Valladolid, January 31, 2008

Having stayed at the same hotel for two days, we decide to sleep in with no alarm!  How sweet it was to just wake up when I had enough rest.  We ventured out into the city and found a Donair King restaurant and had a wicked lunch.  So much flavor.  We went walking past the bar from the night before and took a picture.  A quick trip to Zara mens wear to buy a few new shirts and the back to the hotel to prepare for the lecture.  

There was an even 20 magicians in attendance and they were a fun group.  Quique, the President, acted as translator and host for the evening.  He is a super great guy and he and his Wife are expecting a baby boy in just two months. He did such a good job as translator that hey laughed at all the good jokes.  Ok no one laughs at all my jokes … they aren’t all good!  Following the lecture we took a group photo and then headed out for Chinese food.  

I love Chinese food.  After dinner I was given lesson on shooting cards, bottom dealing, and a few really cool coin effects.  I love that even after all these years in magic I have so much still to learn.  We called it an evening at 2AM and I am crawling into bed  to get some rest before the trip to Madrid in the morning …

 

Valladolid, January 30, 2008

Today was an easy drive of just three hours to the city of Valladolid.  I’m still not sure how to pronounce the name but they are nice people. David and I checked into the nice hotel and discovered free wifi so we spent a couple of hours surfing the net and chatting via Skype. We then venture into the big city in search of food and booze.  We found ourselves in a Pizza Hut and shared a supreme and BBQ pizza and a couple of Fanta Limon soda pops.  Then came the big test of finding a bar.Valladolid is full of small bars but most look like a local hangout where we weren’t welcome.  We wandered the streets for over an hour until I saw a place that looked perfect.

It was perfect.The bartender was fun and the other patrons were fun too. I did a few tricks and soon had a huge audience of fun people. David happened to have a deck of cards and I did a little show for some new friends from Germany and Spain. Alexander, Louis, Caroline, Evelyn, Desiree and Aitor were a fun audience and we had a great evening.

When the evening ended our bartender Aitor would not allow us to pay for all the drinks we had consumed…and we consumed plenty! I gave him a 40 Euro tip since he would not take our money for the drinks and took a couple of photos and signed a few autographs before we headed for bed.It was only 2:30 in the morning so basically the earliest night of the tour! 

Oviedo, January 29, 2008

It was a day of David being wrong!  He’s usually always right so this was fun.  It began with a search for food.  He had finally had enough of my schedule which rarely includes eating.  Today we found a Bocatta restaurant which was actually open!  I had told David it was just in the next block and he told me we had already passed the area.  Now David’s sense of direction is way better than mine … but this time I was right because as he finished his sentence we reached the next block and could see the restaurant.  As an added bonus there was a Pizza Hut … oh but it was closed.

After a filling meal of burger and fries we were off to find diesel for the van and see some sites.  We saw some spectacular monuments to people we have never heard of and a real cool fortress.  It was a citadel style fort in very good condition.  I have always been fascinated by forts having constructed many of them in my backyard as a child.Driving on the highway for about an hour David discovered a fuel station so I hopped of the highway and tried to enter the station.  This you think would be easy.  Not.  As I went to enter the station there was a round red sign with a single horizontal white line.  This is a do not enter sign.  So I did not enter and David got all upset that I didn’t go into the station.  I tried to explain he must not have seen the sign and he said whatever, ignore the sign and get fuel.  I went to the second entrance only to find it was blocked with a fence.  I turned around and reluctantly entered the wrong way only to discover David had spotted a service station that no longer operated.  No pumps, no people and no fuel.  Twice in one day he was wrong …  wait it gets better.

When we reached the city of Oviedo it took us over an hour to find our hotel.  The tour book for the lecture did not have an actual address for the hotel.  I called them from my iPhone and the kind lady said “we don’t have an address” it’s a just a big grey building in a roundabout”.  Oh we found a dozen roundabouts and hundreds of grey buildings!  When I finally had a good feeling about one of the buildings I headed straight towards it when David said he had seen a small sign with the hotel name.  So I tunred around and followed these stupid little white signs that ended up being miles from the hotel.  After another 20 minutes I decided to head back to where I had initally wanted to check out … and surpirse …  I was right … three times in a single day …does it get any better?

Yes!  The hosts for the evening Julio and Carlos put us in a magnificent hotel with free wifi!  The room is gorgeous.  In the evening the lecture was held in a church center and they had expected a dozen or so magicians.  30 magicians came and they were very enthusiastic.  In fact they gave me the longest round of applause at the end I have received on the tour.  I took pictures with just about everyone, in fact two with some. The evening ended  as usual at a restaurant!  

This restaurant was outstanding.  We saw people pouring cider by holding the glass feet from the bottle.  It is traditional as it allows the air to enter the cider which makes it taste better.  It’s also traditional to drink the entire portion offered to you …fun night!We had a huge plate of traditional dishes and then did a little magic.  I attracted a crowd, did some card stuff and stole a watch.  By the end of the evening I had met a fellow Canadian from Toronto, a director of a sporting club in the UK who gave me his card and had impressed the owners of the restaurant so much they lined up when we left to say goodbye!

