Blowing Out the Candles

Today is Tuesday and this blogpost marks my last day in Spain. I find myself drinking a recently brewed cup of coffee in Cafe Haskell, the home away from home that happens to remind me of being home. With quotes from Oscar Wilde about San Francisco painted on its faded blue walls and vintage photos of the Golden Gate Bridge the mental preparation for the upcoming change of scenery is progressing with calmness.

While enjoying what could be my last cup of brew in Murcia I am waiting for pictures to upload onto my computer. The photos being saved are those from a six day trip taken last week to Denmark and Sweden. Knowing that my days in Europe were reaching an end I wanted to say hello to some longtime friends who I haven't seen in quite a while.

After initially flying into Copenhagen I took a Danish version of BlaBla Car to Aarhus, the second largest city Denmark, to see Lonnie and Mia. We met traveling two years ago and the last memory  had of them was seeing them board a passenger bus going towards a destination that I cannot remember. During our two day reunion we visited the ARoS Art Museum, wandered through a sculpture exhibit along the sea, went to an Irish pub trivia, visited the Old Town Museum, and had some amazing homemade Stegt flæsk (sounds like Stick Flisk) which is mostly made with savory bacon. Seeing them again was a truly wonderful experience and I'm looking forward to our next reunion.

The visit in Aarhus was short lived and quickly I boarded a train destined to Copenhagen airport where I would go north into Sweden. After landing in the Stockholm Arlanda airport I booked a bus to Uppsala, a university city that sits within lushly green Swedish countryside. A beautiful and massive brick cathedral overlooks the seemingly tranquil student atmosphere. After a forty minute ride a familiar face was waiting for me at the bus stop. Five years ago Malin, one of my best friends, and I said goodbye to each other in an airport without knowing when we would meet again. We kept in touch and seeing her was truly a surreal experience. Currently living in Uppsala, Malin showed me around her city for a day and we also spent a full day in Stockholm, Sweden's capital. Between salsa dancing in Uppsala, ferry rides through the capital's harbor, and wandering around Stockholm's Gamla Stan, seeing her again was something that will forever keep me in a good mood. We ended our time together similar to how we said farewell five years ago, with backpacks on our shoulders and smiles on our faces. She left for her hometown to see family, and I returned to Stockholm Arlanda airport in order to bounce back down to Copenhagen. 

At eleven in the evening I found myself back in Denmark's largest city, and this time the plan was to stay here for a couple days. A second familiar face greeted me at the airport's large exit terminal. Five years ago, in the same exact hostel where I first met Malin, I met another really great person. Cille, who is from a smaller city in Denmark, is someone who I only spoke with for about an hour in person. The theme of our conversation is something that I truly don't remember but we decided to share emails and planned to keep in touch. For five years we maintained contact and now we were finally going to meet up again. We spent just one full day together with her brother Niles but it was a day that I will remember for the rest of my life. We walked through Copenhagen Park, around the original Carlsberg Brewery, wandered along the colorful Nyhan district waterfront, took a ferry tour, explored the bohemian Christiania, and climbed the tower of The Church of Our Saviour. This was all accomplished before five in the afternoon when Cille and her brother had to hop a train for their hometown. After saying farewell for the first time in five years I spent the rest of the day with Severin, Cille and Nile's older brother, where we relaxed and had pizza while watching some movies. The next morning I left Copenhagen via plane and was greeted by the unforgettable high temperatures of Murcia. 

Sitting here in Cafe Haskell there is steaming cup of emotions swirling in front of me, more intense than the nearly pitch black espresso and water resting next to my computer. I feel completely thankful to have had the opportunity to see Lonnie, Mia, Malin, Cille, Niles, and Severin. Encounters like these really make me believe that life is a gift and I feel grateful to have an experience like this. This was special and I know that the next time we all meet again will be memorable as well. 

The time for reminiscing on the previous week will have to be short lived because once I finish my coffee a lot of packing will have to take place. With only a handful of hours remaining in Spain I still haven't done laundry nor have I packed my bag.

To be honest I'm not sure how it feels to be leaving Murcia. I'm ready to see family and friends from home again, ready to eat Mexican food, ready to watch baseball games and ready to hopefully get a job for the summer. I'm ready to be a more present son and better friend to the people I grew up with again. However despite all the "readiness" there is a great deal of sadness. This small, almost completely overlooked Spanish city is now a home rather than travel destination and to walk away leaves a sour taste in my mouth, possibly influenced by the sugarless coffee now in my hand.

Thanks to reunions of last week I know deep down that the friendships made here in Spain will not be forgotten. We will see each other again, get tapas in a plaza somewhere, and share more memories somewhere in life. 

There is one sip left in my drink, the equivalent of few more moments of candlelight here in Murcia before this life chapter becomes darkened by period marks and departing flights. 

Take good care of yourself Murcia, thank you for accepting me, for sharing your culture, and for all of the wonderful memories. I love you.

Blowing out the candle I can hear winds coming up from the Sahara as they flow nothing but fiery invisible waves through the city streets.  

The brightness of the sun blinds me for a quick moment as I send a silent step outside the cafe. The winds are calling. 

They say it's time to go home.