Meeting the Locals

I have been here for about five days now and i have met two locals: Christian and Julian. Both experiences were unique and interesting. Meeting Christian was amazing. He was such a nice and genuine guy. He works in a local clothing shop off one of the major streets in Barcelona. He was so inviting when i met him. He seemed very interested in our story and wanted to know more about me and my friend. We talked comfortably for a bit before he had to turn his attention to his other customers. He encouraged us to come back and visit him and we will take him up on his word for sure.
Meeting Julian was a completely different experience than meeting Christian.
Julian was a much MUCH older gentleman. It was very strange. I was waiting for my friend right outside the Metro station when this man just walks by and begins staring at me. By now i am used to the staring here in Barcelona, but this man stared for a second to long. Just as he was about to pass me by he stopped, stepped back and approached me. He started off by saying i was very beautiful. He then went on to repeat it a couple times after that. I was not sure what this man wanted so i got a little uncomfortable. When my friend arrived he still stayed with us for a while. It was really awkward. He ended up giving me a small gift that he had made himself. He said it was special because he only gave those to people he thought were good enough to receive it. He was a bit creepy but he ended being an okay man.
Its strange how these things happen. Its always the people you least expect to approach you and in the place and time you are not expecting it that these thing occur. Why do they happen? What difference do they make? I am not sure but I am pretty sure that each one of those moments sticks with you in a very special way. I know i will probably never run into Christian or Julian again but meeting them was a small experience from this country i will take with me.

This is the small gift Julian gave me, he said it was hand made.

-EA