June 10th 2012- When Kai woke up I heard some odd noise in his room and he then opened the door and peaked out then walked out. Because of the amount he drank, he woke up wondering why his sofa was in front of the door. He couldn’t remember if he actually brought someone home or not and then he remembered he did and before going to bed realized I could be someone who wanted to steal everything or cut him up while he slept so he moved this heavy couch in front of his door so he could hear if I tried forcing my way into his room. I had to laugh and told him he was safe with me.
Kai was amazing and took better care of me than I take care of myself. He paid for all my meals, paid for a bus tour around Barcelona so I saw all the tourist sites. He also paid two days for me as he is going home tomorrow and figured I may want to go check out a few places in more detail.
After a few hours he said, “Okay, am I getting punked?” I asked what he was talking about and he said, “You couldn’t have sold and given away everything and said, I’m going to go walking around Europe.” I laughed and said, “You’re not famous enough to get punked.” He then said, “Are you one of those secret millionaires where you’re my boss and come to check me out.” I laughed again and said, “You’re not at work.”
He later took me to a nice restaurant where they serve small plates of food so you stay a while and order several to taste from. I had veal, shrimp, croquette (bacon & cheese on a toasted roll). I don’t know what it is about the English beef but in 5 years of living there I never had a good steak so this veal was heaven. My taste buds were dancing a jig. While there we ran into a beautiful blond woman named Amy and she told us where she would be having dinner later so Guy said, “We’re there.” Just in case they wouldn’t let me in because of my shoes he wanted to buy me a new pair of loafers just for the night. I told him I couldn’t waste like that because I couldn’t take them with me. He was arguing that the night was more important to him than the money but I was adamant and told him if they didn’t let me in he could go and I would go home and get work done on the internet. He ended up letting me borrow other fancy shoes he had. His feet are a bit smaller than mine so thank goodness I didn’t have to walk far as he took taxi’s everywhere. He was a great guy and a good friend. I really enjoyed spending the day with him.
Kai was amazing and took better care of me than I take care of myself. He paid for all my meals, paid for a bus tour around Barcelona so I saw all the tourist sites. He also paid two days for me as he is going home tomorrow and figured I may want to go check out a few places in more detail.
After a few hours he said, “Okay, am I getting punked?” I asked what he was talking about and he said, “You couldn’t have sold and given away everything and said, I’m going to go walking around Europe.” I laughed and said, “You’re not famous enough to get punked.” He then said, “Are you one of those secret millionaires where you’re my boss and come to check me out.” I laughed again and said, “You’re not at work.”
He later took me to a nice restaurant where they serve small plates of food so you stay a while and order several to taste from. I had veal, shrimp, croquette (bacon & cheese on a toasted roll). I don’t know what it is about the English beef but in 5 years of living there I never had a good steak so this veal was heaven. My taste buds were dancing a jig. While there we ran into a beautiful blond woman named Amy and she told us where she would be having dinner later so Guy said, “We’re there.” Just in case they wouldn’t let me in because of my shoes he wanted to buy me a new pair of loafers just for the night. I told him I couldn’t waste like that because I couldn’t take them with me. He was arguing that the night was more important to him than the money but I was adamant and told him if they didn’t let me in he could go and I would go home and get work done on the internet. He ended up letting me borrow other fancy shoes he had. His feet are a bit smaller than mine so thank goodness I didn’t have to walk far as he took taxi’s everywhere. He was a great guy and a good friend. I really enjoyed spending the day with him.
This is Kai. What a big heart and a great guy. I really enjoyed my time with him and owe him big. If I ever have a chance to repay him it would be an honor. He'll always be welcomed in my house (or as I told him for the time being... my tent :-)
This and the subsequent pictures are a church created and started back in, I think, 1830 by Goudi who is the most famous architect of Barcelona. It is expected to be finished in 2126 but has always been funded solely on the donations of people. The next 3 pictures are also of the church and the others are other works by Goudi.
This is a monument to Columbus and the other pics are other places on the bus tour.
