How I Met Marian / 19 Feb 2010

The theatre, Club Capitol, where Mi Primera Vez is playing, is along Las Ramblas, the most famous promenade in Barcelona.  It's near the Placa Catalunya end, and our hotel was only 2 blocks away. 

The Gifts
Gray long sleeve Boston College shirt, ordered from the bookstore

A pink I *heart* NY shirt, bought at the airport

Chocolates: premium M&Ms and Ghirardelli (from Target)

Cigarettes: Carton of Gold Marlboro Lights from the airport duty free

Bag of Halls Naturals Honey flavor, bought at the airport

And a card that says: "In Gratitude, For sharing your time and talent", signed "Dr. Piper, Staff, and Students of Pepsi University"

Before the play:
We arrived at Club Capitol a half hour before the start time of 2100 hrs.  All the stuff were in a nice green gift bag (again, from Target).  I asked the person at the drink counter if we could leave the gift for Marian and she directed us to the ushers, 2 very nice young women (one whose name is Prajna).  I had a shot of vodka from the bar before we approached the nice usherettes.  We told them that we are from the US and we just wanted to leave the gift bag but they said to just wait after the play because Marian is very nice.  Prajna even went to the dressing room to tell Marian that 2 American weirdo fans were there.  When we were already seated, another lady, probably the stage manager or something, approached us and asked us to wait for Marian after the play.

After the play:
So we waited right outside the dressing room door, and we were the only 2 standing there.  Bart, Fran, and Inma all came out and smiled at us.  And then... the door opened and Marian walked out, smiling at us.

Us:  Hola, Marian!
MA: Hola!
Us: Hablas ingles?
MA: A little

Actually, her English was really good.  We told her that we are from the US and brought her something.  I also said, like the dork that I am, that I've never done this before (i.e., approach a celebrity).  She said she loves receiving gifts, and she really went through the gift bag like a little kid on Christmas morning. 

On the BC Shirt: She said it's very soft and she would want to wear it the following day.  I forgot to remind her that eagles (BC mascot, printed on the shirt sleeve) means aguila in Spanish, which her last name Aguilera was probably derived from
On the I *heart* NY shirt: She doesn't have that one yet.  She said she was in NY "a long time ago, when she was 17" - which would make it 1994/95.  Hey, I still lived in NYC during those years... maybe we already met.
On the cigarettes: We asked her if it's the right brand, and she said yes.  But she said she's trying to quit, so we told her to share it with her friends.
On the chocolates: She said she loves chocolates (rather excitedly).  We said that chocolates in Barcelona are better (really) but we wanted to get her something American.  She said she'd never heard of Ghirardelli, so we explained to her that it's a famous chocolate from San Francisco.  She said she's been to SF and she really liked it.
On the Halls cough drops: She looked at it with a WTF? face (but nicely), and we told her it's for her cold.

Marian on the missed gift
I told her that I wanted to get her a bottle of wine from Napa, California.  She said "Asi?" and looked really excited, and then looked disappointed when I told her that we couldn't find any at the duty free. Next time, Marian. 

Marian On Barcelona
We told her we love Barcelona and we've been there several times, and we like it better than Madrid.  I told her that my wallet was stolen in Madrid, and she told us to be careful around Barcelona too.  I told her that we were there May 2009 when FCB won the UEFA cup, and she didn't understand, so I said futbol.  And she said "Ah, Barca!" She said she and her entire family love the home team.  She also said that she's from a town about half an hour from the city, not a barrio, but a beach town.  (Like I didn't know!) 

Marian on LHDP
GF told her that she watched LHDP before I did.  And she got me hooked when Silvia flipped Pepa the finger.  I did a reenactment of that famous scene.  She laughed.

Marian On the play
She said she liked doing the play because it's fun and different.

Marian on her new 'do
GF commented on her new hairstyle.  She said she's not sure yet whether she would keep it as is or not, because it's harder to maintain.  She also said that there's just so much more one could do with long hair.

Marian on her international fans
We asked her if she's aware how many international fans she has, and she answered in the affirmative.  She said that she's been meaning to write a long letter expressing her gratitude, but she hasn't had the time. 

Marian on her call to Booker
I had another phone with a Spanish SIM card, and I told her it's my friend's birthday and she's a really big fan, and if she could wish her a happy birthday.  She said she's really shy, but okay.  So I dialed, the answering machine was on, so we left a message.  She was smiling all throughout the 15-second phone call.  Booker, you owe me 1.90Euros.

How I touched Marian's hair
There's a part in the play where confetti was used to simulate rain.  There was a confetti or 2 still sticking out her hair, so I very innocently brushed it away.  Really very innnocently.  I promise.

And then I tried to take a video of her greeting her American fans with my BBerry, but I forgot how to do it.  I did dorkily tell her that I'm so nervous.  So she said we could take the video tomorrow, since I was going back with Nika Chika.  I then took pictures of her and GF.

And then she said it's really very nice meeting us, she gave each of us a hug and 2 kisses (the Spanish dos besos), and we said "Encantada tambien".  She smelled really nicely.

So that's it for that 1st meeting.  I was sober, I was relatively normal.  And she was magical.  She really was.  Gracias, Marian!