 Fun night.Tomorrow I will sleep in as I have no lecture planned.  Off to the next city … 

Santander, January 28, 2008

The drive to Santander was less than spectacular.  The view was most likely amazing as we took a coastal mountain road.  The problem was the fog was so thick it was hard to even see the car in front.  Oh, when driving in Spain in excess of 150 KMHr it is always good to see the car in front of you!!!We made good time and arrived with lots of time to explore the city.  We took an hour to surf the web since the wifi was free and then headed out to have dinner. 

It was around 5:30 PM as we headed out.  To most people this would seem like a reasonable time to start looking for an early dinner.  By 6:30 we still could not find a single restaurant, cafeteria, bar or pub that was open and serving food. Apparently folks in Spain don’t eat until the middle of the night!  Normally this is cool with me but “whinning” David needed to eat.  Geez we ate the night before, what more could one want?  In the end we bought some stale doughnut shaped cookies and a bag of old salty popcorn and called it dinner.

Our host for the evening was Enrique and he was lots of fun.  His English was excellent and his humor was twisted like mine!  He expected a small crowd of perhaps a dozen magicians but 22 showed up.  They were a really quick group and asked lots of fun questions.  After lecture sales were brisk and then we were off to have some traditional food of the region.  I love olives and I can’t think of a meal here that did not include olives.  Oh wait I just did … Dinner with popcorn and cookies didn’t have any olives.

After our late night dinner we headed to a small bar where Enrique and Cesar were apparently regulars.  So regular they didn’t have to order drinks, the bartender just brought them as we sat down!  I had a couple of rum and cokes, which over here they call Cuba Libre’s. During dinner I shared several bottle of a great red wine and a shot of some cherry something or other so by the time I got back to the hotel I was feeling quite fine.  

Tonight was a highlight of Spain! To top it all off I woke up in the morning to sound of crashing waves as our hotel was right on the beach and the surf was quite huge.  I have always loved the sound of water and hope one day to live close to a river or ocean.  I guess that’s why I have always loved working on a cruise ship. 

Pamplona, January 27, 2008

Today was a fun drive of four hours.  We actually drove through the Greewich Meridan which marks the O degree of Longtitude.  Quite a unique experience.  The city of Pamplona is really pretty and the hotel was quite nice and even included a balcony.Our evening began with photos of me with a 10 month old baby named Pablo.  He was so cute and I was honored that his parents wanted me to pose for a few pictures.  After we took a few shots they told me that just a few weeks ago, Juan Tamariz, Spain’s most famous magician had also consented to a few pictures, which they quickly showed me.

    

Then it was off to the lecture.  This was also a small group of 16 very good magicians.  They listened closely and asked great questions.  I had a great time as I am starting to get my voice back and was able to share a few stories along the way.  David acted as camera man for the evening and shot video of most of the lecture.Our evening ended with small group from the society taking us out for dinner and drinks.  It was an outstanding meal and the company was superb.  I really had a great evening and they were so nice to us.  They even gave us these special red handkerchiefs that are traditionally worn during the running of the bulls.  The cool part is that the handkerchiefs are embroidered with the magic societies logo’s! 

Reus, January 26, 2008

A short drive from Barcelona that was quite exciting when I missed a turn and David and I had a short but loud discussion on who’s driving and who’s a passenger.  I had seen a “do not enter” sign on the road the GSP wanted me to enter.  So I didn’t enter and a quick discussion on driving skills began.  I took us only minutes to readjust our coordinates and get back on the road but hours before we were laughing at the situation.Reus is a small but fun town.  The hotel was beautiful and the magic club was awesome.

The evening began with a stage show by Miguel who worked to a crowed room of really happy lay people.  He had a couple of outstanding ideas and all in all a very professional show.  Although the entire show was in Spanish, David and I were laughing in all the right places.We headed up to a small room above their theatre for the lecture.  Here in Spain they don’t actually refer to them as lectures.  They call them “Confrencia’s”.  Only a dozen magicians were in attendance but they were a great group with all the right questions and were quick studies. Rafael, the President of the club, was so nice and publicly thanked me for coming to his town.  

Later we all went for drinks at a club called Bogus where the music as we entered was “abracadabra”  by Steve Miller Band … a fact that none of the Spanish magicians even noticed or understood even when David and I pointed it out! 

      

In the morning we are off to Pamplona to look for some bulls!  If I understand the folks correctly we will cross the Greenwich Meridian somewhere along the road …  I’ll let you know later ..  

Barcelona January 25, 2008

Well for the first time on the tour I got to stay in the same city and hotel for an whole day!  David and I took a walk down Rambal de Catalonya (Las Ramblas) and watched the street buskers and con artists.  It was really fun to watch the three shells game workers from Russia.  They are really very good at their craft.  I was so tempted to play just to “best them” but I’m sure I would be in a hospital right now!