June 11th 2012- I found out where the local church was and to my good fortune, Google maps said it was only 23 minutes away. After taking a wrong street and walking around a while, I realized that something wasn’t right. I walked all the way back to the apartment so I could get WIFI connection again and check it closer. It said I was right and the big round about was right but it didn’t look like same round about on the map. I walked back (now close to 5 miles worth of walking with my 75lb backpack and sweating profusely in the heat. I got to the same round about then asked some people about it and they showed me where I was… I went in the opposite direction. Now the only opportunity for me to get to any part of the meetings on time I had to take the metro. When I finally got there I discovered it was the wrong address because they were all residential flats. However, maybe they were meeting in someone’s house. I waited until the meeting should be over so I could see people coming out looking like they just came from church but nothing. Not knowing what to do now as I was hoping to get direction from members as well as an address to send a few trailing things to, I decided the only place I knew to go where I could have a shower was the beach. I got on the tour bus and went to the beach and walked a couple miles through the sand until I came upon a group of people playing various samba style songs and dancing around so I parked it there to listen.
As it got dark, one of the band asked me where I was staying and I told him on the beach and he said no, it is going to rain so you come stay at my house. Upon arriving I discovered there are about 10 of them squatting in a large house. Most of them don’t work at a job but are making CDs of their music. They are planning on turning one of the huge rooms into a community center for the elderly.
One of the guys works at a deli and at the end of the day he brings home the made up stuff that didn’t sell and that’s what they all eat. The place looks like a third world county house and needs lots of work so I told them I would help them fix it up some as thanks for having me stay with them. They are very nice people and talented.
As it got dark, one of the band asked me where I was staying and I told him on the beach and he said no, it is going to rain so you come stay at my house. Upon arriving I discovered there are about 10 of them squatting in a large house. Most of them don’t work at a job but are making CDs of their music. They are planning on turning one of the huge rooms into a community center for the elderly.
One of the guys works at a deli and at the end of the day he brings home the made up stuff that didn’t sell and that’s what they all eat. The place looks like a third world county house and needs lots of work so I told them I would help them fix it up some as thanks for having me stay with them. They are very nice people and talented.
June 12, 2012- Today I was able to do my first work project. I trimmed their bushes and cleaned up their patio area as well as spread organic dirt around with an old broken shovel. I took a shower but they do not have hot water so it was like jumping into a pool for the first time. They don’t have water coming into their kitchen so they stretched a garden hose through the kitchen window and dishes are washed in cold water as well.
I lost count of the number of people that came through this house today but they take in anyone and some just want to come help with their project of turning this into a community center. I was quite impressed with their talent as well. They have a few CDs out and they sound very good. I was surprised also by their choice of music being that they are mostly young. They had beautiful mellow music playing most of the day.
I have been making efforts to share gospel principles but they only understand a portion of what I say so it is a struggle. They have been teaching me how they live on the streets and travel around. Most do it involving corrupt or illegal means which I have told them I would not do and they are of the opinion I will not make it being honest. I’ve told them, if I cannot make it honestly then I will have to go home.
I lost count of the number of people that came through this house today but they take in anyone and some just want to come help with their project of turning this into a community center. I was quite impressed with their talent as well. They have a few CDs out and they sound very good. I was surprised also by their choice of music being that they are mostly young. They had beautiful mellow music playing most of the day.
I have been making efforts to share gospel principles but they only understand a portion of what I say so it is a struggle. They have been teaching me how they live on the streets and travel around. Most do it involving corrupt or illegal means which I have told them I would not do and they are of the opinion I will not make it being honest. I’ve told them, if I cannot make it honestly then I will have to go home.
The guy without a shirt is the one who invited me to stay. The other person I was able to share a few gospel principles with. This room will be the community center but it is much bigger than depicted in this picture. They are trying to create something to help people. The Mural on the wall says "The House in the Sky. They are on a hill.
This is where I had the cold water shower. With the curtain closed there was about 1 foot of space so I had to leave it open while I took a shower.
Here are the pictures of the first squatter house where I slept. This is the bed where I slept and the others are of the house.
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