Don Quixote

Went to see an exhibition in "Museu d'historia de la ciutat" today about Don Quixote.

This intriguing figure has fascinated me ever since I went to see "Lost in la mancha" by Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe; a documentary explaining why the film "The man who killed Don Quixote" (starring Johnny Depp) flopped after months of troubles, including a crew who spoke approximately 50 different languages, only half the budget needed for a film of such magnitude, a lead actor plagued with illness, hailstorms, flash floods and mudslides; causing film maker Terry Gilliam to abandon the film after the first few days of shooting.

It seems that mystery, folly and illusion follow Don Quixote where ever he goes. To be honest I´m none-the-wiser as to who he was/is after having seen the exhibition but I suspect that is the whole point, preserving the intrigue that surrounds this controversial spanish character.

After the museum Dave and I came across the cathedral in the heart of the Barri Gòtic (the gothic district of Barcelona). It is an incredible example of gothic architecture, known to the locals as "La Seu" and officially named "Cathedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulalia", after Barcelona's patron saint Eulalia. It has some very exciting inside and outside spaces and I loved the red light given off by the hundreds of candles inside the crypt.

On our way to meet Manuela we were captivated by a couple of argentinean tango dancers and watched them weave in and around each other to the pulsating beats of the music. What I would give to be able to dance like that! (or at least dance with a partner like that ;0)

Then we happened upon a crazy pianist who had an array of percussive instruments attached to his piano and would "honk" or "ting" in time to his playing if you put a coin in his box; Dave and I tried to get him to improvise-jazz-stylee by putting numerous coins into his box in succession, twas fun, tee hee!

We accompanied Manuela to an artists meeting she had to go to and hung out with her and her friends afterwards; it is lovely to see her surrounded by like-minded people who seem to "get" her and can encourage her.

Buenos noches!