Reflections of a Time Traveler

Portugal & Spain 

The tranquility that is Portugal is more than compensated for by the rush of energy that is Spain. The day I arrived in Spain was magical. It was my first time ever in Europe, and although Spain and Portugal are physically part of the European Continent they are a unique collection of sates that tend to be rather isolated in their cultures gleaning from both French and Italian in the north, northern African in the south, and most definitely British on the East Coast. 

 It was the year that I had broken up with my first partner in Chicago and needed, I thought, to take a sabbatical of sorts to prepare myself for a new relationship. Alone on another continent and fancy free for the first time in my young life, I eagerly set out to conquer the world. Awkward in my approach, and very much unseasoned in international travel, I stumbled my way through Madrid, and by train to Seville and Barcelona. Then taking an overnight boat to Majorca and finally ending up in Toledo before heading back to the US. I must say that the experience was totally amazing, and the fact that I didn’t fall prey to thieves or predators taught me a lot about how to conduct myself in various and sundry situations still today. Back then, Franco was President and ruled with an iron fist. 

The Spanish people both loved and feared him, as he was truly a benevolent dictator. I remember arriving in Barcelona late in the evening with no reservations and only my few pieces of luggage to consul me. I was recommended by my taxi driver to a somewhat shady looking hotel down by the harbor. Upon entering the lobby and being shown to the front desk, I suddenly realized that my luggage was not with me. Apparently the driver had left it on the platform at the train station. Jumping back into the cab we made our way back to station in hopes that it would have been found. Believe it or not my bags were still exactly where I had left them. At the time Franco was still President of Spain and ruled with an iron fist, and things like theft were frowned on, and dealt with swift punishment. I guess there are some things that work better under a benevolent Dictatorship. 

 I had heard of an Island called Mallorca just to the south and east of Barcelona which was quite the international party destination and of course I had to experience it. So off I went to sea on an overnight boat ride to the ultimate disco party, and it was quite the scene. Arriving at dawn in Mallorca with the Cathedral still lite and welcoming us was like a scene from an old Cary Grant movie. The day was just beginning and I was exhausted from my overnighter. Being alone had begun to take its toll. Not speaking the language back then was a bit of a problem, and running low on funds wasn’t helping the matter. The next day I made the decision that it was time to go home, but wanted to make one more stop on the mainland. Toledo was calling and I was listening. 

 Another boat ride, this time to Valencia where I positioned myself to make the final journey in my Spanish Odyssey. Renting a car and driving due west to Toledo was magical. The manicured forests and fields of a land that has existed for over a century gave way to the ancient edifices of a time when art and beauty mingled to adorn the mantles of kings and queens, a time of resplendent glory, and a time of witchcraft and religion. The hour was late and the sun had already set on this land of light. I was weary from my long day of travels and looking for a place to spend the night. As I passed through the rolling hills of Toledo I saw a castle in the distance that was beckoning me. 

The castle has a ruin from yesterdays gone by but the location and surrounding grounds were inviting and comforting. I decided to spend the night. The sunlight of a new morning awoke me and told me it was time to move on. Arriving in Toledo was a religious experience indeed. The Church tower was reflecting the already risen sun and the sounds of the early marketers in the square where at the stands reading for the shoppers soon to arrive. Café con leche and a Napolitana de chocolate for breakfast and I was off to see the city and its sights. 

 Finding a place to stay the night was easy as most tourists are in town for only the day and then retreat to their digs in Madrid. I was lucky however to find a charming monastery called Al Magra just outside the city limits, but close enough to make the journey a pleasant one. The next morning I was off to Madrid to catch my plane back to the US. Still spell bound by what had happened in those two amazing weeks of my first international experience. It was truly a life changing adventure which would lead me to many more such marvelous moments that would add to my mosaic of life to come. It would take several years for me to find my way back to the continent, and when I finally did it would be with my new life partner. 

The dye was cast and for the next 30 years I would be globetrotting and dancing around the sun as a crazy, free spirited Aquarian should.