Rome, Italy - Part 1 (The Vatican)

Roaming the Streets of Toledo, Spain

Not my best camera work, but a fun day.

The Cabby Man Can

My friend Alex and I grabbed a cab last night. We were on our way to another friend, Ronnie's photography exhibit. He was one of the runners up in a contest and we were going to the event. She says "the cab will get us there in a couple minutes." We were running late and I agreed it was a good idea.

It took us a minute, but one finally pulled over for us. I can't understand a word he's saying because my Spanish experiment still hasn't grown wings like I'd hoped, but I'm trying. So I'm listening for any words I can pick out and a generel sense of what he's saying. Alex seamlessly weaves back and forth between Spanish for him, and English for me.

The driver seems like a nice guy, but after a few minutes, I see he's having trouble finding where we're going. In the endless pretzel of streets that exist in Madrid, it's easy to have that happen. It doesn't matter how long you live here. He's got this green book. It looks 30 years old. And he's looking up the street names. At one point, we know we're close, and Alex says he can let us out and we'll find it.

He looks back at us, turns off the meter, and says "no!" Then something else in spanish, and bangs on the seat next to him with his fist and smiles. The gist? I'm going to find this place for you guys if it kills me. He rolls down the window and asks about the street name. No luck. We drive around the block, working our way in and out of different bits of the neighborhood. No luck. He rolls down the window again, and this guy says it's a block over.

Another 5 or 10 minutes pass, and we finally realize we're on the street. Right out front of the gallery. The whole ride costs us 5 euros. We probably paid for half the time we were in the cab. All 3 of us were laughing most of the time.

He's a cab driver. He helps people get to where they need to go. He wasn't comfortable just letting us off and taking the fare. He wanted to get us there. He apologized for taking so much of our time. He reaches back and shakes my hand. A good firm handshake and looks me in the eye.

That was one of the greatest cab rides ever. I work like that driver in a lot of ways. I do things I don't "need" to do. But it makes a difference to me at the end of the day. I can relate to this guy a alot, even though I couldn't understand a word he said.

I Have To Be The Clever One

Here's the problem with working on something that's never really been done before...it's never really been done before. There are issues to resolve and things to figure out how to do with no road map. There's usually a reason it hasn't been done. Either no one has thought of it, or they did, but couldn't figure out the same issues you're mulling over right now. You've got to be smarter. You've got to be more clever.

Here's the best part about working on something that hasn't been done before...it hasn't been done before! Pretty cool. And kind of a privilege. Today I have to be the clever one.

In The Crosshairs of Clueless

I have to say, it's really weird to have nothing to do. There are some errands to run, but I tried earlier and that didn't go so well. Every store I went into looking for what I thought I needed, was closed, or didn't have it. I think the universe is telling me to do nothing. Sit still. This is a confusing existence for me.

I admit, it's nice to feel my life slowing down. I don't have a stack of phone calls to make or emails to write. I could certainly find things like that to do, but I'm not going to. I'm going to step into what's difficult for me because I know that's where my freedom ultimately will come from.

I don't know what direction my journey is going. I don't live anywhere at the moment and I'm feeling that. I feel uprooted.

What I do know is this:
Ever since I've started living like this, my emotions are deeper. Buildings look taller. Streets seem wider...and narrower. The sky is more blue. The breeze is more refreshing, and people are more interesting. This year feels better than the last. And as my understanding grows, so does my love and faith in myself.

So, today my mood is happily clueless. They should add that as an option for one of the Myspace "moods".

A Day Sightseeing in Barcelona and Cadaqués

On the Train to Dali's House

I'm sitting on the train from Barcelona north to Figueres. We're on the way to Salvadori Dali's house. They turned it into a museum, and evidently it's incredible. The quiet time feels good. The train ride is about 2 hours and we'll be taking a taxi from there. A lot of travel for a day trip, but today is the day. We're going for it.

The Spanish countryside is rolling by and in my headphones, the current selection is what has become my favorite European soundtrack. This cd was a gift from my friend Kevin, which has turned out to be one of those gifts that keeps on giving. Max Richter, The Blue Notebooks. It's instrumental and amazing. A couple of the tracks give me the chills every time.

It's so beautiful here. My life and viewpoints have changed so much since my first trip to Europe. And now it's like a chest that's opened and inertia has taken over. All of my dreams and desires seem further away. Not because I'm any further away. I'm not escaping. Just getting a better perspective.

The creative ideas continue. But from what I can tell so far, this trip seems to be about becoming new. Being in places that I feel comfortable and at home. Basically changing the kind of gas I'm putting in my tank. I feel present and powerful. By getting quiet and letting life come to me, I find that I'm learning new things. Some motivations no longer seem worth my time or energy.

So where does that leave me?

I guess on the train to Dali's house...feeling delicious and strangely good!

U2. yes!!!!

I'm not feeling particularly articulate this morning, but I had the opportunity to catch the U2 show last night in Barcelona. Wow. What a great time. 80,000 happy people singing to every song. Louder than the band. The Spanish know how to have a good time. I have a lot to learn from them.