Here’s What I Think…

So I’m this late night establishment in Madrid aptly named Rick’s Bar, hobnobbing with a few of the locals as well as a foreign office worker from the US State Department, it’s late, going on 3 AM, my eyelids are a bit droopy, and I was just surprised by a Mexican Mariachi guitar player named Mario who I met at this same watering hole two years ago.  He’s still wearing his outfit, fresh from work, but I remember it being red.  This one is white, so I compliment him on his new suit.  I’m in the middle of commenting on what a small world it is when suddenly I hear this booming voice behind me bellow, “You’re from LA!”  I turn around, and there standing in front of me is a handsome young blonde man, Spanish, with a big smile on his face and his arms outstretched.  I had no idea who it was.  “You go to Palermo all the time!”  Palermo is an Italian restaurant in Los Feliz, just a quick ten minute drive from my house in Beachwood Canyon, and a staple of my diet.  I’m there at least once a week.  Still, I was drawing a blank.  “I’m Dylan!  I used to be a waiter there!  I’d see you all the time!”  “Dylan!  Of course!” I explained as I pumped his hand.  I still had no idea who he was.  To make this small world story even smaller, he went on to tell me he moved back to Spain a few years ago, but does not live in Madrid.  He lives in Barcelona and was just up here on business, and was now out with a few of his colleagues.  At that point he introduced me to them all, and they couldn’t have been nicer.  I immediately sent a text to my pal Rob and an e-mail to my pal Mike, both of whom I dine with at Palermo frequently to see if either one could remember Dylan.  He seemed so pleased to see me, so gracious, I just went along with it.  I’m sure I will remember him eventually.  It will probably just take a little while to jog my memory since the biggest selling point at Palermo is their cheap wine that always makes my head fuzzy.  Could this world be any smaller? I have just arrived in Sevilla, and I’m struck by its beauty, a mix of Middle Eastern and Spanish influence.  I’m going to do a complete walking tour tomorrow, but now I am going to have a little siesta before venturing out to check out this vibrant city’s nightlife.