So last weekend I went to Barcelona, and it was awesome! It’s such a beautiful city with all of these amazing Gaudi buildings, and is like the fashion capitol of Spain, and we stayed in the area where all of the high end stores were. Not that I shopped there, but you know it gives a good ambiance. I was curious if I should even go to Barcelona though. It all started when I received an e-mail from the US embassy alerting us about the ETA which is a Spanish terrorist organization recently bombing cars and busses in Madrid. Now I will say that they are supposed to be an anti-government group who does not target foreigner’s, only political figures, but stuff happens. So I forwarded this e-mail to my parents who proceeded to call and e-mail me about how “maybe I shouldn’t go.” But I had already bought my ticket, which was an adventure in itself.
I bought it because it was so cheap but it was so cheap because it was to an airport 100km outside of Barcelona. I wasn’t the only one though. So me and four others had to take a bus from Reus, birthplace of Gaudi, to Barcelona, lol! Then I proceeded to take us to the exact opposite side of the city we needed for our hostel because, of course, I thought I knew where I was going. We had an ongoing joke that karma was just being a bitch that weekend. In my defense I found the hostel, it just wasn’t the one where we were staying, oops.
So after we had our inaugurating ride on the Spanish sub-way system we found out that the hostel booked us wrong so two of us didn’t have beds for the night. It all worked out because they didn’t charge us for two and Caryn and I shared a bed. Never again though because she speaks French in her sleep! And when you wake up to someone yelling at you in French it’s not fun… Jenny got the pullout bed, which was absolutely disgusting cuz we pulled it out and there was a large red stain on it! We flipped it and put on a sheet before she saw….. I might feel bad except she proceeded to embarrass us for the rest of the trip. Jenny is from Oregon (pronounced Ore-gone), and I don’t know if it’s all the people from Oregon or just her but she has absolutely no social etiquette! I mean I know it sucks having to get used to new customs and such but we’re not at home. Ex: we were at a fairly nice restaurant for dinner and she orders a glass of water, that’s not what they do here. If you want water you have to buy a glass bottle for the table, which is like 1.85 €. And she just could not understand why he wouldn’t just give her a glass of water even after he explained it and we translated. So they give us a mug with our silverware and napkins in it as a holder right, she empties it and is like “I’m just going to go to the bathroom and fill this up with water!” all of our jaws dropped and we practically tackled her to say no. the next day we’re at a bar and she pulls out a loaf of bread, literally, from her purse and starts eating it!
Anyways….
We saw the Gaudi houses and toured casa Batillo and Sagrad Familia. They were so awesome because they were so organic and insane for the time-period. Well even now. We also went to this great market, kind of like Farmers Market in Dallas with all of the fresh food but ten times better! It had fresh fish, poultry, candy, nuts, breads; cheese etc. so one day we went there for lunch and just bought all of this random stuff and ate it in the park.
I thought my feet would fall off after walking so much, and almost wish they had so the pain would stop. But my fault I didn’t bring my tennis shoes, (I know Adrian!) but I just don’t like them! I’ve learned my lesson though.
This week has been good, nothing of much consequence except that it went by so fast…13 weeks left in the program. This weekend is Carnival in Cadiz. We’re going on a night bus, kind of like the casino busses to Louisiana where you leave late at night and come back the next morning. It’s supposed to be the third largest party in the world! Why the hell am I of all people going….not sure but at least I can say I went. I found this really cool mask today though so I’m excited. It’s like Halloween though because most people dress up. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Have a good weekend everyone! Love you!
