Park Güell, Cristy, la escuela!

Cristy came to visit this past weekend...she got here late Saturday night and left Tuesday afternoon! She then went to Paris to meet her family after not seeing them for five months...needless to say she was super happy to be going to Paris. Since Monday was a holiday (still not sure which one...everything just said "Holiday" when I googled it) I didn't have class. So, we planned to go to Park Güell and then the beach to make the most of her last full day in Barcelona!

We started out by getting on the Metro and taking it to Lesseps. I was told that it was confusing to get to the Park from the Metro and we should take the bus instead. However, Cristy and I liked the idea of walking and possibly running in to an adventure so we decided we would do the Metro/walk way instead of getting dropped off right in front. Walking seemed too easy for someone to get lost-straight with one left turn and up then up a hill. So, once off the Metro, we started the walk that was entirely too easy. Along the way we got café con leche and agua to wake us up. We got to the park and we were instantly captivated. It was beautiful...and crowded. It is too bad you can't just make everyone disappear so you have the freedom of walking/standing where you want and taking pictures without strangers in them or in the way. But that is just wishful thinking. With or without strangers this park is definitely something to be seen. We had no plan of where we wanted to go or what we wanted to see and that made the day so relaxing and easy to enjoy. Any path you took was pleasing to the eye. Each piece of work was just masked in intricate details. I could look at something for ten minutes, turn to look at something different, look back at the first thing and find something completely new that I had previously missed. It would take hours and hours to notice all the details. So, Cristy and I would just take a path, see where it led us, and go from there! Eventually, a few hours and a hundred or so pictures later, we were back at the front of the park. We decided that we had seen as much as needed for that day and would head to the beach! I definitely plan on revisiting Park Güell.

Cristy and I took the Metro back home and along the way saw what we thinking was a pick pocketing. Everyone has warned me about pick pocketing in Barcelona and thankfully, I haven't yet experienced anything like it. I like to think I am pretty observant and aware of my surroundings. But I know that is sometimes not enough. Pick pocketing is scary, but that doesn't make Barcelona scary...just have to be smart and aware. With that said, Cristy and I made it home safely. We changed, ate a snack, and went to meet Max and Carly at the beach. We got to the beach in enough time to enjoy some sun, friends, and a siesta! After we had enough of the beach, Carly, Cristy and I walked towards the Barceloneta Metro, stopping to get fruit at a frutería, Paella and a dark chocolate truffle for me along the way. It was delicious!

Sadly, Monday night was a school night so Cristy and I just hung out at home. I have class at 9:30 to 11:30 and then again at 3 till 5. It is kind of a crummy schedule but at least there is enough time to do something in between. So, after my 11:30 class, I went by the ISA (my study abroad program) offices to print off Cristy's boarding pass for Paris and mine for Venice, and then met up with Cristy. We were going to go to the Sagrada Familia but Cristy was afraid she wouldn't have enough time to catch the bus to the airport. I totally understood what she was saying because I tend to stress about getting to the airport in time and usually end up being there in plenty of time. Thus, we just went to the Plaça de Catalunya to have lunch. We ate at a little Italian restaurant and then finished with some gelato/sorbet. Cristy doesn't like sweets...she actually just got into trying different things. She ended up going with sorbet. I can't believe she doesn't like sweets-I wish that would be the case with me. We said bye, but it didn't feel like it because I'm going to see her in Italy in just two weeks!!!

Yo voy a la escuela en Barcelona. I am taking a "Spanish Civilization and Culture". This sounds really neat but it is actually a lot of work. We have a group project that will be extremely educational and beneficial, but it is kind of a bummer when I am in Barcelona doing group projects (something that I don't like in the States). My group is doing our presentation on Architecture in Barcelona, but more specifically Modernism and Gaudi. This will mean I get to spend more time at Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, and La Pedrera which is going to be really interesting! I'm also taking a level 2 Spanish class. Level 2 Spanish is both good and bad...I had to take a test in order to be placed in a level. Spanish 2 is good because it shows that even though I haven't taken Spanish since senior year in high school, I actually know enough to not be placed in beginner. Spanish 2 is bad because it isn't beginner. What that means is that I'm in a class with nine other girls, some of which should just move up a level because my tendency to ask questions seems to bother them. I enjoy learning spanish, thus I want to know and understand as much as possible. I don't like that these girls act this way because it makes me not want to ask questions. I am going to try my best to not let it bother me and just keep doing what I'm doing because it is somewhat working! I'm glad I have Jenna and Amanda in that class. We are all on about the same level so we can confide in each other. I can tell mi español is getting better because I am able to communicate with people when necessary at stores and around town. My teacher, Chelo, is really neat. She speaks Catalan and Spanish and then a little bit of English (a good and bad thing because it makes me speak to her in spanish, but then it frustrates me when I can't explain a question). She lives in Barcelona with her boyfriend (whom she calls "partner"). She doesn't have any kids of her own, but her partner has 3 and 36 at an orphanage in India. She goes there to visit and help out with the kids a few times a year. She is a really nice lady who I plan on keeping in touch with to her to keep improving my spanish.

Amanda, Jenna and me on the balcony of our Spanish class!

Carly and I went for a run around our neighborhood on Tuesday after school. We weren't sure of our plan but we ended up running to the beach and then turning around and coming home. It was a pretty good run, especially since we haven't been running like we do in States. We came home and tracked it and it turned out to be 1.6 miles each way. I ran again tonight...this time I ran half way to the beach and then going the other way I went a few blocks to the Sagrada Familia. My plan wasn't to stop, but once I got there I was just in amazement of how big and incredible it was. While stretching I couldn't take my eyes off of it. La Sagrada Familia is the only cathedral in the world still under construction. Started in 1882, it isn't expected to be finished till 2026. I am excited to go in and actually tour it. I think I may even pay a little more to go up in the towers.

