Memory from a trip
The first memory that I have from my trip to Spain is a bus. And a girl with a guitar that I met there.
After being invited for years I had finally decided to visit Laura, a friend of mine from Burgos that I’d met during her Erasmus in Italy.
It was a warm summer evening when I arrived at Madrid airport. There was a bit of time before catching my bus to reach Burgos. So, after asking from which place the bus would leave, I enjoyed a coffee very slowly, reading a couple of Federico García Lorca’s poems while drinking. My way of saying to myself “Welcome to Spain”.
I had a small backpack, with some clothes and some souvenirs from Milan. I’d also brought a pillow with me, for taking comfortable naps.
Besides myself, only a family was taking the bus. To be honest, I’d hoped to find some young backpackers. Just to have a chat with them. Asking for some suggestions about places to visit and pubs to have a bit of fun. When it came, the family sat at the front, while I opted to go to the back. Without anyone to have a conversation, I pulled out my pillow, planning to spend my trip sleeping. I put it under my head, listening to a bit of music for relaxation.
The bus was going to leave. His motor sounded like a lullaby. Everything was ready for my long trip to dreamland.
“Please stop! I don’t wanna spend the night at the airport!”
Someone screamed. The bus stopped and opened the doors. It was a girl. Out of breath. She had a huge trolley and a guitar case. After showing her ticket to the bus driver she started looking at something on the bus. Carrying all of her stuff, she started to walk toward me. After leaving her luggage close to my spot, she caught her breath and she stared at me.
“Are you Paolo?”
I was a bit surprised that she knew my name.
“Yes, I am. How do you know my name?”
“Laura told me that you should have arrived in Madrid this evening, like me. I’m Paula. Nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you too! Were you also flying from Milan?”
“Hmmm… No. From Mexico.”
“Mexico?”
I was totally surprised by her answer. That trip to Spain was a big adventure for me. While being in Mexico sounded to her like something not so exceptional. Like going to a park with friends. A park on the other side of the world.
“Mexico? Really? How did you end up there?”
“Oh, it’s a long story. But everything started on a bus, like this.”
She drank a bit of water and she pulled out her guitar from the cover, pointing out with her finger a sticker on it.
“This is the sticker of the hostel in which I have played in Guadalajara during the last few weeks. The owner recognised me on a bus, after seeing me playing in a festival a few days before. We started to talk, and he’d asked me if I was interested in playing at his hostel.”
“And did you immediately accept his proposal?”
She started to laugh very loudly.
“No! I’m crazy. But not so much. I talked with him for several weeks. Asking for some assurance before going there.”
“Did you like Mexico?”
“It was cool! I loved that place, I met awesome people there. I really loved seeing people singing and dancing while I was playing. Some backpackers brought their instruments with them and we organised some jam sessions. Playing with strangers that love music and travel was something that I loved, even if they weren’t always great musicians. But the most important thing is the spirit.”
She made a huge smile that I’m not able to forget. Listening to her you could feel how much she loved music and involving people.
We talked together until Burgos. Sharing crazy facts from Mexico and showing me some videos of her performances at the hostel. And reminding each other of how lucky we were to be friends with Laura. Even if Paula and I looked like we were from two different worlds (I was very shy and introverted, she was very exuberant and extroverted), both of us had created a strong connection with Laura. She was always there for us, listening to and giving us comfort in our bad days and making us laugh in our good ones.
When the bus arrived Laura was there, waiting for us. Almost crying, ready to run to us and give us a strong hug. The moment I and Paula were waiting for since we had started our trips…
