Ok today finally feels like how I felt my first day in barcelona would feel. I´ve finally gotten possesion of my dog and went are on our first walk!!!! I left my flat with a sense of peace, rightness and wonder. Where would the day take me and what was on my agenda. I figured the most important thing was to give Harper a good walk after being caught in customs for three days. Later we'd stop eat breakfast and walk so more. I wanted hIm good and tired when we arrived back at the flat. As I started walking away from our flat I started notice reAlly for the first time alo of the intersting shops along the way. Stops for fresh fruit, groceries, laundry mat and clothing stores. The Born district is an eccletic mix of artsey boheimian old Spanish influence. I feel really transformed here, a sense of freedom that I haven't felt in years. My step is a little lighter and quicker, although not as quick as the spaniards! I'm 5'7 with a pretty long stride but man these little old ladies effortlessly leave me in the dust. I wonder where on the hell are they going in such a rush but I quickly realize they aren't rushing; this pace is just the energy of the city. It's frantic and highly charged like a live wire while managing to hang onto the mañana, mañana mantra.
Another thing I notice as I walk is how fit most everyone is! It easy to understand because the city walks toor bike rides almost everywhere! So as Im walking I planning my path to thinness:-) I have 5 weeks before school starts and nothing but time to walk, run and watch my diet; which as already improved since being here. I examine that a litte closer because I'm an acknowledged emotional eater and possibly the sense of peace I'm feeling is helping in that area. I don't feel the raveanous hunger I'd surely have felt by this time in the morning if I'd been back in the states. My appetite has curved and food choices here are more natural. So I'm walking and imaging my great debut as thinner, happier Charlotte in about 4 weeks! I plan on attending my meetup eventwhile I´m getting fit, but in 4-5 weeks I'd would be well on the path to Barcelona fitness and ready and open for some hot Spaniard to sweep me off my feet! Yep...sounds like a sound plan to me! I'm smiling and walking and walking...aha! the ZOO! Doesnt look terribly large, maybe I´ll do the zoo one day soon. Walking,walking through the Garden Park, same place as the concert I attended in August with Lluis, down toward the beach and Olympic village. Pace is good, Harpers sniffing and pissing his way to happiness,the weather is fabulous and life is good! Awwww... The beach... How beautiful! I love the water! There are lots of runners and so far Harpers doing pretty good. He hasn't attacked anyone and people have walked very close to us and we have encountered many bicyclist. I am hoping to get him used to the energy and closeness of the city so he doesnt become nervous and want to snap at people. I´ve got his treats and MUZZLE in case things get a little sticky. We walk along the pathway along the marina for about 20 minutes. Harper keeps jumping up on the wall to get a look at the water! He is so excited! We walk a little further and I find a little stretch of deserted beach so I figure this is a good a place as any to test out Harper reaction to the sea. We go down on the beach and he doesnt know quite know what to make of the tide! He wants a drink of water but he has never before had water chase him! Hahaha! It's funny! He finally loses his desire for a drink and decides that the water is his new toy! His goal is not to have the water get him wet! He loses good naturedly many times. Awww... Good boy! Next he discovers the sand and starts digging like crazy! I'm laughing at his antics when suddenly a man appears from the left. I don't hear him because I have my headphones on and fucking Harper doesn´t do his normal attach thing when someone gets to close to me. Instead he runs up to the stranger for some petting! Before I can reel Harper in, anticipating his usual violent reaction to men I am further surprised by Harpers tailwagging, rolling over for his belly to be scratched move. Needless to say my jaw is hanging from it´s hinges, THIS can´t be my DOG. I'm surprised as hell that Harper is all hugs and kisses and I finally get a good look at the guy. OK Harper isn´t gay but I admit he´s got good taste. The guy is really cute, all Spanish with dark hair and eyes about 5'10 and all smiles! Hola Quapa he says... Awww shit! I wasn't planning on encountering anyone today and I'm not even thinking of pulling out my limited Spanish. I still feel stretched thin from having to deal with the last three days of getting Harper through customs. Hola que tal! I say back praying that this will be the end of the friendly gesture. But of course not....wouldn't you know it he responds in what sounds like rapid fire Spanish to me. Ok deer in headlights! I´m trying to make sense of what he just said and how to respond...honestly if he had not have been so cute I would have hidden behind"no habla espanol". He squats down beside me and is so engaging. I quickly tell him my Spanish is vey limited and he laughs and says the same about his English. For the next 30 minutes Juan sits with me watching Harper scamper and dig. The two of use stubble through the language gap enough to learn a few facts about eachother. What is clear is that he is flirting and trying to pick me up...lol. This isn't intended to be some cheesey romance novel but this IS what is happening! As in the case he has exhausted his English and my Spanish stalls. So my first spanish flirtation comes to end. I'm not sure if wenhave agreed to meet again or what but he says he has to go and leans in for what I assume is the European dos besos. But nope he full on kisses me in the lips!!!! He says quiero besos quapa and kisses me again..full on with a little tongue. Okay I'm shocked, flattered and wondering if I'm not some monumental slut for participating in this kiss...with a stranger...on the beach in Barcelona! And what style this guy has... one arm wrapped around my neck/shoulders and the other hand caressing my check...okay slut or no... I'm liking this! He looks at me smiles rubs his nose against mine and shakes his head, I'm wondering if he thinking the same thing i'm thinking? Anyway Juan leaves with what I feel is with some regret. He keeps looking back and we waive at eachother until he is out of sight. Ok...so much for my plan of attention from a hot Spainard for another 4 or 5 weeks. So I´m sitting there with this silly grin on my face thinking ¨wow¨... what was THAT?! I sit for while longer letting Harper tire himself out. I look up and Juan is returning. Holy crap! He comes back down to the beach and wants to know if he can drive me home. Okay I still think he is cute and I´ve heard that Europeans move faster BUT in America we don´t do this unless we want to run the risk of gettinig chopped up into a million little pieces. So I stopped the cutie and thanked him and sent him on his way. I watched him walk off and get into his car...a Volvo SUV...okay maybe he wasn´t an ax murderer.
So I am sad to see Juan go but still on cloud nine for his unexpected attention. I walk back along the boardwalk and see another stretch of beach to take a rest. I sit down, kind of preoccupied with getting Harper situated. I look up in time to see a NAKED man walk past me. Yes NAKED as the day he was born. Somehow I´m now on the NUDE beach. To my left is an older man stripping down to nothing and diving into the sea...did I mention it is still pretty cool out...no more than 60 degrees so I´m sure the water isn´t too much warmer than that. I look behind me and there is another group of nudies...in the distance so I cant really make out anything accept that they are naked. LOL! I love Barcelona!!! To my right there is a group of guys setting up for a volleyball game. I wonder...NUDE volleyball?! HAHAHA! Im 12 years old again because I entertain myself with the thought of ALL those BALLS flying! Well...Ím getting hungry and Harper and I have been out for 3.5 hours time to head home. All in all AWESOME day and it´s only lunch time!
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