Paul Davis in Barcelona, Part 5

The final installment

The American trio walked about the

cobbled streets, where meat hung like

trophies in open air markets; fruit and

vegetables were piled up like small

Spanish mountains.Old fountains

sprayed and cackled in cool and shady

squares, where young mothers watched

their children play.Up and down they

walked the Ramblas; on and on they

walked, barely knowing where they

were in this old city by the sea.

One afternoon, escaping from sudden

rain,the trio entered a bar cached in a

hidden street.Ordering beers, were served

San Miguel in a bottle, the cold brew

quite refreshing.Later, their night was

filled with roiling stomachs, each

comparing their awful discomfort

when meeting in the morning.When

later presented again with San Miguel,

our informed travelers quickly turned

it away.  

On they went, visiting the Picasso

Museum---old Pablo’s paintings exploding

with brilliant color against the white

brightness of its walls.Gaudi’s unfinished

cathedral shot up in the sky, its spires

seemingly disconnected from its interior,

which appeared like an animal torn open

by a ravaging beast of prey.

Toward the end of the trio’s last week,
the “Squire” bought tickets to a bullfight.
Standing at a bus stop, ready to go, they
heard rain had canceled the day.

Paul and poetaster tried to give away

their tickets to American girls at the

pension, who refused to open their door,

thus missing the macho blood-letting of

a bullfight in Franco’s beautiful, sunny

& fascist Spain.

Paul and poetaster finally returned to
Germany--- their European adventure
at an end, the long train ride back to
army life forgotten in the fog of time
                and space.
Much older now and memory unreliable,

who knows what actually happened in

those October days. Yet, for sure, old

Barcelona will never be the same.

Reviews

[CD Campbell]

The most poetic of the series, I believe. Have always been a fan of Hemingway's spain, but doubtful that exists in any form. Nice touch with all things Barcelona. Bullfights, pretty catalonian girls, and diarrhea inducing beverages. I think I want to go. It was a fun series.

[augustus]

I too have been to Barcelona. The cafe con lichi was expensive! (for the uninitiated that's coffee with milk)
We didn't try the beer!

[kentuck14]

Things were cheap back in the fall of '70. Thanks for stopping by.
T

[Dave]

What an exhilirating romp through western Europe these two had. More and more I wish I had had th opportunity to be with them. Thank you for sharing the tale.

Take care - Dave

[kentuck14]

Dave. Glad you enjoyed the "romp."
T

[Dave]

It was such a pleasure.

Thanks - again - Dave

[barleygirl]

Your rambling poem did a perfect job of sampling many varied aspects of an adventurous romp (where sometimes youthful memories are full of "same ole, same ole!") You lingered on each anecdote so briefly, we were always wanting to know more, but moving along (leaving a little wonder) keeps your poem galloping along friskily! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[kentuck14]

Margie,
So glad you enjoyed my adventures with Paul all those years ago. Thanks for your kind review.
T

[jacob erin-cilberto]

to find enjoyment in a fascist nation...some good within the bad...and there is something very metaphoric in the idea of the bull fight...the blood letting...that they couldn't sell their tickets to and yet they did not stay for it...kind of that get out while it's safe.
quite the journey you took us on, Tom.
good stuff.
j.

[kentuck14]

It didn't occur to me the irony of such an adventure in a fascist state when I began this poem.
read moreIt didn't occur to me the irony of such an adventure in a fascist state when I began this poem.
Don't remember even thinking of it at the time.
T

[Eilis]

This is what fascinates me most about your narrative, Tom: "in Franco's beautiful, sunny & fascist Spain." Just wrapping my head around the contrast of this eventful trip and the enjoyment found by the two young men when jaunting through a fascist regime.

You've offered wonderful details. That's the highlight for me. I've been hardly anywhere in the world--not north beyond the Carolinas or west beyond Alabama. I do my traveling through the words of others, so I am always interested in these kinds of narratives. A worthy read, this.

I like how you wrap up with the nod to unreliable memory. But, for the readers, I suspect accuracy is less important than flourish of detail. We always have poetic license! Really enjoyed your story.

[kentuck14]

E,
Glad you enjoyed the story. And thanks for the kind comments on this work.
T

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Such a colourful and engaging tale this has been in Barcelona with the three friends doing the rounds of this famous city. So enjoyed the narrative light nature of the whole episode.

[kentuck14]

John, Thanks for reading. Glad you enjoyed.
T