We hosted Marti's party at a restaurant where the Barcelona Boys had taken me on a previous visit:
El Asador de Aranda. Our BCN-based friend Philos had graciously made all the arrangements. Marti & I
went by the day before, checked out the private dining room & gave the manager a final headcount.



At the bar: our friends César, editor of Popular 1 rock magazine (for whom I occasionally write),
comedienne Rachel, his American fiancée, Carmen & Antonio.



Francisco & Dani. Marti & Philos. Miguel & Arnau. Barcelona Boys in da house!



One of the Cochinillos of Honor. Suckling pig & baby lamb roasted in a special earthenware oven
are the specialties of the house here. Marti was clearly in hog heaven.



We drank lots of wine & dined on picadillo, Iberian ham, roasted red peppers, morcilla
& chorizo sausages, revuelto, asparagus, salad & the aforementioned piggies & lamb.
Everything was scrumptious . . . especially las mujeres.



Francisco liked it!



Sarai & a momentarily pensive Sergio. Mamacita Carmen with César, one of her adopted hijos.



In the words of the legendary Joe "King" Carrasco:
"Hey Marti, Let's Party!"



At one point in the evening Rachel & I crashed the raucous fiesta in the adjoining private
dining room. A couple of gypsy women were celebrating their 18th birthdays with their gal pals.
We started by passing out handbills for Rachel's Monday night gigs . . .



. . . but before long all the birthday gals were shakin' it down!



Marti's birthday cake was a big rectangular millefeuille . . .
served with Spanish digestifs & Cava sparkling wine.



The cake was followed by Marti's opening of her birthday presents.
The most spectacular was an entire Jabugo pata negra ham,
a joint gift from Carmen, Antonio & a few of the Barcelona Boys.



Marti was thrilled with a trio of cool gifts from Sarai's shop.



After a while, Roger slipped out to his car & returned with an acoustic guitar. Philos & I
twisted up a couple of eurospleefs & we had a rollicking singalong jam that pretty much covered
the entire spectrum of pop music . . . Roger kicked down a couple of Catalan folk songs . . .
Philos the Deadhead sang "Bertha" . . .



. . . Javi & I did a very sloppy version of "Soulshine" . . .



. . . someone took us "Free Fallin'" . . .



. . . Sarai & Sergio led "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (the GnR version, just to piss off
Dylan freak Francisco).



"We Are The Champions!"



The Marti jam kicked into high gear . . .



. . . as Sergio gave us a kickass version of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" & Sarai did a spectacular
Janis-style "Me & Bobby McGee." Rachel delivered a cheesy showstopper: "Eye Of The Tiger!"



By this time the wait staff was fairly sure we were all loco . . .



. . . & the gypsy girls were certain of it.



For the hardcores, the fun was just beginning. At around 2 a.m. a number of us headed
to a nearby rock'n'roll bar called The Passenger for an after party.



We ran into more of the Barcelona Boys' extended family at The Passenger,
so they joined our celebration too.



The bar was covered with vintage posters of The Grateful Dead, The Stones, The Doors,
The Ramones & dozens of others . . . the house music rocked -- a Stones classic every
15 minutes or so. When The Ramones came on we toasted Johnny (r.i.p.) . . .



Marti & I are eternally grateful to have such kind friends in Barcelona.



At the end of the evening The Barcelona Boys Choir serenaded Marti with "Happy Birthday"
& showered her with roses.



It had been a memorable night on the town & an all-time birthday fiesta for my beautiful bride.

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