The worst: I was walking to the metro station after leaving a very good experimental “jazz” concert. The music was very un-jazz-like, but very very good nonetheless—it was very Ligeti-like—slow moving sonorous notes building slightly shifting, undulating textures. It’s part of a series of experimental concerts going on all the week. I was in a good mood, relishing the adventurousness of the musicians, thinking of parallels between Ligeti, Reich, and other modern composers when a man came up behind me suddenly, pushed me very hard, and then ripped my bag from my shoulder! I had been robbed! Mugged! And in the middle of a busy street! It took me a second to recover, but then I turned and chased after him yelling at the top of my lungs through the winding streets of el Bario Gótico at top speed (not the best idea in hindsight—what would I have done if I actually caught up with him??) But alas, he knew the streets better and knew how to make himself scarce quickly… In the end, either due to my shouting or more likely he wasn’t interested in the rest of the contents of my bag, he made off with only my wallet, leaving the contents of my small bag strewn about on the street.

The best: While running, two separate men joined in the pursuit. After turning left then right then left then right and so on and so on, I gave up (mostly because I arrived where the man had dropped the rest of my bag, and I realized there was nothing I could do). We called the police, and the situation seeming under control, one man left. The other walked with me out to the main road and waited with me until the police came. He asked how I was going to get home, and I answered the Metro, and he pointed to his watch, saying that I would miss the last one…ahh! Not my night! He then reached into his pocked and gave me all the money he had in it, 15€ for a taxi back to my neighborhood! When the police came, he helped me get situated with them as well. Not knowing my name, where I was from, or anything about me, this man was extremely kind and generous to me. I thanked him for his kindness and his help, and said I hoped I could someday repay it. It didn’t even get his name before I was whisked off by the police. One door closes, and another opens. Someone is cruel, another is kind. Things balance each other out—I mention the fact that he gave me €15 only because, besides my debit card, the exact amount I had in my wallet was €15.

One other oddity: at the concert, I spent *far* too much money on a noise soundscape CD that I had been looking for for quite some time. Recovered! I guess my robber doesn’t have very good taste in music, or he would have realized this cd was a real gem! J

Ah! I didn’t even mention the most exciting part! For the first time in my life, I rode in the back of a real police car to a real police station—Wellesley College police doesn’t count. I admit, I felt like I had done something wrong, sitting on the hard, molded plastic seat, bars in my face backed by a sheet of plexiglass obstructing my view of the front seat, lights flashing, pulling up to the police station… Though it was an experience, hopefully I won’t have to do it again anytime soon (for any reason!).

And now I sit in my bed at 3AM, exhausted, yet unable to sleep. There are still musicians out on La Plaza del Sol, sweetly strumming guitars, banging softly on drums, a clarinetist accompanying them with a classic blues riff. It’s quite calming. More so, I sit and think about this strange balance of yes and no, good and bad, generosity and greediness, yin and yang that has been the past four hours of my life.

Well, it seems that the musicians have finally gone to sleep, and perhaps, so should I.