Barcelona: Part 2

After about 11 hours of sleep last night, today seemed a lot more promising.  I started it off with a banana from the little grocery shop across the street and immediately went back to the harbor.  This time I was in a prettier area but still no sand.  I did, however, see a ship that I'm pretty certain is the Black Pearl.

Next I wandered up Las Ramblas, dodging tourists and drinking fresh squeezed mango/coconut juice.  I got lost (on purpose this time) in the twisty, old streets of Barri Gotic.  Then I accidentally went clothes shopping.  I didn't mean to, I swear.  European clothes are kind of my vice.  At least it's a pretty vice.

I took the train back to the hostel for a break and to plan the rest of my Barcelona time.  I also tried to work on my budget.  Ew. 

Then I went to Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's most famous work, a cathedral still under construction.  It looks like a sand castle and is really intricate and beautiful.  Gaudi seems to have been quite into curves and swirls and the inside was a writhing mess of awesomeness.  Probably my favorite cathedral I've been to. 

Afterwards I wandered up the street in search of food.  I ended up eating the second half of my sandwich from lunch and buying lemon cinnamon gelato (absolutely outstanding) while watching a movie being filmed down the street.  Probably should have eaten something a bit more substantial since I'm shaking now but that gelato was worth it. 

Now I'm in the hostel, resting my very weary legs (and feet and back and ... well I could just go on), and listening to people talking in at least three different languages in the internet room.  I'm ready to go back to my room but the Indian guy with the pick up lines has now moved into my room and I'm trying to avoid him.  May brave it anyway.  Sleep beckons!!  Hasta luego!

Barcelona

Hola from Barcelona!  I'm reinstating my blog for a month as I'm travelling again and therefore my life is interesting enough to write home about.  Also, I just don't want to forget anything.

I had a smooth overnight flight from Atlanta on Saturday night and arrived in Barcelona, Spain at 8am here (2am at home).  I'd only had about two hours of sleep so that was unfortunate.  But on the plane I was sitting beside a woman from this area who was really happy to tell me all about the places I should visit.  I also watched the 3D Glee Movie so that was cool too, haha.

Upon arrival, I came into the city center by bus.  At the bus stop, which was of course at the main plaza with roads going off in every direction, I got very lost for a few minutes.  I failed to mention that I'd been carrying around my carry-on backpack and regular school backpack since Atlanta.  As the hours had gone by, these had grown heavier and rubbed my shoulders raw.  Also, with a backpack on front and back, I took up a lot of room.  Just trying to paint a picture here.

So imagine this obviously foreign girl who looks like she hasn't slept for a week (remember, last week was finals) wandering around with a map and a wide load.  Then imagine this girl steps off a curb and is instantly sprawled on the ground.  Yeah, you just pictured me...  But don't worry, I'm fine.

Once I found the hostel (which is awesome), I had to leave my stuff in a locker and wait five hours before the room would be ready.  So I tried to walk to the beach.  I managed to find the Arc de Triumph accidentally (pictured above).  It was so beautiful out there!  That's when I remembered I'm super allergic to plane trees.

Eventually, after a sneezy stroll through a park, I found the harbor but no sand.  At that point I realized how far I'd walked, gave up on the beach, and sat down to watch some street performers do tricks with giant hula hoops.  Realizing I couldn't walk back, I figured out how to use the Metro.  Quite efficient. 

Back in the hostel, I ate lunch while chatting with two Indian guys who kept trying to use pick up lines they'd read in a book and one Scottish man who'd spent the last seven weeks biking from Nice to Barcelona.  Finally fed, I slept an hour and a half and headed out to find a restaurant a friend at school told me about.  I found it and went inside.  I then remembered I speak no Spanish and had no idea what to do.  So I walked out.  Instead I found a Middle Eastern restaurant.  From where I was sitting under the TV, I watched people watching Spanish dubbed soap operas over my head.

Back at the hostel, I took a shower (always my least fav hostel experience) and went to sleep at 9.  I then woke up at 12 when everyone came back from the clubs.  My room has ten beds and they were eventually all occupied.  I was also reminded it was coed.  Oh well.

So, that was my first day in Spain.  It's all a little fuzzy because of the exhaustion but it was definitely an adventure.