My 20 Year Love Affair

My one year anniversary just recently passed with living in Barcelona. As many of you know I have had a much longer relationship with this city. I fell in love with this city 20 years ago on a trip with my partner Michael, his grandma and a mutual friend. The 20 years that followed that date threw a lot of twists and turns, historical events, traumas, dramas and incredible joys.

Barcelona to me has always felt like a personal relationship. A man or a woman I am not sure, but one thing I do know is it has been temperamental, romantic, challenging, loving, seducing and ever changing as any person would be. Making the choice to buy a piece of property here and turn it into a holiday rental for tourists was an incredible experience that kept me coming back, but also almost destroyed all of us.

Almost 20 years ago, this city had a similar charm it has today, but with more authenticity and far less tourists which is destroying this city more than the failing economy. One of my favorite memories was the first morning in Barcelona trying to get breakfast and coffee to go. Then, there was no such thing as coffee to take away. I was taught an important lesson by locals giving me a clear plastic dixie cup of a coffee that melted as I walked out the door. Lesson learned was to slow down, take the time to enjoy the small things in life. Of course, now, Starbucks is everywhere and anything can be taken away or even delivered to your home.

To give you a brief history of Barcelona over the past two decades, I saw Spain join the European Union, leaders changed a few times, Madrid train bombings, protests for change nationally and worldly, major economy crash and leading up to Catalunya taking steps for independence from Spain which continues to this day. Personally, all of these events have paralleled and collided with my own life. We made incredible friends and observed births and deaths. With all of this and more there was a point when I cried when I left Barcelona and then in later years I cried when I arrived too. Why such sensitivity? Again, it is like a relationship. Barcelona has impacted my life in so many ways and with all the good and bad. I love her/him and I could never live apart for too long.

Returning to Barcelona and choosing a life here was not an easy decision and it was bitter sweet after desiring it for so long. This past year was a year of healing, a lot of sadness and confusion. It was a year of personal growth, challenges and inspiration. I honestly don't think this city would have it any other way. I believe Barcelona knows its charm and dark side as it has for hundreds of years. There are many temptations and distractions here and you need to balance all the goodness with the need to make a living, focus and make something of yourself. Barcelona gives no easy handouts.

Barcelona is the only city that gives me almost everything I want and need. The climate, geographical location, culture, sensuality, etc. is all good and with value, but not the most important aspect. As an artist, a sensitive individual and bizarre human being, there is something much deeper and seductive. This is the city that entertained Miro, Picasso and Dali. Locals have always said there is something in the breeze that comes off the Mediterranean that makes people a bit crazy. I believe that. There is a history, an energy that has an incredible seduction. I feel the pleasure, the pain, sorrows and joys, struggles and successes. All that makes Barcelona what it is and