Lloret at dusk... My Mother's womb exposed

TARANTOS and other Vampire Delights

It was all set, and since the night before! Although Laura couldn't remember a single thing (sangria does wonders to her brain!)

When I got home that afternoon, she still was in bed! Didn't go to work nor did anything worthy, just lied flat on her stomach trying to remember her own name!

- Do you already know what are you gonna wear tonight?... Silence and a frown of confusion in her face, she asked - What are you talking about?... Really! I mean, some people should never touch the juice! Anyway, I had to go over the whole thing with her, and it was her boyfriend's invitation for crying out loud! He'd shown up at the restaurant while we were both having dinner, and after talking a little bit of this and that... he invited us to go see the best flamenco show in town.

It was 6:30pm and he was picking us up at 9pm... We were already late, as usual. Manolo and Ju called and invited themselves... but it's ok, they're family. Besides, Jose didn't mind at all...

We were ready at 9:30pm.

When we got to Tarantos in Plaza Real, the extra half an hour we took to be ready caught up with us, and we were forced to stand on line to get in... No need to tell that all the seats and tables were already taken! We placed ourselves standing up (duh!) right at the bar, which happens to have the best view on this rather minuscule establishment. The good thing about it: the drinks didn't take long to be served, and the show was as announced... totally worth it!



Inaki Marquez and his full throttled performance

Drinking Cava at Tarantos


Pirata the 'cantaor' giving a masterful performance


La bailaora Olga Llorente... en plena faena!

The whole artistic staff of Tarantos


Tarantos' new generation

As the show was over, we all headed towards Irati a Bask tavern nearby, where theatrics seemed to have followed us. Cause Manolo demonstrated his not too shabby skills pouring the wine 'bask style'. We also tried the different 'montaditos'. These are little bites made with a variety of ingredients and combinations, but always mounted on a small slice of bread and pinned in place with a toothpick... in the end they count the amount of toothpicks in your plate, and you pay accordingly... So please, don't start chewing the little wooden sticks! It's really hard to make mashed wood accountable for anything!

And that's the way baby! BTW, you're supposed to drink it while still cloudy

Tasting the 'montaditos
Saving the toothpicks!

When we left Irati we were still hungry, but some other kind of hunger... We wanted to experience the night and all it could offer to us. So much to see and do, and so little time to do it!

The entrance to the 'Barcelona Pipa Club'
The porter

Jose, who's got years of experience in that field... suggested we first go to the 'Barcelona Pipa Club'... a private club located on a second floor in a residential building, also in Plaza Real. We rang, dunno what Jose mumbled to the intercom but the door started buzzing open... it was kinda wicked! The narrow and dark flies of stairs (no elevator) at some point going in opposite directions like in 'Labyrinth', the movie... it was supposed to be on a first floor, but somehow it felt like a third! We were greeted at the door by a tall dark porter, with headphones secret service style!... The place is awesome! It is an old apartment, high molded ceilings, connecting doors that take you from one themed room to the next. Fireplaces, comfy antique sofas and overstuffed arm chairs. Velvet curtains and dim light everywhere... Oh, and an extensive pipe collection!... Kinda creepy but nevertheless, the perfect hideaway for a vampire like me!

A wall dedicated to the most famous of all pipe holders... Elementary, my dear Watson!Laughing at Jose's lame jokes!
The billiard room

We ordered drinks at the small but very well stocked bar, and sat for a while listening to Jose's lame jokes... we had a laugh anyway! After the second round we were ready to leave, the place was almost empty and we were craving for action! It was obvious this was Jose's turf, so he lead the way right across the 'plaza' and downstairs to Sidecar.


We parked there for about an hour, we drank some more and danced the liquor away! After which Manolo and Jose debated on whether go to a disco in Blanes, or stay in the city and go someplace else... The city won! Although the place they chose wasn't my cup of tea, there wasn't much I could do about it... They were driving! So off we went to Trauma! I heard there is only one other place with even more seniors than this one! It's called Tango and not too long ago a seventy something died right there while dancing!!! They should ban such places, really!

Trauma... and what a trauma! There must be quite a few thousand years here!We made our own party!
At least we had the bartenders amused... We probably were the only ones alive in the night of the living dead! lol
Talk to the hand!
Taking a break from dancing

It was a really fun night... up until Jose got stopped by the police for a bullshit infraction... but, when they asked him to blow he gave a .49 of alcohol (the limit is .25!) They gave him another 10 minutes before performing the second blow test, but it was in vain! He looked fine to me, and he was really calm about the whole thing, but the 'mossos d'esquadra' wouldn't let him off the hook! They let him drive and escorted us to a nearby hotel where to call a cab, placed a kinda trap looking lock on one of the front wheels and took off.

Taking the blow!

There was no kitchen open, nor room service and we all were starving! It was almost morning and wanted breakfast! So Jose called a cab (a very Catalan cab driver with no manners!) we made a pit stop at an Open Cor (like a 7-eleven) bought eggs, cheese and bread, and made it for Jose's humble palace where he cooked breaky for us... right after he had to break-in his own house cause he forgot the keys inside the trapped-locked car! But that's another story.

Jose's humble palace... and you can see him in the back cooking us breakfast.