[continued from previous entry]
That was yesterday.
This morning when I stumbled out of the building around 10 -- same general conditions as 24 hours ago: perfect weather, neighborhood quiet after the nightly bachanalia (lasting well past dawn this a.m.) -- a person stood at the corner just up the street, looking to be waving at me. A person who turned out to be my one-time neighbor Esperanza, she of the animated, ever-sunny disposition and impressive cleavage. I waved back, she approached, we did the two-cheek-kiss thing. She asked how I was, I replied, "Dormido" ('Asleep'). An accurate report she apparently took as a laugh line, forging ahead as if expecting me to make conversation. I had to assure her that though I appeared to be conscious my body was actually functioning on one pathetic, misfiring cylinder at best, that I could not be expected to make conversation until I'd inhaled a hit or two of high-test. That last bit being a combo advisory/plea which she seemed to absorb for a nanosecond before launching into a recap of her recent life, me staring blearily, mouth helplessly open.
Turned out she was here to meet up with someone interested in buying furniture left in her old flat (across the hall from here). That person materialized almost immediately, a fast, cheek-kissing moment later I was off, weaving my way toward newspaper/caffeine.
Within minutes, newspaper in hand, my body stood at a bar in a joint where counter help who know my face got a cup of brew going as soon as they saw me, me soaking up the sound of other humans getting their day going in like manner. Conversations in Castellano, the TV playing in the background, the smell of espresso and morning food. Simple, satisfying. Something I genuinely miss when I'm back in the green Vermont countryside. A place I'll be once more in two and a half short weeks. (Vermont, that is.)
But that'll be then. This is now.
On to the day.
************
Sunday afternoon, la Plaza de Santa Barbara, Madrid:
Madrid, te quiero.
rws 6:12 AM [+]
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