This week I walked home in between classes in order to save money (and my health). If I was to stay around school, then I would end up eating a tortilla de patata bocadilla con patatas bravas. One of the other days in between classes, I went to the beach! There is definitely enough time to get some sun in...almost more than enough because it is the heat of the day and makes me super sleepy for my afternoon class. On the days that I walk to and from school by myself for whatever reason, I really enjoy it. Nothing against walking with my roommates Carly and Amanda, but I like my alone time. It enables me to take my time and find new places. Today, I explored some of the shopping areas around school. I also find myself checking the prices of a café con leche at each bar and the croissants at pastelerias. I like to know where the best deal is for the best quality! And my friends who are visiting will also want to know some places to go when I'm at school.

Another thing I love about walking around and exploring is the people watching that comes along with it. I enjoy watching the different kids with their parents. More than once I have tried to listen to what the kids are saying because I have this theory that they will talk slow and I will get it. It doesn't always work that way. I like watching all the different cars and scooters go by too. I'm amazed at how fast they drive and how aggressive. With that said, I have only seen one accident and it was just a bumper to bumper so apparently it isn't as dangerous as I think. I don't think, actually I know I will not be riding on a scooter here. Those guys and girls are crazy, but at least they wear helmets unlike Florida. I really love the lifestyle of living here...it seems as though no one stresses or worries about anything. I am envious of that! They are all pretty laid back on time. Another thing I have noticed is the public display of affection...there is WAY more here. People aren't afraid to show their feelings here, which is good I guess? Maybe it is just too much for me because that isn't how I was raised. Just like I was raised in a country that is pretty open about religion, but here? Religion is not discussed with others. My Spanish Civilization teacher told us that it is usually only the elders who attend church and that most teen-agers never go. Also, here it is totally normal to tan topless-one thing that is only common in certain beaches around the States-but to go to school showing your shoulders is very rude. It is different in a lot of ways, but it I love learning about it! It is not wrong by any means, just not what I am used to. From certain comments from my teachers, I have already learned that they think some of our ways in the States is unusual.

One thing that is different is the fact that dryers are VERY rare. But I'm enjoying the clothes line!

Tomorrow morning we are getting up early to get to Plaça Catalunya in order to catch a bus to the airport. Carly, Max, JT and I have a flight to VENICE in the morning! Once in Venice we are meeting up with Horton! I'm super excited to be in Italy, to see Venice and to see Horton (who I haven't seen since Jan 1st!)

Buenos Noches!!

Pre-Barcelona Memories: San Sebastián

I've been in Barcelona for 2 weeks tonight. I have been in Europe for four weeks. So where was I before Barcelona??? SAN SEBASTIÁN and PARIS! It is going to be quite challenging to cram 2 weeks worth of traveling into one entry so this will be all about San Sebastián...

I got to San Sebastián really late on a Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. (See the entry "The process of getting to Hannah and San Sebastian..." for details) The minute Datev and I walked in Hannah's apartment we were ambushed by 20 or so of the nicest and most fun people I have met in a while. Datev and I felt so comfortable with all of Hannah's friends in the first 10 minutes of meeting them. Since I had been traveling for over a day, I was starving. Thankfully, Hannah and her friends had just finished "Family Dinner" so there was some pasta leftover for me to enjoy. Well, try to enjoy...the pasta was extremely spicy and not like any I am used to. This is when I met Sam. Sam reassured me that he could just splash water on my face to cool me down if needed. I knew I would get along with that kid the instant those words left his mouth-he is a goofball to say the least. I also got to meet the infamous Morgan! I had heard so much about Morgan through mine and Hannah's daily-to-every-other-day skype dates so I kind of felt like I already knew her. No surprise when I say Morgan was awesome!

We hung out in Hannah's apartment for maybe thirty minutes before all of her friends could take it no longer and insisted on going out. Datev and I tried multiple times to let them go ahead and we could catch up in a bit, but they weren't buying it. They insisted we go out with them completely disregarding the fact that we had been traveling for two days. Datev and I were extremely tired and dirty but we got up as much energy as possible so that we could use this time to get to know Hannah's closest friends. While on our way to Buga (a bar that all the study abroad kids made their place to go) I was introduced to Kevin. Kevin had heard from Hannah that I was obsessed with the show Modern Family. Thus, one of the first things he said to me was a Phil Dunphy quote. Kevin is funny...he likes to call himself a California Golden Bear...even if he does live in Reno. The group went to Buga and then to Be Bop Bar...Datev and I slowly followed, sitting on benches whenever possible. We finally convinced Hannah to take us home so we could shower and try to catch up on sleep...jet-lag was definitely winning at this point.

The next morning we woke up a little later than usual but refreshed from the 8 or so hours we had slept. We got our suits on and headed to the first frutería that we could find. Fruterías are all over Spain and I love it! They are stores that just offer fruit and vegetables and sometimes fresh bread. It is a healthy and cheap breakfast...especially compared to the thousands of croissants around town that I sometimes indulge in. Finally, we were on our way to Zurriola Beach where all the USAC kids hang out. I really enjoyed how they did beach days...volleyball, tanning, playing in the waves, skimboarding, eating bocadillas, playing football, etc. I could do that all day, everyday.

