Spaniards at an anti-violence concert performed by Israeli, Arab and Spanish Musicians

Letter to Cornell: A Cry for Peace

Que pasa, mi amigo?

Hola, Cornell:

I'm staying at the Plaza Mayor, a group of flats in the heart of Madrid. The flats are laid out in a famous, well-known and well-used square.

This square has been the happening spot for Spain for years. Everything from bull fights, to crowning of kings, to burning of so-called witches, to beheadings-- it all happened here. But today's square is different. Last night, from my balcony, I saw throngs of Spaniards, perhaps 10,000, gather to hear a classical concert performed by Israelis, Arab and Spanish musicians perform. They billed it as "A Concert Against Violence." They played with a discipline and a passion the likes of which i've never heard. I don't know much about classical music, but I heard lots of Beethoven, Mozart and Vivaldi, I think. But every symphony, every movement, was played so deeply and with such passion that it could not help but go through any one listening.

When the concert was over, the people stayed. They clapped. They chanted. They screamed. They whistled. And both men and women sobbed, wiping tears from their cheeks between claps, whistles and chants.

With the bombings in their own homeland fresh on their mind, and aware of a very violent world in the Middle East, the people Madrid literally cried for peace.

I did too.

Love you, brother. Mac

Communication 101 at Liana Chocolateria

Friday, August 11, 2006

I had a late breakfast (12 noon) at Lian Chocolateria, a small cafe on a narrow street, just off Plaza Mayor. You can eat on the patio outside or on a stool inside the bar.

I sat on a stool inside and tried to order steak well done, scrambed eggs and coffee in espanol; and the owner tried to repeat my order in ingles. But he didn't understand what scramble meant, and I couldn't explain it. It was a level of communication that was absolutely pathetic. At some point, all four patrons sitting inside and the owner's assistant began to smile broadly. How could anyone blame them? It was a skit worthy of Saturday Night Live-- The old Saturday Night Live with John Belushi and Dan Akrowd. After a while,the owner and I began to laugh at the same time. The four customers fell in behind us. We were all laughing at this very poor attempt at communication between a Spanish and US citizen.

Finally understooding "well done" (with the help of a customer), the owned said in jest, "Habla espanol like Mr. Bush." I said, "You speak ingles like Mr. Bush too!"
And we both began laughing again at the same time!

The customers were still smiling broadly as we shook hands, with me saying "Muchas gracias" and him saying "Gracias por su visita."

Mac

Liana Chocolateria

Musician playing outside of cafe in Madrid

"Miles to Go Before I Sleep:

http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/News/MainSection.asp?sID=19
An excerpt from Mac's book, "Miles to Go Before I Sleep: Lessons in Living with Cancer Today," was published in The Spokesman-Recorder, an African American weekly in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. To read the excerpt, copy the link above.

I'm in Madrid, Spain!

I got here about 3:00 p.m. yesterday, Wednesday afternoon. It wad 90 degrees warm but not humid. I'm staying at the Plaza Mayor, a beautiful, historic building once used by royalty.

It's so beautiful here! The mixture of old, well-kept,buildings amid new office buildings. Narrow streets with smells of Spanish omelets cooked and Sangria drank.

Musicians playing and singing for outside cafe patrons. Smiling faces. Festive atmosphere with bright, arresting colors.

Women walking the streets alone at night, apparently unafraid. Flamengo dancing too sensual to describe. Smiling people treating me like everyone else, kind and helpful, with an eye toward my wallet filled with euros.

I think i'm going to like this place. Mac