Barcelona

Oh, Spain. You have no idea how long I've waited to be able to stroll your small byways, eat your homemade paella, and feel my feet sink into your beaches. Oh, Spain. I finally know you. This was great experience for me because Spain has always been (after Latinamerica, of course) my Mecca of travel destinations, because during the course of my university classes we studied a lot of material over it and I sort of fell in love. It is like someone studying French going to France; it's just sort of important. Now, Cataluña is an autonomous community in Spain, which takes itself very seriously. It even has it's own language, which is so similar to Spanish and French, that it almost seems ridiculous. But pride is pride. I think the rest of Spain sees it as a way to be a pain in the ass, but nevertheless everyone speaks Spanish as well. Almost every sign is in Spanish and Catalan, but even if they are just in Catalan, anyone who speaks any Romance language can probably figure it out.



So Andri and I woke up at 6 am to catch the train to Geneva. As we were walking outside it was snowing in Bern, so luckily we were getting out. The weather in Barelona was beautiful. I would say 60-65 and sunny, which seemed like summer to us. The beach was beautiful, although the water was too cold to swim. I'm assuming that there is only a short period of time in Barcelona where the sea is warm enough to take a dip. Although, I did get the impression that as soon as the sun comes out it is warm enough to sunbath topless, or in speedos if you're a man. I know those girls in bikinis had to be freezing because I had pants and a jacket on, but come on topless ladies! I guess it's never too early, right?

The beach was so lively. Everywhere you looked there were people flying kits, playing paddle ball, rollerblading, windsurfing.



There was so much to do, but we didn't do anything. We just laid down and relaxed, which was fine with me. I'm sure this was all Andri wanted to do with his days off for Easter vacation. We bought some beers and talked and walked around. We saw an amusement park right on the beach, so we decided to take a detour to ride some overpriced rides and it was worth it. We had so much fun and happened to be the only people riding rides while everyone else stood below and watched.

I think that this trip really was one of my favorites, because I really enjoyed it. Not in a see the sights because they're cool sort of way, but in a let's have nothing planned and just go sort of way. I always like to plan things, but decided against it this time because I didn't want to not see things that I had planned on then feel disappointed later. We rented bikes and rode through a huge part of the city, not really looking for anything, but finding everything to be so perfect. I can't remember being so happy. It feels like for the first time I am able to just enjoy life without having to worry about paying my bills and how I'm going to afford to be able to do this or that. Having to constantly work so hard just to be stuck made me so bitter. Now I just feel free, in so many words. I may not have all the freedom to do everything I want, but I can do things and not have to worry and just have a good time.


Thinking about what to write makes it sounds rather boring because we really didn't do too much because there were so many people in the tourist areas, so we only went to a few, because I get really stressed out around so many people. We went to the most amazing restaurant I think I've ever been to called "Los Caracoles" where they roasted their chickes on a spits over a fire outside. they had their kitchen in the restaurant, where they made their wonderful paellas. I ate paella de mariscos (seafood paella) and crema catalan, which is essentially creme brulee. Even their dinner rolls were shaped like snails!

Spain's food is delicious, by the way. Tapas are the greatest invention ever. Who wouldn't want an entire meal made up of tiny appetizers to choose from?





There is so much seafood involved in their cooking also, which means, by my standards, that it kicks ass. Because seafood=love.




Oh and churros con chocolate...the best snack food hands down. Fried sticks of bread, rolled in sugar, then dunked into a coffee mug of melted chocolate. I think these may even trump churros rellenos (filled churros).



And let's not forget about Sangria. Yes, I know. It's not food, but a meal is not complete without a glass of this delicious drink.

All in all it was a wonderful trip. We partied til 5am , saw Guadi's work, ate some great food, and drank some nice cocktails and beers.