That night Hannah had her last soccer game! She and a few girls from her program joined a girl's soccer team earlier that semester. Datev and I went to cheer her on, as did many others in the program. It was a really cool soccer complex that had multiple 5v5 games being played on three fields. There was also a neat bar area where locals can watch soccer games on TV. Hannah's team didn't win, but they did provide some quality entertainment! After, we played a pick up game against the boys...needless to say the girls won!

The next day was another beach day! Thankfully, my friends love the water, sand, and sun as much as me, if not more! Hannah was basking in the sun as much as possible so she could beat a few of the boys in program in a "Who is tanner?" competition... I think she may have won against Sam...

At night we would all hang out together at the beach or someone's apartment. It was the last few days of Hannah's program so she wanted to spend as much time with the others as possible...I don't blame her! All her friends were super nice and fun. A lot of the kids were from University of Nevada-Reno or Chico State and then a few from other places like Washington, Maine and Indiana. They have all already planned to reunite in Chico for Halloween...it is possible Hannah is already counting down the days.

Thursday night we all went to Bataplán Disco which is right on La Concha Beach. In Spain, Disco does not refer to the 70s, platform shoes, or disco balls...instead, it refers to clubs with the latest American music or techno music. I didn't understand the "disco" thing when Hannah used to talk about it...I pictured her dancing like John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever". It was a great night, full of dancing and lots of laughing.

On Friday, Hannah, Datev, Jeff, Keven and I hiked to the top of Monte Urgull where there is a huge statue of Jesus! It is not a bad hike at all...it is breathtaking-not because of the difficulty, but rather the view.

After our hike we were all a little bit hungry so the boys thought it was a great time to try out "Doner Kebabs". I'm not referring to the sticks that have meat and veggies on them. Kebabs here are more like stuffed pitas or gyros. Hannah, Datev and I (all vegetarians) got the falafel kebabs. We ate them while sitting on La Concha Beach...simple but perfect.

Later on that night everyone went to dinner at an Italian restaurant because it was Payton's last night (Payton is the boy on the right in the Bataplán picture) and that was his choice of restaurant. After dinner we all got gelato, which has been one of my only problems in Spain. Especially after I learned how to ask for a sample in español, "Puedo probar stracciatella?"

Because it was Hannah's program's last week and they were trying to maximize their time together, they would all participate in "fort night". Kevin was the host of Fort Night...meaning he would get all of the mattresses from his house and put them in the living room floor. He even put up sheets so that it looked like we were in a tent. Datev and I knew that the USAC kids wanted to reminisce about their semester so we kept extremely quiet and still on the furthest possible inch of the mattresses. Eventually, we just fell asleep while "fake sleeping" as the others shared stories.

San Sebastián is 30-45 minutes from the boarder of France. So, on Saturday we took a bus to the last possible stop in Spain. We then walked around the small little town we were in and got some tapas before taking a small ferry to France!

Standing in Spain, with France behind us!

This was my first time in France! We were in small town called Hendaye that had a harbor with lots of sail boats and a beautiful beach. Super cute! We walked to a little convenient store where we got cheese, baguettes, and French beer...how appropriate! It was weird being in a place that didn't speak Spanish. A lot of the places spoke Basque because we were still in Basque Country. Basque is the language that those who live in the Basque Country in Spain can speak in order to communicate with those living in the Basque Country in France and vise versa. It is kind of a mix of French and Spanish? Not exactly sure. We hung out for a little on the beach and then took a small walk to the train station. We took the train back because it was faster than the bus... plus some had gotten bus sick on the way.

That night we had "Family Dinner" at Tommy and Dan's apartment! Hannah, Datev and I were responsible for the salad. Hannah had made one earlier in the semester that everyone loved so we just helped her make it. Kevin made paella! He had learned how to make it from his Basque roommate that he had during the fall semester in San Sebastián. For dessert, Jeff and I made s'mores using a lighter and pink marshmallows. They were super delicious and I had one each time that I made one for someone else....I ate too many! S'mores s'mores s'mores.....

After paella and s'mores, we all walked down to the beach to hang out! I don't think I will ever get tired of just sitting on a beach with my friends...or even alone. I absolutely love it!

The next day was pretty sad because Hannah had to pack up her room. She stuffed all her clothes in this huge duffle bag that she was going to send back to the States. She kept a few things to put in her backpacking backpack that would have to last her the entire month of June while she and Datev explored Germany, Italy, France and Spain. Later that night we went to get pintxos at a small bar and then gelato with the group so they could say bye to a few more people. Pintxos are like tapas but more "finger food" friendly. It is usually a piece of bread with some kind of meat or cheese on top. Tapas tend to be small plates that are easier to share with others. I really really love Pintxos. Gelato...well, I can't seem to turn it down. After, we met up with another kid from the program and went to the roof of his apartment building. It had a beautiful view of San Sebastián!

Kevin, Datev and me enjoying gelato!! Mmmm!!

Hannah, me, Keelcy, Cristy, and Datev walking to the roof!

Loving the view!

The next day was our last day in San Sebastián! I was super bummed and I had just gotten there so I can't imagine how Hannah felt. Hannah loves her friends SO much and goodbyes are the worst for her so I was kind of dreading this day...I knew it was going to be so hard on Hannah. I hate seeing her sad :( but she didn't pretty good! We started off by going to lunch with Keelcy (Hannah's sweet roommate from Washington who goes to school in Idaho). After Hannah mailed her huge suitcase we headed to the beach! We were greeted by Sam and Kevin who had written a song..."Reno to Chico...Chico to Reno"...or something along those lines.

Sam and Kevin performing...

Last San Sebastián Beach Day!

