29 March 2026

So, I head back to school tomorrow after taking off a few weeks.

This week, I took a train to Barcelona for two days. I stayed with my university friend Milo (who is one of the many reasons I’m living in Spain.)

But the real reason that I went was to see a play. Last summer, I hosted a Couchsurfer, Sebastian from Warsaw Poland. He had talked about a one-man play he was writing and working to get produced.

A month or two ago, we were texting and he told me that he would be performing that play in Barcelona in March. So, I contacted Milo, I bought two tickets and made plans to see the show on Tuesday night at 9:00.

I arrived at Barcelona Sants train station Tuesday morning and walked about 30 minutes to Milo’s. He had a full day of work. So, after getting settled, I went to see one of the famous houses designed by Antonin Gaudi.

Casa Batllo is a fascinating mansion designed in the typical Gaudi style of reflecting nature in every detail. In this case, he designed a home near the Mediterranean, to reflect the sea and water.

After my sightseeing, I returned home. I got a text from Sebastian saying that the theater opens early at 7:30, so we should come early and have a drink in the bar before the show. Milo and I bought some groceries, ate a light snack and then left to get to the theater to arrive about an hour before the show.

We were nearing the theater when I got a call from Sebastian’s partner, Alejandro. Did we have the address to the theater? Yes, we’re almost there. He was looking forward to seeing us.

We arrived at 8:05 and were told the play had started! We shushed and were guided to two seats in the front row.

Sebastián on stage, paused, looked at me, while I gestured with hands folded, “I’m so sorry!” He replied in a deadpan, “You are forgiven.” We all laughed. And he carried on with the play.

I have no idea why I was so solidly convinced that the show started at 9 (but that would be normal in Spain).

The play was delightfully entertaining. It was funny, heartwarming, insightful, honest. Sebastian is both a good writer and a compelling actor.

Afterwards, I reiterated my apologies, we had a brief visit and made plans to meet for breakfast the next morning.

Breakfast was big and hearty, not Spanish at all! We talked for almost two hours. And, after checking with our mutual friends, agreed we’d try to meet later in the day.

I caught up with Milo at one of two locations of SoHo House in Barcelona. This private club has locations around the world. Milo was sharing his business plan with potential partners. When they were done, we all enjoyed a beer on the patio of this beautiful mansion.

After a tour, Milo headed home and I joined Sebastian and friends for lunch near the beach. We enjoyed a delicious vegetarian meal and very fun conversation.

After lunch, I met Milo at his house. We rested before going out that evening.

He took me to the other SoHo House location, another grand mansion, near the beach. We had a cocktail with a friend of his from Berlin.

Then we went to a very cool stand up restaurant for typical Catalan-fare.

We shared a bottle of Cava and had some great sandwiches and tapas.

I took the train home on Thursday and for the most part, have been using my time to memorize the Italian lyrics of Verdi’s La Traviata, which my choir will be singing in just over two weeks.

I’m not exaggerating to say that I’ve spent hours and hours listening, repeating, memorizing, and working to be able to sing these lyrics, in Italian, at the rapid-fire pace the composer intended.

This is tough! I still have two weeks. I’m committed to being ready. And if it doesn’t kill me, I’m gonna do it!

There was one interruption to my music studying since I’m back.

On Friday, I was getting ready to make lunch. I moved an empty jar in the cabinet. It fell. I tried to catch it. I caught it so hard, I broke it against the side of the cabinet It shattered and sliced my finger…to the tendon!

Remarkably, there was neither much blood, nor much pain. But when I looked at the gaping wound and saw the tendon, I knew I needed to see a doctor. So, I wrapped it, took a bus to the hospital, and left the emergency room with an antibiotic prescription, three stitches and a very bandaged left ring finger.

I’ll go back this week to have the bandage replaced and again to have the stitches removed.

The surprising thing is that other than the needle with the local anesthetic, I have had almost no pain.

One more big update this week:

My attorney has filed for an extension on my student visa. This is not the path I had wanted. It will leave me in Spain as a guest. But once it’s renewed, we can begin the process of applying for a resident visa. My attorney had hoped to have the details to include me in the mass legalization of 500,000 undocumented immigrants in April. But those details aren’t announced. And I didn’t want to let my past visa lapse to the point of being undocumented. I’d prefer to do it right. If I were to be here with no paperwork, I would not be able to travel freely throughout the Schengen Zone, something I greatly enjoy doing as time and money permit.

So, I’m officially in the process of renewing my visa, which means I’m not here as a tourist anymore. That feels right to me.

It’s Holy Week, the week before Easter, (Semana Santa in Spain). So, may the love of God give you new life, in all your journeys, through whatever injuries, and whatever surprises come your way.