter.

3) When a man comes to Barcelona alone, he is perceived as someone who wants to see Barcelona. When a woman comes to Barcelona alone, she is perceived as... someone who wants to see Barcelona.

4) You can sit down at a table at any cafe, order only a coffee and stay as long as you like. Waiters never give you a check before you're finished, in fact, it's more common to have to track him down.

5) Sometimes, when I'm introduced to a Spaniard, they ask me where I'm from. When I answer, "Estados Unidos," the person's smile drops ever so slightly. But when I tell them I'm from New York, their smile returns. (They will also like you if you tell them "No voto George Bush." That will work too.)

Unsolicited Advice From Barcelona...

If you don't want to sit down for a meal, you can go to the Mercado near the Placa Catalunya. Buy a piece of bread from one stand, a slice of cheese from another, some salami from another, and a tomato from yet another.

Then you can walk around, pull it out of the bag and takes bites when you want to.

You'll also be popular with the local stray dogs.

What it Looks Like Over Here...

... and more unsolicited advice from me in Barcelona...

If it's late in the day and you know that enormous glass of hot coffee will keep you from sleeping, drink it anyway and forgo sleep.

It's worth it, I promise.

One of My Stops Today

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Los Hombres Españoles

Guillermo and I enter a crowded café for lunch, and perhaps because of the age difference between us, the man behind the bar asks Guillermo, “Quiere una mesa o la cama?”

Translation: “Would you like a table… or a bed?”

A passionate breed, the Spanish.

Sketches of Spain Day 2

Guillermo is a writer, director and a sometimes movie actor here in Barcelona, and although in the middle of putting up a play, he took time out today to show me the city.

Much walking, a lunch of champagne and tapas at a local and bar, and oh yes, the coffee...

Si, Soy de Nueva York

When in each other’s company, Guillermo and I do much talking about politics and art, we banter and laugh and sometimes make fools of ourselves, preferably in public. And today, as we carried on at lunch, an English man sitting at the next table turned to me and, responding to my accent said, “I thought I was in Spain, and now I think I’m in bloody New York!”

I told him he couldn’t possibly have known where I was from based on how I spoke, and he replied, “Oh yes love, you’re ALL New York!”

Fotos del Dia

Bikes.

Inside "4 Cats," a cafe frequented by Pablo Picasso. (Beautiful but too expensive. We didn't stay.)

I forget the name of this square; just to the right of the photo is where Guillermo and I had coffee today. I spotted a beautiful green parrot flying overhead, apparently someone had once turned a few of them loose; they procreated and are now part of the Barcelona backdrop.

What it Looks Like Over Here

My coffee.

Sketches of Spain Day 1

Here in my room, turns out Guillermo has wireless.

I'm completely wiped out, going to bed.

Here are just a couple of things... until Day 2...

Goodnight,

xoxoxo,

Katie

P.S. I adjusted the clock on my computer, so my posts are marked with Barcelona time.