Fancy feet from Sarah Thomas on Vimeo.
Street entertainment is abundant in Spain and I can’t afford to empty my pockets for every performer I pass. So I have devised a loose rubric: plainly, if a spectacle puts a smile on my face, I dig around for some change to drop in the hat.
Las Ramblas is a wide, pedestrian walkway that runs from the center of Barcelona to the sea. I was making my way through the flower stands and crowds of people when I came upon this chipper, gray-haired pair boogying with all they had. The man was sharp and experienced and his partner was keeping up with all her might. At first I thought their senior status was the remarkable thing – no rocking chairs for these two! But now that I think about it, as much as age can limit, maybe it also liberates. There may come a point where you dance in the street when you feel like it; good riddance to inhibitions.
Needless to say, this display conjured a few coins from the depths of my purse.
p.s. Notice that at the end of the song, the two go their separate ways. I think they were strangers to one another!
Wow! -gives my own applause. You seem to be finding every aspect of the life over there, Sarah! It must be amazing to see in person. I am glad you are enjoying the fun and spontaneity of Spanish culture, and life in general =)
Comment by Chris — March 4, 2010 @ 9:28 pm
I am LOVING reading your posts these days. Such wonderful, wonderful flashbacks, and I love re-hearing your thoughts on it all. love you and miss you, pretty
Comment by elizabeth — March 4, 2010 @ 9:56 pm
you love street performers….i think you were a street performer in a previous live and thus you feel a strong connection to them. just a theory.
LOVE YOU (even more than you love street performers)!
Comment by rome — March 5, 2010 @ 4:02 am
p.s. by “live”, you know i mean “life”
Comment by rome — March 5, 2010 @ 4:02 am
Wowww how awesome!! Good for them. I thought the same thing about just not caring and dancing alone in the street (with a stranger). That grandma’s shuffle made me smile. Acutally, that whole thing made me smile. XOOOXO
Comment by JACK — March 5, 2010 @ 9:18 pm
ohmygoodness i can only hope that when i have grey hair and wair stockings, i can shake my hips like that. absolutely darling mi amor!
Comment by Emily — March 8, 2010 @ 8:19 am
you’ll never guess who i just met…
Comment by elizabeth — March 10, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
This is incredible.. what a great video and adorable sight to see. Thanks for putting a smile on my face with this one, Sarah!
Comment by Rachel Heydemann — March 18, 2010 @ 9:25 am
“There may come a point where you dance in the street when you feel like it; good riddance to inhibitions.” next time i say you go into the street and dance…take a video, i would love to see that.
Anyways I hope your having a great time.
Comment by Rocky Patel — March 25, 2010 @ 7:34 am
You’re right, Sarah. With age comes wisdom and with wisdom comes more courage and a greater willingness to take risks without caring what others think.
I LOVE this video. It makes me smile every time I see the lovely lady doing her best to keep up with her partner for the moment. Ahhh, so great!
xo
Comment by Mama — April 10, 2010 @ 1:51 pm