So as it happened I mentally checked away from my “Inconsistent Baltic Friend“, forgetting about the hours of trip planning online and “trip planning” in Victoria’s Secret, and fell into the arms of this young and loving, even if only for one night “Erasmus” student, who when bumping into him about a week later at a Bar Foc while watching the epic Barcelona vs Real Madrid football game, guy friends of mine joked that he reminded them of the actor from the film “300”.  Having fallen asleep during the first 20 minutes of that film, I only remember Gerard Butler being the star, but personally see no resemblance…I guess it was one of the other characters.  Note to self, download “300” for my next plane flight, and don’t drink wine to induce sleeping.

Not to get too caught up in the theme of “300”, as those kinds of gory action flicks never keep my attention, all the while, my mind was drifting towards another theme or another interest of sorts.  This was one who had been slow and steady since meeting as friends over a year ago, the initial attraction clearly noted on his behalf, as Italians do, yet myself, never precisely finding the right time or the right balance of other factors for me to make that transition from friend to more.

Well, somehow, as the stars aligned and after spending a bit more time together, dinners together at Restaurante La Locanda and afternoons to evenings on the beach at Club Natacio Barcelona, that voice of reason suggesting against testing the waters with a friend so vested, seemed to fade away.   It was replaced by an almost reassuring sense that I’m doing the right thing.

I would say that it was clearly 100% the right decision, if there didn’t exist one tiny curiosity in my mind for someone else who crossed my path numerous times in this additional week stay in Barcelona.  Someone who I found to share so many similar interests with me than what were found in previous meetings, where I never would never have know before.  Anyways, as I’ve said, a curiosity has been sparked, yet, I’m never the aggressor, so no moves were made and we’ll probably remain just as friends.

What can be said is that it was 100% the right decision to stay in Barcelona for this extra time, not take the flight over to Slovenia and Croatia, but explore a bit more of the town and it’s inhabitants that I already knew.

By closing one door, many options became open to me, whether newly presented or my mind deciding that it’s finally something that I know is right to pursue.  For that kind of clarity, sometimes you just need to follow your heart, even if it means getting bruised from time to time.