After the beach, we hurried home and changed so that we could meet everyone on top of Monte Urgull (where the big statue of Jesus is). Once there, all the kids from Hannah's program were going to pop Champagne and toast to their unforgettable semester! It was during sunset and it was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. Needless to say it was a bitter/sweet moment for Hannah and her friends...but it was so special and they all appreciated it so much! Datev and I even felt sad because we knew we had to say bye to all our new friends that night as well.

After the sunset, we all went to get pintxos and kalimotxos!! Kalimotxo is a Basque drink...red wine and coca cola! I never drink soda in the States but I really do like this combination! I would never have thought that before trying it. We ended up finishing the night at Buga....best night for sure! It was super fun...everyone was dancing! Hannah got do the stanky leg which made mine and everyone's night.

I'm not sure how people in Spain do it...they stay out SO late. I guess they eat dinner later, start going out later but I just can't get the hang of staying out till 5AM. However, this is what we did this night. We had a train to catch at 5:45AM so we went home at 5, took naps, and walked to the train station at 5:30 after Hannah saying her goodbyes to Kevin and Jeff. We had to catch a train that would start the journey to Paris! We knew would be on the train all day to Paris so we didn't mind not sleeping. We did that on the train so it was totally worth staying out late on our last night in San Sebastián! It was such a fun week, with no stress or problems. Pure relaxation and fun with two of my best friends and then quite a few new good friends!! I could go on and on about my week....

And we're off to Paris!!

Adiós España, bonjour Paris!

Visitors and Excursions

I never thought visiting Hannah would open so many more doors. In the past week I have had two visitors, both of whom I met in San Sebastian!

First, Jeff came on Wednesday night. He has been traveling in Switzerland and Italy for the past couple of weeks. He had a flight out of Barcelona on Saturday so it worked out for him that he could come hang with me for a couple of days. The first night he was here he and all of my roommates went to a bar called "Dow Jones". It is not wrong to assume that the bar is set up like the New York Stock Exchange. It kind of makes spending money on drinks fun...if that is possible. This is how it works: there are TVs that act as menus. However, the prices of the drinks/cocktails/shots are not set...the names of the drinks are highlighted in either red, green, or blue based on what the price of the drink is doing. So, if the drinks were highlighted in green, then it meant the price was going up; red meant the prices were dropping and blue met they were staying even. I'm not sure how/why the prices changed but it has something to do with what other customers are buying and not buying. Not being all that into the NYSE or not so educated on it all, I just looked at what drinks had prices that were lowest and were dropping so that I could buy before the price raised again. It was a neat concept for a bar but I'm not sure it was carried out efficiently because you had to wait so long to get a drink that by the time that you told the bartender it was rising again. One other negative about the bar was that the majority of the customers were young Americans. I'm in Spain so I like the idea of meeting people from all over...I guess it is good if I'm ever homesick.

Thursday I had class but I met up with Jeff in between. We went to my new favorite find in Barcelona (food wise that is). It is a little sandwich/salad restaurant called Bo De B. It is good quality food that is fresh and just so tasty!! I experimented with the atún salad which was the first salad that I have ever eaten that filled me up so much I couldn't even finish it. It was not just salad and lettuce but also half of an avocado, tuna, beans, rice and probably some other things I can't even remember. Jeff got a chicken sandwich that even made chicken look appealing to me...not really but he looked pleased! Lastly, we shared my favorite Patatas Bravas. They were the best by far that I have since being in Spain. Patatas Bravas are roasted or fried potatoes with a spicy sauce. Sometimes the sauce is creamy and others more like tobasco sauce. These potatoes were covered with a spicy sauce, balsamic vinaigrette reduction and some kind of green pesto (I think). Either way it was the best and I was thoroughly satisfied! After my class that gets out at five, Carly, Max and I met Jeff at the beach and we just relaxed down there. It was my kind of hangout. That night we to a bar called L'Ovella Negra which means 'the black sheep'. It is a huge bar that looks basically like a restaurant but without food. You have the option of getting the really large table pitchers of beer or sangria so that they entire table is set. It was a fun night of just talking over beer with all my new friends! Two of Carly's friends from Arkansas met up with us there so we got to meet them as well. I love low key nights like that.

Friday morning came really early...7AM so that we could meet our ISA directors to get on a bus to go to The Costa Brava! We said goodbye to Jeff who had to get a hostel for the rest of his stay and hiked to the metro. The bus to The Costa Brava was only a couple of hours and I was asleep the entire time. It was kind of a rough start because it was raining when we got there. Costa Brava is an area north of Barcelona...we went to Roses (a small fishing town) and then took a bus to Cadaqués. Cadaqués was amazing...like one of those places you see in movies but actually don't think is real since you haven't been. As the boat got near, all we could see were little white house on the hill side with clear, blue and turquoise waters. Sailboats were all around us and the rocks that bordered the water had the most intricate details made with different colored rock. Obviously, I like it a little. Once there we had lunch at a little cafe that was right on the water. We enjoyed mojitos and our food and then ventured off to find dessert. We got wine and chocolate covered churros that we took to a little beach made of little pebbles. It was the ideal spot. It was my first time swimming in the Mediterranean and it was the first of many to come! On the way back to the boat I couldn't say no to the gelato and got a cone for the boat ride back to the Port of Roses. The boat made a stop along the way where we went swimming again but only for a quick 3 minutes...the water was unbearably cold. Once on the boat after admiring some dolphins, we all passed out! The day had won.

The next day we got up early again to take a bus to Empúries. The Ruins of Empúries are in this small beach town. We toured them for a little but once the sun starting to peek out around the clouds we only had the beach on our mind. We headed to the beach where we hung out all day. It was the ideal day...sun for the first time in a while (it has been somewhat cloudy and overcast if not rainy in Barcelona), a beautiful beach and lots of new friends!

