My friend Butch has a friend named Carmen.....

Right after I’d arrived in Barcelona my friend Butch sent me an email telling me he had a great friend here by the name of Carmen and if I would like him to he’d be happy to put us in touch with each other.  Well of course I would!  There is nothing like your first new friend in a big new city!!

Butch and his wife Lynn are big travelers and a number of years ago now they discovered the ‘home exchange’ idea which they have been using since every chance they get.   It was through a home exchange that they met Carmen and Alex.   Whenever Butch talks about home exchanges he always talks about what wonderful people you meet and notes Carmen and Alex as the example so I was very pleased to be able to meet them.

The very next day Carmen sent me a text welcoming me to Barcelona and offering any assistance she might be able to provide.  She also suggested I stop by her family’s music store just off of La Ramblas where she works part-time since recently having her baby to meet her sometime.   I thanked her and said I would.

A couple of weeks went by before I actually made my way to the music store at Taller 27……… I find it interesting that the number goes after the street name here it makes a lot of sense when you think about it! The store was filled with more guitars than I had ever seen before and some really pretty ones.  When I asked for Carmen, a very kindly gentleman at the front counter (turns out to be her father) referred me to the back of the store.  There I found Carmen sitting at a computer.  As soon as I announced myself she jumped up and threw her arms around me and welcomed me to Barcelona.   I don’t think I have ever met such a warm and welcoming individual………..I adored her immediately.

We chatted about Barcelona and what I had been doing.  She once more offered me help with anything I might need I could call on her at any time.   I asked about the new baby and she beamed with joy.  Baby Sienna was wonderful and I must meet her before I leave Barcelona.  We chuckled that my meeting the baby before Butch would make him insanely jealous and we both enjoyed the thought of putting one over on Butch.  We had shared our first ‘intimacy’ and I knew we were already becoming friends.

Since I have a little time this week I sent a text to Carmen inviting them to dinner.  She answered immediately and a date was set.  I would come first to the apartment to meet Alex and Sienna.  Then she and I would go have a light dinner at a crepes place she especially likes in her neighborhood. 

Upon my arrival I was once again greeted with and impressed by Carmen’s warm and full of love hug.  Her sweet husband Alex greeted me with the usual kiss on each cheek and then we all turned our attention to two month old baby Sienna.  She is bright eyed, long and chubby with a head full of very dark fly away hair……..an absolutely beautiful baby in every way.   I took the first chance I got to hold her and get our picture taken together.  It has been a long time since I’ve held a small baby and I wanted to just sit there with her in my arms for hours.  But it was time for dad to give her a bath before she started to get cranky.  So Carmen and I walked a short distance to the Kampus Crepes Restaurant.  She is well known here and was greeted with glee by the entire staff.  It turns out this was the last place she dined before Sienna was born and this is the first time she had been back since.

Carmen and I enjoyed our cold soups, carrot for her and watermelon for me, followed by chicken and pork crepes.  These were definitely the best crepes I have ever had.  The crepe itself was flavorful not the plan no taste variety I’m used to.  As good as the crepes were I’m afraid they were a far second to the intelligent and interesting conversation I enjoyed with Carmen. 

During our two hour dinner we covered the economies of our countries, the politics of both countries, will I be voting for Obama, the joys and fears of being a new mother, the differences in her parent’s life compared to mine, how every day choices change our lives forever, boyfriend relationships and married relationships, that integrity is everything, internet dating disasters and successes, how we both hate that people don’t say what they really feel because it is not socially acceptable and how we both believe in living the examined life no matter how difficult that might be to do at times, how she might be an old soul and she thinks I might be a young one.  This was some of the most balanced, thought provoking and intriguing conversation that I have had in a very long time!

Lucky me, I have met a soul sister, truly a gift………….my friend Butch and I have a friend named Carmen!