Fidel’s in Barcelona

Before I headed out on the U2 tour, I was trying to figure out some fun activity that I could repeat in each stop along the road. It wasn’t until I was actually on the trip that I settled on what I wanted to do: have a meal with at least one local at a restaurant of their choosing. I settled on this activity after an interesting evening with a flamboyant cast of characters at Fidel’s sandwich shop in the El Raval area of Barcelona.

I had met one of the group working on the show, and she invited me to get a taste of Barcelona in an evening out with her group of friends. The varied and humorous cast shone through the language barrier. There was the large jovial story teller who wore his double chin like a crown (right in the picture). The quick witted joker who compensated for his small stature by working out a bit too much. The dark haired bearded IT expert. The shy girl, who was clearly sweet, but was slow to engage in the conversation (center). The good looking couple who laughed loud, but made few jokes of their own (she’s left in the picture – the one who invited me to come along). And finally the power blond who was building a successful career in business.

The evening was a study in group dynamics and how much fun people can have together just sharing sandwiches for an hour. There was a magnetism in the group dynamic that had brought them together, and made me yearn to better understand the conversation. If I ever write a novel, some of the characters present at the table are sure to make an appearance in some manifestation or another.