Once back in Barcelona later that night, I went to train station to meet my second visitor of the week: Cristy! Cristy took the train from San Sebastian earlier that day. Even though she had been traveling all day she was ready to take on the nightlife of Barcelona with my roommates and me! We got ready and headed to Catwalk which is down by the beach. We danced all night long and met people from Sweden, Italy, and France. It was a super fun night for Cristy!

This morning we woke up and headed to the beach. We had a few detours along the way that included meeting up with Carly, Hunter and Max and introducing Cristy to Bo De B. It was a great detour! We were stuffed and Carly said it best with "we are going to be a bunch of beached whales on the beach". Cristy and I shared a smoked salmon sandwich and a smoked salmon salad...and of course Patatas Bravas. We were set. It was tasty and the perfect way to start off our beach day. We then just headed to the beach where we all just laid in the sand full and satisfied!

It has been a very eventful weekend and the week is bound to be just as exciting. Cristy and I plan to go to Park Güell tomorrow morning and then down to the beach. Tomorrow is considered a holiday in Barcelona but I'm not exactly sure what it is...Dad would tell me to use the lovely thing right in front of me (the computer) but I have tried. I am determined to find out what I will be celebrating in my new city!

I must be dreaming...

I am in shock...I just purchased three plane tickets (4 if you count the return on one of the trips). I have always heard about people going to Europe and then traveling once they were there as much as they could. I always said I would be one of those people but I'm not sure I actually believed it. Hence the reason I am in shock.

I just bought a ticket with my roommate Carly Rae, Max (her boyfriend and my new friend), and JT (their friend from home and my new friend) to go to Venice, Italy next weekend! I am more than excited!! I have never been to Italy so it is that much more special/exciting! We still have to book our hostel or hotel but I'm not worried about that right now (although I probably will be shortly if we don't do something in the next few days). All I'm thinking about is the fact that I have a plane ticket to Venice on June 17th and then a ticket on June 19th for me to leave the city...so regardless if I have a place to sleep at least I know I'm going to be in Venice.

The two other tickets I bought are from Barcelona to Cagliari, Italy and then a few hours later Cagliari to Pisa, Italy. Once I am in Pisa I will take the train to Portofino, Italy! Why am I going there?! To meet up with my friend Cristy! I met her when I was in San Sebastian visiting Hannah. She is from Reno, Nevada and is probably one of the nicest people I know! She is actually coming to visit me in Barcelona this weekend. Portofino is a town really close to Cinque Terre. I wasn't aware till just now when I Googled Portofino that it is quite the place to go. It is a small seaside village with a gorgeous harbor. It is known for hiking, kayaking, shopping and great dining. I am more than thrilled to be going there, even if it is only for a short time! So, once in Portofino I will be with Cristy and her family who rented a house there for a week. I will just be catching the end of their trip. I will be there Thursday night, Friday and then sometime Saturday we are going to go back to San Sebastian. I will stay there a night and then head to Barcelona on the last bus that leaves San Sabby so I can take maximize my San Sebastian time!

(Side note: I absolutely love San Sebastian and I plan on recording what I did there during my visit in May very soon!)

But I don't have to wait long for the excitement to start because it starts tonight! My friend Jeff is coming to visit tonight until Friday! His flight home to the US is out of Barcelona so it works out perfectly. Like Cristy, Jeff is from Reno and we met in San Sebastian. He was one of Hannah's close friends in her program there so we hung out with him everyday. Who would have thought that not only would Datev and I get to see/experience the beautiful San Sebastian with our best friend Hannah, but also make a great new bunch of friends as well?? So, Jeff is here tonight and Thursday. Then Friday I head to Costa Brava, Spain with my program! Costa Brava is a beach town just north of Barcelona. Apparently there are beautiful beaches there-sounds muy bueno to me. When I get back from Costa Brava on Saturday night Cristy will be here for a few days!! But the fun doesn't stop there...

....in between the Venice and Portofino weekends I will get to see four of my best friends! Bett (my friend from high school) is going to try to make it to Venice with me but if she can't, then she plans on staying in Barcelona with me for a week! Then, Datev and Hannah will be here! Barcelona is going to be their last stop of traveling Europe before they head home to the US. They have been backpacking since I left them in Paris, France on May 27th. Once in Barcelona they will have been to Germany, Italy, and southern France over a span of four weeks. I would guess that Hannah is probably ready to be heading home soon since she has been in Europe since mid January. Lastly, Horton (my best guy friend from Tennessee) is going to be in and out of Barcelona during those weeks as well! He is flying to Madrid tonight to visit his brother Gabriel. He is planning on going to Paris and then possibly Venice and where ever else works out. But one thing is for sure: he is definitely coming to Barcelona!

So, those are my plans for the rest of June and the first weekend of July! Who knows if I will go anywhere else...maybe somewhere July 8-10? Amsterdam? Croatia? Portugal? Southern Spain? Rome? Any of those places would be more than wonderful...so if it happens then it happens and me being thrilled would simply be an understatement!

The program that is the reason I'm here...

I am kind of confused by the order of my entries...I realize I have just posted about an event that was 3 weeks ago but I want to try to keep up with current things as well so this one is dedicated to the events in Barcelona leading up to the first day of class Monday June 6th!!

