alrighty
i am now in barcelona.
i came from amsterdam and i will tell you about that.
amsterdam was so beautiful. i got to know
a lot of the city staying in two different places on opposite sides of the city.
i found my heaven in northern amsterdam. the man max i was staying with took me on a drive up to the country side. the street we drove on was so narrow. we drove slow and winding. the sun roof was down and i leaned my head back and let the sun warm my cheeks. a wave of complete content came over me. the small houses so close together and so close the sweet water of the bay. small green grassy knoll right next to the car as we passed. people sitting on their small porches drinking beers and laughing. the skies were blue and clear and decided i wanted to retire to that small town in northern holland. it was called durgerdam.

then we drove to a small island called markem. touristy but very beautiful. a small fisherman town with a tiny harber and a stand to get raw herring. we walked to end of the harbor and sat on a bench over looking the bay. max did some sketches while i dozed in the sun.

during the days I would wake up to an empty house more or less and make myself delcious strong coffee and cut up fresh fruits from the plentiful fruit bowl of the woman i was staying. i would sit in the garden and watch her black cat miyo hunt flies and frogs in the small pond. then i would leave and just walk. i walked so much in amsterdam the first couple days. one day I left the house at 12 in the afternoon and returned at 7. whew my legs were tired. the canals and house boats were so `pretty and romantic. i started a "to do before i die" list and living in a houseboat in amsterdam was on the list as well as seeing machu picchu (sp?)

id stop off at a canal side cafe and have a heineken and a coffee.
everyone rides bikes. and fearcely. women ride side saddle on the back of their mans bike and it all seems so casual. mothers just plop their kids on the back and they hang on and appear very brave and calm.
i went for a ride on the back of max´s bike one day which was fun.
then i started using the tram which was very easy. a stop in front of maxs place and a stop right in front of els (the woman i was staying with) one day i went with her about an hour north of amsterdam to see her cottage she is working on in the country side. her carpenter was a dutch man who lives in barcelona and is almost completely self sufficient. but his wide and kids live in amsterdam so he goes back and forth.
i would love to see his little house with his vegetable gardn. which brings me to barcelona.

the first day i arrived in plaza de catalunya i was wisked off by becky to go to a lunch with her and her brothers and sisters and cousin from bolivia. a crowded, fancy place. it was the perfect introduction to barcelona i thought.
we ate an appetizer of bread with tomatoes juice on it and garlic butter. pretty tastey. everything was dark wood and white table cloths and fancy people around but loud and lively. and me lookng like a bum with my back pack and guitar.

i got asperagus. mmm.
ive been walking the streets of barcelona with the maguire family and with myself. they have a great view of this huge plaza and an arc. their apartment is very small but they have a terrace about the same size. huge. very good for sun bathing.

i will have the place to myself for the next 4 days because they are leaving ona family trip to pamplona.

i look forward to making coffee and eating fruits in the morning on the terrace and drinking wine and smoking a ciggarette at night. walking during the day. always walking. its so good to walk in a new city. meditative.


i smuggled a large joint from amsterdam to spain and last night connor becky and i smoked it and got very high. a really good high which i have not had in a while. i slept on the terrace last night in my sleeping bag with no pad and i was so happy. not unmfortable at all.

sometimes though, in dul moments when i am bored by conversation or i am just feeling quiet i think to myself "how cool would it be if all the people i truely love were here and we were all together?" on that note i will leave you.

go do something!

love dyll