Paul Davis in Barcelona, Part 4

No sooner on the street the next morning,
someone offered hashish for a price. Advised
to be wiser than their age and desires,   
"no thanks" was their prudent reply.
After a jaunt through the great cemetery
of Barcelona with its white vaults piled high
like apartment buildings shining in the
bright sun, shoeshine boys hustled them
into a foyer off the Ramblas, tapping cleats
on desert boots without permission, grabbing
more pesetas than the job was worth.

There’s nothing like being taken for a fool
in a foreign city to make a day long recalled; 
another lesson learned for our young
                innocents abroad.                        
Egos and wallets bashed about, our pilgrims
would’ve headed for what served as home,
save for the appearance of another American
son; call him “Esquire,” for his name is
                long forgotten.
Staying at the Francia, a few years older,
and free to travel Europe on his father’s money,
he was like an angel sent from heaven, bringing
renewed incentive and cash to our wary travelers.

Reviews

[CD Campbell]

This is good. Not fun to be taken advantage of, for sure. So once in a lifetime one can honestly say thanks to the divine for the rich. Think I'm going to continue this ride along.

[Dave]

Seems they were very fortunate in their choices and the friends they acquired along the way.

Take care - Dave

[barleygirl]

No wonder you're telling this story! Great capture of pertinent details! Love your developments. It's fun how, back in the day, wandering types ran into other wandering types & formed traveling units! *wink! wink!* Fondly, Margie

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we can be so duped in a foreign country...my parents lived in Trinidad...so i relate to this...they acted like they loved Americans, Brits, and Scots...but when the back was turn...they were in our pockets.
No angels there...but still such an interesting country.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah you rotter! You give us a tantalising short extract of this continuing saga, introduce a most interesting character then roll the credits! Still an interesting read sir.