I have been in Europe for 3 weeks but I am just now starting the thing that got me here: school! We have been in Barcelona since last Tuesday. Before that, ISA (my study abroad program-International Studies Abroad) met in Madrid (May 28th). We spent the weekend in Madrid meeting each other, walking miles during walking tours, visiting a museum, and watching FCBarcelona win (FC Barcelona beat Manchester United, 3-1, in the UEFA Champions League at Wembley Stadium on Saturday)! During this weekend I also got to meet my roommates Carly Rae (from Dallas but goes to school in Arkansas), Natalie (from Jersey but goes to school in West Chester, PA) and Amanda (from Philly but goes to Pitt). I plan on dedicating a post about them soon...

After Madrid, we got on a bus and drove about 2 hours south to Toledo on Monday May 30th. Toledo was once the capital of Spain before Madrid. It was a beautiful town that had such great architectural detail and history. It is a pretty small and quiet town so there were some kids in the program who weren't thrilled. I was totally content. I was tired from Madrid and also from my previous adventures with Hannah and Datev in San Sebastian and Paris (I also plan on dedicating multiple posts to both of these trips). We did a day of walking tours and museums. It was a neat experience because Toledo is not usually a place you hear about when talking about going to Spain. I'm glad I went because who knows when I would go in the future!

The following morning (Tuesday May 31st) we said "adios" to Toledo and "hola" to...a bus! We were on a bus for close to nine hours so that we could get to Barcelona, our final destination! By the this point I was just ready to be in one city for more than a few nights where I could call it "mi casa". I sat with Carly Rae on the bus and we became friends fast...we had no choice since we were going to be living together for the next 6 weeks! It was bound to happen at some point though. When the bus finally made it to Barcelona it was raining outside...great moving in weather! We didn't care though because we were moving into an AMAZING apartment! The ISA director showed her surprise on her face...she was impressed! Our apartment is 2B which means it is on the third floor (in Spain they do the floors a little bit different and it is somewhat misleading). It has 3 bedrooms (Carly Rae and Natalie are currently sharing) and 2 full baths. We have a little patio where you will find our WASHER, no dryer. It is very rare for families to have dryers in Spain. Clothes are always hanging out to dry everywhere you look. We have a cute little kitchen and a nice living room and dining area. I would totally live here for all of college if I could!

After we got settled in we decided it was only appropriate to see what our new city had to offer...so we went out! We went to La Rambla which is a large street that only cabs can go down. During the day there are booths set up and lots of people walking and lots of shops and cafes. At night it is more of a club/bar scene. We went to a club with 4 other girls who live in our building and Carly Rae's boyfriend Max (who is also in the program). We had a great first night of learning each other's best dance moves!

Wednesday June 1st was full of orientation meetings and getting to know our city! We did breakfast (of course this included cafe' con leche...coffee with milk and by that I mean more milk with a little coffe...one of my new favorites) and then headed to meetings to learn about Barcelona and our school, UAB (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona). After, Carly and I walked to a fruteria that was near our apartment...there is probably one on each block. We each bought lots of fresh fruit for less than 4 euros. I absolutely love those places!

Thursday...we had more meetings! This one was at 9am but it was our last! We went to the campus where are classes will be taught. The meeting was kind of depressing...I felt like the Spain professors were not looking forward to teaching us because of all the things they had to say about us. I'm guessing some rowdy American students have set a bad representation of us. Not even that so much as our cultures are completely different. For example, it is considered extremely rude to quietly leave class to use the restroom. The dress code is also very strict. But there are many differences which makes this experience so interesting! After the meeting we walked around La Rambla. I, of course, got gelato. I can't say no! Everything in moderation is what I keep telling myself...plus gelato in the States is not near as exciting as getting in Europe so I won't have to worry! That night we went to a club on the beach called Opium. It was mostly students from our program and other Americans that were there...my goal is to find places that the locals go to!

The next day everyone was pretty tired from the combinations of a late night and already being tired so we took it pretty easy. We slept into about 2...but that is completely acceptable considering most of us did not get in bed till 6 (I was the exception that night making it home a little earlier). I had gotten up early, showered, ate and then fallen back asleep. Finally, Carly and I went to Max's apartment on the other side of the city via the Metro. She and I have mastered the colors and stops by now. Max wanted us to try "Kebabs" which are not pieces of meats and veggies on a stick like in the States. It is meat shaved off this big pole that is constantly turning in order to keep it warm. Then, the meat (in my case falafel) is stuffed in a pita or tortilla with veggies and sauces. It is pretty tasty but not tasty to eat everyday like some of the boys believe. After that we headed to the beach for the FIRST time. Unbelievable right? We got off the Metro at the stop by the Harbor. We walked all along that and then made it to the beach where we sat for awhile. This was our first exposure to the women on the beach asking if we want a massage. They HARASS you till you either leave or give in. I have yet to give in but who knows...they may get me at the end of the summer! However, on this day the lady drove us away so we found a pretty cool rope pyramid that to play on instead. The beach is really neat because there are so many people being active out there...whether this is playing soccer on the beach, rollerblading/biking/running on the boardwalk, paddle boarding in the Mediterranean, or working out on the workout stations. It makes me want to run on the boardwalk so bad, but I'm worried about taking my keys. Stupid excuse. I will start soon though! For dinner that night we found a Mexican restaurant. I love Mexican food and since it is very rare here I decided I would go for it! We had a good time at La Rosa Negra, but I did notice other Americans in the restaurant. Maybe they are also craving some Mexican.

Saturday was my first real beach day! We actually laid out in the sun for a bit and I even got in the water. The water is really cold but nice! Max unfortunately didn't have as relaxing of a time. While he, Hunter and JT swam to some rocks on a sandbar he stepped on a sea urchin. The lifeguards said there wasn't much you could do so he has to just let it heal on its own. It looks super painful!

