giovedì 30 aprile 2020

Italy // Capalbio - How I met Niki, part I

April 1955 - Barcelona, platform no. 23

The train was early that day. For sure not me being late ;) I jumped on it..just in good time..so in time that my luggage got stuck halfway through the train door.

Funny.

I was sitting on the floor..struggling with my bag and my thoughts... "my life is quite often stuck halfway through something..cannot explain how" - I smiled.

I stopped pulling and in that moment - with my back leaning on the toilet door - I decided just to enjoy watching my bag halfway through. Inhaling something new.

Exciting.

In that very moment the toilet door opened. My back was now down to the floor...

A female figure came out with short-fringe hair. Graceful manners. She helped me to stand up and called the train conductor to get my bag unstuck and she walked away.

Hypnotic.

I finally took my stuff and and got to my seat. The woman I met before was sitting right at the window of my compartment. She was reading some international newspapers and out of a sudden she started saying loudly:

"Come early tomorrow, for we shall do very beautiful things". She looked at me.

"Pardon", I whispered.

She continued. "Gaudì said that in one of his last days just outside the Sagrada Familia". She smoked.

Majestic.

I couldn't help watching her. She looked like lost in her thoughts...yet talkative. "A fatal tram accident killed him... I often wonder about life, creative intelligence, sensitivity, coincidences, moments of impact..", she continuted. "As our meeting outside the toilet...a few moments ago...you know.. I can see people", and still..

"Do you know Parc Güell?". I nodded. 
"I want to build something like that one day". 

Next stop Marbella. Next stop Marbella. [voice-over]

She threw her cigarette, took her bag and left the compartment. My eyes followed her silently from the window. She suddenly came back and said: "Niki, Niki de Saint Phalle, nice to meet you. Please... come early tomorrow, for we shall do very beautiful things..". 

She turned her back and left. 

[end of part I, to be continued]

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Italy // Capalbio - How Niki remained, Part 3

May 2002 - La Jolla (California), platform no. 21  I hate wearing black on rainbow days.  I was standing at the traffic light...waiting. My ...