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If you have traveled to many places, I think you'd agree that it is often the people you met that give you a lasting impression of a particular place.  Speaking of Madrid, two encounters I had over there vividly come back.

In a restaurant, a young (and not so bad-looking) man spoke to me from behind in a language I didn't understand.  I turned around and politely said, sorry, I don't speak your language.  Then I turned back and, a surprise, the small bag I had next to me was gone.  The man's buddy snatched it and together they ran away.  Luckily, the loss was very minimal but it took me a day to get over the shock.

On another trip to Madrid, I was on a train and realized that I had lost my wallet with some money, credit cards and other important things in it.  I had no idea if I had accidentally dropped it somewhere or, again, if I was a victim of a very tricky pickpocket.  Some of the passengers were very sympathetic and helped me look for it but to no avail.  It took me days to patch up the damage... but several months later, something quite incredible happened.  I received a letter from the Japanese Embassy in Madrid, saying they had my wallet (with everything in it).  Someone apparently had reported it to the local police.

There are all kinds of people to make up the world.  And Madrid is one of the places that remind me of that in a quite intense way.


Madrid, Spain III

A larger image of this painting is available on request.
Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 11.5 x 8.25 inches (29 x 21 cm)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Please send me an email for more information.