Sunday was a little overcast so it wasn't the best day for the beach. Instead, Carly, Max, JT and I went to MontJuic. It is park that overlooks all of Barcelona. If I'm not mistaken it was made for the Olympics when Barcelona held them in 1992. Castell de Montjuïc is also found up here! The view from the top is amazing to say the least. I will definitely be going back! Sunday night was a school night so Carly and I ate dinner at home and relaxed. Carly made a rice stir-fry that was a very tasty, but cheap meal. We plan on doing more of those! Later, Amanda, Natalie, Carly and I played a few games to help us get to know each other a little more. Just some good ol' roommate bonding!

MONDAY! The first day of classes! It was a success! I have class at 9:30-11:30 and then again 15:00-17:00 Monday through Thursday. The first class is called Spanish Civilization and Culture. It is super interesting and perfect for someone who knows close to nothing about the country they are living in. I look forward to learning more about Spain and Barcelona in this class...not so much the time of the class. The time wouldn't be so bad if my last class was immediately after my first. But nope, I have close to a four hour break in between. It is enough time to take the Metro to the beach if I want or going shopping on Passeig de Gràcia or even come home for lunch and siesta! On the first day, Carly, Max and I walked around the shops and ate lunch. It was very relaxing and pretty out so it wasn't too bad. I think we will learn to manage our time so that we can do what we need to in that free time. Then there was spanish class...wow. It was ALL in spanish. No english, not even to the 7 other girls in my class. The teacher is very nice but it is kind of overwhelming if you haven't taken spanish since your senior year of highschool. I managed to do okay, messing up on some past tense and lack of vocabulary here and there. I think it will come back to me faster than I think. I also think being forced to speak in ONLY spanish for two hours everyday will definitely improve my speaking skills. I am excited and scared...more excited though to try to master the language!

After class, we took advantage of the sun that will still blaring at 17:00 (5pm) and went to the beach for a couple of hours. The sun doesn't set here till around 9:30pm and it is great!! On the way home from the beach I stopped to get milk which was thankfully kept in the cold section of the store. Sometimes, actually most of the time, milk and eggs are stored at room temperature. This does not go well with me especially since I love milk as much as I do. I have been eating cereal and milk just as I did in the States in order safe money and not get homesick. For dinner, Max, Carly and I got Tapas in his neighborhood. We ordered more than we thought which forced us to spend more, but it was totally worth it!

So, the first week of living in Barcelona has gone extremely well and I only see it getting better! Carly and I are trying to plan a weekend trip to either Rome or Cinque Terre. If that doesn't work out then I may just head to Nice, France to meet up with Hannah and Datev...we shall see where the wind blows me! Adios for now...I have to get ready for spanish class!

The process of getting to Hannah and San Sebastian...

Since I just had the epiphany last night that I should start a blog about my summer in Europe, I am obviously a little behind in documenting my trip (minus the lack of pictures-I've been taking those). I am mainly doing this so that years from now I will have the memories and pictures saved somewhere for me to look back on. Poppop (my Dad's father) was quite the world traveler to say the least due to the fact that he was a pilot. But traveling to all the places he went would not mean near as much as it does to our family if he had not kept a journal and taken thousands of pictures. I guess that is where Dad and Krista get their love for photography. I have even noticed lately that I tend to be the one of my friend group who comes across as annoying just so I can get a simple picture of us all. But in my defense, everyone usually appreciates my harassment later when they realize that the memory was totally worthy of a picture. So, with that said, I'm going to recall as much as I can about my journey to España!

My journey started on Monday May 16th in Welaka, Florida. Dad was generous enough (as he always is when I decide to go on a trip needing an airport) to drive me to Jacksonville so I could hop on a plane to Charlotte. I said goodbye to him and headed off to check-in with a suitcase that I am capable of fitting in (which was just over the limit of 50 pounds) and a backpacking backpack packed to the rim. Luckily, my backpack was okay for carry-on regulations. The first flight was short and easy. While in Charlotte I had less than a hour layover. During this time I tried to catch up on Modern Family because I knew I would not be able or have time to watch while in España. (Side-note: I guess one positive thing about coming back to the States will be watching the episodes I missed of The Office, Modern Family and Glee. Sad, I know, but the Spanish soap operas and music video channels when it is raining just aren't cutting it.) I also said a few goodbyes via text and call since I would not have my iPhone for the next 2 months. Nothing against my friends or family, but I have enjoyed not having a cell phone. I do miss talking to my close friends and my family, but I don't have to worry about losing it and I don't feel distracted by it. I have a little Go-Phone for now but I tend to forget I have one until I see it in my bag. While waiting for the long journey ahead, I loved sitting in the International concourse of the airport-I was imagining where each person was going and what they would be doing...was it for work, vacation, going home? And then before I knew it, I was on the plane, in a window seat with an empty seat beside me on my way to Madrid! Yes, I had an empty seat beside me for a nine hour flight...pretty nice.

The plane ride passed slowly. I was starving from already being on the go since 10am so when the airplane food cart came around I was ready to dig in. I watched two of the three movies that they showed (The Green Hornet and Unstoppable) and some show about the top 10 best places to eat ribs (good thing that is useful since I don't eat red meat). I also dozed off for a few hours somewhere in there. We landed in Madrid at 6:40AM THEIR time which means it was only 12:40AM my time back in the States. So what this means is I was just now starting to get tired even though I should have been waking up considering the fact I was in a city that was waking up. No bueno. An airport isn't always the best place to sleep...especially when you don't speak the language. It doesn't help that people always talk about the horrors of pick pocketing in Spain either. I would have left the airport but this was not an option since I was meeting Datev 6 hours later. Thus, I headed to an Internet cafe' (one that did not provide free WiFi like most airports in the States) where I uncomfortably tried to sleep while protecting all of my luggage.

