Collections from Spain and Portugal

Above and below: Shots taken through the window from inside the bus. Kind of alright, don’t you agree?

My earliest childhood memory is high school.

Back then, I have many things: a Y-brand folk guitar and a N-brand camera from my dead uncle. A VHS tape of ‘The Labyrinth’. Three breakdance MTV videos dubbed from TV. A pair of Reebok sneakers. Bodybuilding magazines of Lou Ferrigno’s workout. And several unfinished sketch pads.

I also owned compilation albums of hip bands and singers on cassettes, like; Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Sheila E, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.

And there were also Frankie Goes To Hollywood, REO Speedwagon, Spandau Ballet, Thompson Twins; and then some more.

See all the things that I have in the 80’s?

I traveled to Spain and Portugal in the autumn of 2011; October 8 to 21. Those two weeks zipped by me with amazing swiftness.

I have many things from that trip: a sore wrist from carrying my camera. About 700 photographs. Convinced myself to take photos through the window from the tour bus—which I totally disfavor; which I think turned out pretty well.

Authentic tapas from Las Cuevas del Duque in Madrid. Five Chinese meals too many. Cold roast chicken from El Corte Ingles that my stomach didn’t agree. And a case of jet lag when I came home.

I have made some acquaintances who are now my Facebook friends. And I have learned to speak four Spanish words: salida (exit), servicios (toilet), ola (hello), and mucho gracias (thank you very much).

I have also ridiculed the 80’s compilation CD looping throughout the entire time in our tour bus. “Pffft. They must have left that CD in the player since 30 years ago.” I sneered.

I have fond memories of her cloudless cobalt sky. The cathedrals. The churches. The graffiti; and not sounding provincial, they were awesome!

And I have taken in that unusually cold morning air on the fourth day heading to Portugal from Spain.

Our bus ride started out at seven in the morning and would arrive in time for lunch. But the five-hour journey was just too long for everyone to keep staying enthusiastic, to keep staying awake. Then, someone started dozing off. And I started dozing off.

Gradually, we were all falling asleep to REO Speedwagon’s ‘Take It On The Run’ playing softly in the background.

(Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon can be heard from my Music BOX.)