Blog Post 15.
Just me for dinner, thanks!
In Granada, Spain- the capital of young couples in love by my initial reckoning- I find myself searching for dinner on a solo trip.
Though this can be uncomfortable at times, especially in a place where food is so social, it provides ample opportunity for a serial people-watcher like myself to be entertained.
Young happy couples live in bubbles, completely absorbed in their shared worlds. Almost blindly unaware that, three tables over, I am watching them; I am fabricating a backstory about their love and their future. Little do they know that theirs are epic romantic tales or the most sorrowful of tragedies. Usually a bit of both (I like to be realistic).
Waiters become friends on solo trips. As I am not one to walk into a bar alone for social interaction, I have to take it where I can find it. Tonight mine complimented my Spanish after I definitely said something wrong (a nuance- I said bien when I should have said buena [one of those errors I became aware of as it crossed my lips]). It triggered him to ask where I am from and, apparently, if confusing an adverb and an adjective is the only issue an estadounidense has with her Spanish, she’s doing alright.
I shamelessly photographed my meal, took my time eating, sipping, reading about a conversation between Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles (!!!!), and chatting with the staff. As I left, my waiter-turned-dinnertime-bestie said, “Hasta luego, ¡nos vemos en los Estados Unidos!” (Goodbye, see you in the US!). We laughed and I responded, “¡Ojalá! Muchas gracias, ¡ciao!” (I hope so! Thanks so much, bye!). The thing is that, the world is so small anymore, I wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up at True Food Kitchen in Denver during my shift and I showed him to a table. I left feeling good, confident. Then I walked two blocks in the wrong direction (that’s what a confidence high will do to you if you’re not careful).
I think I’m really going to enjoy this weekend. Granada has a very special energy. And a solo trip, for someone who, by definition, is an extrovert (I need people to refuel), is a welcomed little challenge.
I’ll let you know when I start talking to myself in public.
Kulani Sol 