13 November 2008

Walter and a guard at the Royal Palace

"You work for Lucasfilm?"

"Yes"

Of all the places to meet another person in the Industry. My coffee mate turns out to be here in town working on the Star Wars exhibit that is in town.

"Is it a convention?"

"No, it´s an exhibit."

"Do people come? Is anyone allowed?"

"Yes, it´s open to the public"

"It sounds like a convention"

"No, it´s an exhibit."

He continues to explain how there are models -- full size models etc. It still sounds like a convention to me.

We have a nice chat. Politics and the other part of his job which is as a sound engineer for rock bands and artists. Unfortunately, he picked the one person who really has no clue as he lists off names I´ve never heard of. The only one I recognized was the Police and Sting.

I think it frustrated him that he was dropping all these names and I really had no reaction of awe to them. Of all the other people in the city to pick to go to coffee -- he found another person in the Industry who lives in Los Angeles and interacts with celebrities in various degrees through work. Sorry. No swooning here.

Not proud of my ignorance of rock bands. It´s just not a part of my upbringing. I grew up without a radio. And celebrities are people first. Glamour does have a double meaning as sci fi/fantasy fans know. Basically showing something that´s not really true or there.

It was a nice conversation though and Joao did invite me to come and see the exhibition before it opens since I´m leaving the day it opens. (I´m going tomorrow. Can´t pass up Star Wars. :) Such a geek. )

The next morning, I´m dragging. We go to the Prado. My friend Jess who lived there for a year told me it might be overwhelming. It was. So much to see and my head was swimming. They don´t allow cameras so no photos folks.

I spent the evening looking for a cable car with my travel companions. And here is where I have to diverge from my narrative again....

Walter and Carlos are a couple. Spending time with them I have learned more about men than I ever thought there was to know. Should I clarify that as more about gay men? No, because I´ve learned more about butt´s and "packages" and boxers and briefs and boxer briefs and hustlers, and cruising, and steam baths, and faces and pretty boys and machismo and fake machismo, and butchness, and walks, and gaydar and couples and straight vs. gay men in this short time and it´s mostly about men period.

Needless to say, my ability to identify gay couples and improved since hanging out with them.

Now wait until my next blog entry...we´ll talk about whores.

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