In the evening I lecture for the largest club in Barcelona and it was a sold out crowd with standing room only.  They have their own amazing magic club with a card room, library, bar, social area and lecture hall!  Sure was fun meeting the magicians and having the pleasure of Jose translate a second a lecture.  He was exceptional and found the humor in my jokes and even made them work.

   

Following the lecture we were off to have dinner.  This time I tried a dish I have no idea how to even pronounce!  It was basically BBQ huge onions that you strip and dip in a spicy sauce.  Really was quite delicious!

Tomorrow we head out to Reus.  It’s a small club of a dozen guys but I expect it will be lots of fun … 

Barcelona, January 24, 2008

Our day started late as we finally slept in!  We did the four hour fairly fast with just one stop for fuel and food.  Once again we hit toll booths.  This day the cost for the four tolls was a total of 40 Euro!  Yup at todays rates thats about $60 for the privilege of driving on a road.Tonight we did a most unusual lecture.  It began with a visit to a private magic museum which was awesome.  I had the opportunity to see the first book of magic ever written in Spanish!  I saw a vast collection of antique magic and made a friend in Jose and Miguel.   

We were then off to the big lecture.  So far on the tour I have lectured first and the went for drinks and dinner.  This night we were treated to a five course dinner of traditional dishes from Catalonia.  It included several semi raw fish dishes and a tasty beef dish that had a suace to die for!After several glasses champagne and a few shots of some liqueur … it was time for me to lecture.  Oh did I mention the group was just seven magicians?  Yup.  Smallest group I have ever worked for and it was a blast.  They were quick studies and had lots of great questions.  My interpreter, Jose, was brilliant and even got the gist of the jokes and was able to translate them for me so I got laughs … unlike several other stops on the tour where they jokes fell flat. 

 Following the lecture I was presented a very special award from there club and finally crawled into bed at 2:30 am.  Good news is I have another lecture here in Barcelona for 50 magicians tonight so no driving today!!!   

Almussafes, January 23, 2008

Yesterday we traveled a short distance from Valencia to a wonderfully modern hotel where we met some more super great people.The lecture was attended by about 32 magicians at the local civic center which is also home to a huge magic festival in April.  I have been invited back for this festival and hope to be able to attend in the next few years. The afternoon was spent eating and drinking.  It was an incredible meal of meats, rice, vegetables, bread and wine.  I really wish I was feeling better.  I have a sore throat and stuffy nose.  I believe all the travel and no sleep is getting me sick. The lecture was fun and the magicians had a good time.  I did learn a new Spanish word last night which got a huge laugh.  It appear when I say the word “pen” and add my Canadian “eh” to the end …  it sounds like “pen-eh”, which to you and me would remind you of a pasta dish.  Well in Spanish this means “Dick” so I kept saying ” to distract the spectator I reach for my Dick!” which I am sure would distract just about anyone! The evening ended with dinner in a traditional Cafeteria and some great local food including fried pigs ears.  Quite tasty when you get over the fact its a pigs ear! 

 

 We left the cafeteria and went to a local bar where just  six of us played darts.  I learned another lesson here.  I suck at darts.  In both games I came in dead last.  I was however having fun watching David Wilson hurl the darts at the board.  I can’t really laugh as he was always in the top three.  Well of course he was, he has an arm long enough to reach almost half way to the board. 

  The evening ended with an attractive young lady asking me if I had plans for the rest of the evening.  Now that was flattering, but I told her I had a date with Wilson! Off to bed and onto Barcelona! 

Valencia, January 22, 2008

Last night I did a presentation for about 25 magicians in Valencia.  They had expected double but it was a holiday weekend and many of the magicians of the area had left the city.  They had their own club house and were very generous hosts.  

 

Following my presentation we went to dinner, Chinese cuisine, and onto the bar scene.  Here in Spain most of the bars are quite smoky and it is killing my throat.  I am almost completely without a voice!  Imagine that!

Today we have what has to be the shortest trip, just twenty minutes so I was hoping to sleep in and get some well deserved rest!  Not!  Woke to church bells, screaming baby and some body with a death wish hammering somewhere in the building.  Now I have a goal for the day … find the bastard and kill him!  Ok maybe not kill him, just wound him so he will warn others!  

Yesterday started off quite special when David Wilson, my travel friend and I realized we were quite low on fuel.  Of course we realized this after entering a toll highway with no service for 39 kilometers . So off I went to convince a Police office rto stop 12 lanes of traffic so I could do a U-Turn and exit the toll area.  Oh they wanted 20 Euro to exit!  Yes, I did enter but only went about 30 feet on their road!  So off I went to convince the kind toll people to let me out without payment…  I love magic and apparently they do too as it cost me nothing and it was some fun to watch 12 lines of cars staring at us as we slowly crossed the huge highway, over the meridian and out the other side.

Lunch was also a treat.  We had spent the better part of an hour trying to find our hotel in Valencia.  It turns out you can’t drive to the hotel as it is in an alley way. What a cute hotel … did I mention they are doing construction? So if you were in the third largest city in Spain where would you have lunch?  McDonalds .. good news their food tastes just as bad over here!Well I’m off to nurse my sore throat and get ready for the huge 20 minute journey to our next destination …