Van 38: Imagine Sand, One-Eyed Beasts, & a Young Picasso

Dear family and friends:

It is a new day—not quite an hour has passed on the twenty-first day of the month of June. It is my full intention to wish you the best and assure you that Elizabeth and I are splendid and enjoying the show Espana has offered thus far. We arrived in Madrid today just half past three. Unlike twelve years ago I arrived in just over three hours on a train that would surely be fit for at least a Count. The train was not at all like the pre or post, which is to say around, World War II train that Rob and I took from Paris. That train was a faded and rusted sleeper train—quite cool—but not pimp and posh like the rig we arrived on earlier.

Barcelona was a whirlwind of beach and bikes, wine and swine, and other delightful soires. To find a city that is as walking friendly with loads of beach access, good public transportation and friendly demeanors is nothing less than a large feat these days—I realize I am preaching to the hymnals at this point and that your are the ones with the words written so I need not try and tell you how the song goes. I’ll simply say that it is most difficult at best to beat a city where one can enjoy an evening taking in the ocean air, sand beneath their feet and red wine lingering on their pallet for a small sum the grocer requests. I assure you all that we represented the States as best we could, being two bottles deep. To avoid throwing a lovely lady under the horse and buggy, I’ll simply report that a good time was had by all and one individual, that most would not expect, was quite fired up for a spell. A wise one might even say this one was on the muscle! But I do get ahead of myself with this reporting of Saturday and Friday evening before illuminating you on the one that we all are thankful for. That is not to say that the events of Thursday are not worthy of ink—merely that my focus is on the day now twice removed.

Friday morning: not after the taking of toast and tea—but café and Corn Flakes (the lady went with Muslix) that we ventured through the labyrinth that is Barcelona in search of Cyclopolis. No now you need not worry yourself sick and spoil your lovely Sunday brunch, we did not search out a fearsome one-eyed creature notorious for plucking the left eye of foreign visitors, though had we it is quite certain we would be capable of such a challenge being from, at least near enough, to the D! Opposed to flexing our Detroit hardness on some meek ass beast we sought ourselves cycles to give ourselves a Gaudi tour de Barcelona. Shameful and misleading would it be if I were to let you even leave this piece of correspondence thinking it were I who came up with such a splendid idea as a Gaudi self guided bicycle tour. Seeing as I am not in the position of being accustomed to leading others down false paths and that shame does not find me easily, I will inform you that this was all Elizabeth’s idea and that she served in full capacity as tour guide. She also happened to designate herself, not by choice, or open vote, but more a twist of misfortune, to be the most lovely lady in Barcelona with a flat rear tire a mere thirty minutes and one of five Gaudi sights seen on our tour. Please be still and stop wringing your hands inquiring whether justice is present in this ever changing world—we kept ourselves in good spirits and walked the bicycle back to the non-feared and two eyed store owner and exchanged a pink bike with a bell and a flat rear tire for a purple bike minus the bell but with a lot of crucial air in the rear.

As for air in the rear that is indeed another yarn to spin around another handmade envelope that I will send in our week and some ahead. It is with my utmost respect, love and admiration that I wish you all the best. May God bless you as he has me. Yours,

Daniel

Forgive me for my omission of the Picasso Museum, which featured drawings of the young fellow at the age of nine. It would also serve you well to know that we enjoyed the beach for a few hours on Thursday in between roaming the streets and eating tapas.