The Third - No. 034

Six bags, a must do list, and a poem.

I’m back in the US, babes! Cue the applause! Cue the cheers! Cue the tears! Cue the sobs! I’m feeling 100% indifferent to the fact that I’m here and not…over there. Am I at peace with my move? Have I already completed the five stages of grief? Or am I still in the throes of mid-move anxiety? Who knows! Probably a therapist could clue me in. For a trip that could have posed a million obstacles, everything went surprisingly smoothly. I had a window seat and also an empty seat next to me. (Shoutout to the priest who moved away from me.) I was able to watch two garbage plane movies. (The newest Jurassic World and Fantastic Beasts movies.) Clearing passport and border controls was a breeze. (Thanks to the god of timing.) And now I’m once again in DC being an absolute nuisance to reader, co-host, and dear friend, Alyson. (Hi!) Today, I’m talking about my (insane) amount of luggage, a round up of pre-departure activities, and an AI-generated poem. 

Madrizzzzz, 2016-2022.

At first, I started with two checked bags. That quickly jumped to four checked bags. Then a last minute fifth bag was added. When I got to the airport, they had to check my carry-on which brought my total up to six. Six checked bags and one stuffed backpack. Seven years of my life precariously packed. Seven years of my life schlepped down four flights of stairs (while an elevator was being built, like are you kidding me). Seven years shoved in an Uber, weighed, tagged, checked, and out of my hands. 

A mid-madness shot.

Somehow they all made it from Madrid to DC. Seems like divine intervention, but like a half-assed intervention. Sure, everything made it, but they really just tossed the shit out of these bags. While playing Tetris with a cart and my suitcases at baggage claim, I took quick mental notes on the states of my six companions. One luggage tag hanging on for dear life. One bag looks like it got dragged down the tarmac…by the plane. A rubber bumper on one bag just completely missing. And my poor carry-on, packed with a few valuables that were supposed to be carried by yours truly. Somehow only my precious Muji glass teapot didn’t make it. It’s by no means the end of the world, but RIP to a real one. None of the three cameras broke and an ABBA vinyl arrived intact. All in all a success! Now just to get them from DC to Pittsburgh to finally unpack and unburden myself from them. I never want to travel with this many suitcases ever again. EVER.

My last week in Madrid was the most unrealistic week in Madrid. And as friend-of-the-newsletter Natalie said to me, “that’s how it should be.” She’s right, people! The last week before a big move should be an absolute nightmare of social activities, bucket list items, and chores. I’ve compiled a list of everything I did in my last week. Consider it an unorthodox “things to do” in Madrid list.

• Have lunch at Restaurante Xiongzai 

• Visit the Prado museum

• Watch a football match at your favourite local bar

• Walk Madrid Río from the Matadero to Príncipe Pío 

• Stroll through Campo del Moro

• Order a menú del día literally anywhere

• Grab dinner at La Polonesa

• Brunch with a view at Only You Hotel Atocha

• Get a bocadillo de calamares for take away in Plaza Mayor

• Ride on the top and in the very front row of the Naviluz  

• Eat a few churros with hot chocolate at San Ginés

Like I said up top, I’m not really sure how I feel about going through this move. So after a week of everyone using that Lensa app for their AI avatars, I’ve turned to AI for a different purpose. If I can’t convey my feelings about moving, maybe AI can. Here I present to you all an AI-generated poem titled “A Man.” (The title is bleak.) (Also, not really sure what this means.) (Like, I do not understand poetry.)

Meandering thoughts

A conclusive man returns

despite the ocean

• This article about the differences between osterie, trattorie, and ristoranti.

• This new Yelle and Kalika song that I have been listening to non-stop since it came out.

• This vegan dill dressing from Trader Joe’s.

• This tiktok that perfectly encapsulates my 20s.

• This tiktok that perfectly encapsulates what I want my 60s to look like.

• The Popjustice substack.

• This ABBA cover by Clara Luciani that makes me want to cry.

• This AR/CO song.

• This brown sugar oat creamer from Trader Joe’s.

• This NYT article about cleaning the David.

• This ABBA x French State Visit tweet.

• This wild video of Orietta Berti opening an Elettra Lamborghini advent calendar.

• This Tananai song and this Tananai song.

• This new Troye Sivan x PNAU song.