Utah-Spain 2003 (2)

Hello - In the pink is my dad's phrase for feeling better which is funny cause it's dead close to 'in the red' which can't make anyone feel better! But, I guess it's far enough away from 'Blue'....

The night of my GLUM message, I went to a veggie restaurant (a word I'll never spell correctly consistently in English... ristorante is best).. and I had a cup of tinto and then saw an independent film called The Dreamers... quite racy in theme, but quite entertaining and in the end, sent me home thinking lots, just cause the creativity was flowing... I may have lost some of the impact cause I saw it dubbed in Spanish, but I got the jist... I think it's normally in English, although set in France... I dunno... Anyway-

I'm writing from rainy Marbella.. usually sunny, the second, third or fourth home of Sean Connery, Richard Gere and some other random star types... I was sitting in a cafe earlier today and Joey Tribiani walked by (Matt LeBlanc).. I waved like he was an old friend and he came in and sat with me for a second... he asked my name and for fear that saying Rachel would seem like a pick up line, I just showed him my passport first... but, then, none of that really happened. It was just a movie in my head that played out when a Spaniard that looks a lot like Matt walked by...

Marbella is sleepy right now... off season. The majority of the people I see are British. I came by bus this afternoon from my apartment in resortlandia... I am in this resort for the week called Miraflores, which is kinda like it's own little world... it has everything on site so the Britts and Germans can get all they need without speaking a word of Spanish... Karaoke, bar, restaurant, supermercado, beach, pool, golf... in fact, there is no town within walking distance... so, I escaped via bus.

Back in little England however, I did meet two lovely couples... one in the bar the day I arrived... who own the sweetest Lurch... the latest in UK recognized dog breeds.. a cross between a greyhound and a whippet.. the perfect size.. they said they would love for me to take him running... The other coouple I met, also from England, are my neighbors. I met them when they locked themselves out and popped over to use the phone. Then we sat on their patio and talked for hours... til dinner... then after dinner I went back over, just to pop in for a wee rum and coke... five rum and cokes later, having discussed every angle on religion, politics, cultures and family life... it was a shocking 4am and I had to retire... only to sleep in again!! I hate sleeping in this much but I'm fucked! Can't figure out my sleep cycle...

The apartment here is really nice... really clean and really all mine.. with laundry machine in the apartment, phone, CD player, television, comphy beds and best of all, my own personal ferel cat colony... Yes, I have gatitos... 5 of them. I am on a ground level, so I opened my door to the back garden and saw a kitty... called him over and like rats running from the light, they all poured out of the hedges... running at full speed past me and into my apartment... I just left the door open and they came and went at leisure... I have Wonder, the curious black and white that gets closer by the hour, Sketcher, the tabby and white micks ( the 'ecks' button on the keyboard doesn't work) who likes to run in Matricks fashion up and down the walls to get by me... very wild... , Corky, black and white with a curly half tail... lost tragically I'm sure..., Carinyo, my buddy - loves to be held and sleep between my legs and then Oscar, which is short for Oscuro cause he's my all black mystery man... not too sure about the whole being seen by humans thing... but, regardless of temperment or level of wildness, they all slept in the bed with me on my first night here.. I left the window open and by morning, they were all gone... Yes, I know... diseases, fleas, etc... Thanks for the heads up... I just love the company.

Tomorrow I'm going with the younger and more active of the two English couples to Africa.... haha! Sounds funny to say it like that... but yes, we're going to Morocco.. They want to shop, I want to walk around. I'll probably check out the way the women dress and then go back on my own and head a little farther.. maybe toward Senegal.. I have a dream of doing it with one outfit (that on my body) and my purse.. nothing else.. I'll just go for a week as far as I can and then head back to Spain.. why not. I have an Irish passport and if I cover up, I should be ok... but, I'll check it out tomorrow with my new friends...

The Malaga situation is better too.. I decided during many of my sleepless hours between midnight and 5am that I would have to suck it up and settle for a bit as that was the whole point... so my plan now is to get an apartment with some Spanish folks (I've seen lots for rent at anywhere between $150-$200 a month.. not bad and much cheaper than hostels all the way.... and then when I have a place I'll figure out work close to that place...

I have yet to climb!! I'm not close to Malaga anymore so I couldn't ecksplore so easily, but maybe one day after Africa I'll take the train back to Malaga and see what I find... then live out the time share, head to Africa again on my own and then come back to settle...

I collected sea shells today... the kind you only find for sale in shops cause they're still in tact and they're beautiful.. colorful, spirally, perfect! And small enough to lug around... Oh how I wish I could shop in Morocco.. I know I'll find so much I'll love but if it has to go on my back for 9 months, I think it'll have to wait... maybe I'll look into shipping it all! Anyway - that's the latest.. sorry it's not the greatest... Thanks for all the uplifting messages you all sent me! I'm glad folks are enjoying the snow in Salt Lake and the waves in Myrtle Beach! Take care!!!