Datev Gallagher was also flying to Madrid on this day so that she and I could travel together to San Sebastian, Spain (5 and half hours north of Madrid via bus) where our best friend Hannah Logan was finishing up her spring semester abroad. Sunday night (the night before we both left the States) we had discussed that we would meet at the Metro in the airport to head to Horton's brother Gabriel's house in Madrid. There I was going to drop my big suitcase off so that I wouldn't have to travel with it for the next 10 days. We would then go to the bus stop TOGETHER to start the next leg of the trip. Sounds like a somewhat easy plan, right? Well, it did NOT turn out that way. Turns out Madrid's airport has TWO Metro stops, one at T2 where we had discussed meeting and one at T4, where Datev flew into. The website was definitely misleading and played a huge part in the following confusing and stressful mixup...

I was waiting at the top of T2 where we had decided to meet at thirty minutes before Datev's flight got in. I started to get anxious but had to remind myself that I was early...but then she didn't show. I kept making myself think I saw her coming down the walking sidewalk. "This girl is going to be her....Nope, this one is it-I can feel it!" But nope. I kept thinking this was just not possible, we were going to meet up and everything was going to go smoothly. Meanwhile, a free bus ride away at T4 (yes, you had to take a bus to get to that terminal because it was detached from the main airport) Datev was thinking the same exact thing. Little did Datev know that she was not at the T2 Metro. This is all safe to assume since we had checked it out before and the website did not show 2 Metro stops (or so we thought). We had said that if we hadn't met up by a certain point to get on the internet to talk via Facebook. Well, that'd be convenient except for the fact that WiFi was not offered anywhere close to the Metro stop. I was too paranoid that I would miss her if I left to check Facebook so I stayed put. I should have left...she was blowing up Hannah's wall with messages like "where is Kara", "someone tell me where Kara is", "I don't know what to do". Great...now both Hannah, Hannah's parents and Datev's parents are worried and I don't even know this is going on. Eventually, Datev gives up at the airport and decides it is best to head to the bus station to head to San Sebastian alone. Right after she leaves her Metro must have been when I took the free shuttle over to T4 to see if I might find her...no such luck. I end up calling Gabriel (Horton's brother) to get directions to his place because I figure I'll just take the bus by myself to San Sebastian. While on the phone, he informs me of Datev's plans that he learned about via Facebook. So perfect: Datev will take the bus and then I will just be a few hours later since I have to drop my stuff off...everything is going to be okay...or so we thought...

I manage to find Gabriel's apartment in the city not far from Plaza Mayor. From what little I have seen of Madrid at this point (the Metro, Plaza Mayor because of a wrong turn, and Calle de Toledo) I already like Spain. I fall for Spain a little more when I see Gabriel's apartment...just perfect! It has the Spanish doors in the living room that open onto little balconies overlooking a side street. It was decorated so nicely. It made me completely, well somewhat, forget that I had been in the Madrid airport from 6:40am to 3pm. This means my traveling time was up to 19 hours? I had been awake since 8am Monday morning Eastern time so 2pm Spain time meaning I had been up almost 24 hours? The math may be wrong but it is something like that. While at Gabriel's I check my Facebook and see that Datev had been worried/stressed but was now on her way to Hannah. I notify Hannah that I will be taking a bus at 7:30 pm (19:30) from Madrid so I should get to her around 12:30 Wednesday morning (or 00:30 Wednesday morning Spain time; 6:30pm Tuesday Eastern time). I say my goodbyes to Gabriel and head off to the bus station without the big suitcase.

At this point I have no worries. I am happy to be on the last stretch of my long and what seemed like a never ending process to get to San Sebastian. As far as I knew, Datev was successfully on her way and Hannah would hopefully not forget me at the bus station! Thus, I made a friend who I began to practice my Spanish with. The bus made 3 stops along the way...the last stop was an hour away from San Sebastian. I was itching to get there at this point. So, I didn't even get off the bus to stretch my legs, just continued talking to my new friend, Patricia. While people are getting off the bus I look up and I am in complete shock. I see a girl with her face down, looking a little bummed and tired, walking down the isle. There is no way I know this girl but I do know her...it is Datev! I just blurt out her name and I will never forget her face when she looked up. Her puppy sad eyes instantly turned to relieved eyes. Somehow Datev had gotten off at this stop thinking she was in San Sebastian. To her dismay, she realized it a little too late and was forced to wait there for a few hours for the next bus (which never showed). She had almost given up and coughed up a large sum for a taxi due to the fear of sleeping in a bus station overnight, when my bus pulled in. I had not expected this to happen due to the fact that I thought Datev was already with Hannah. FINALLY we had met up and we were only an hour away from Hannah and about 4 hours behind schedule. It didn't matter now.

Meanwhile in San Sebastian, Hannah had been running from her apartment to the bus station every hour to see if either of us had arrived. Note to self: appreciate the fact that cell phones are so useful while traveling...appreciate the free WiFi in the States, it also makes traveling easier and miscommunications rare. When we arrived in San Sebastian I got off the bus first and saw Hannah for the first time since January! She was sitting on a bench looking like she was waiting for Santa to come down the chimney...the anticipation must have been killing her. Then, she saw that Datev was with me and the tears started coming! I don't think she thought we would ever make it. I had thought that as well but then I was hopeful. Poor Datev probably thought about turning back and going home to the States! But we had made it!!! And little did we know how perfect and wonderful our time in San Sebastian was going to be that the past 48 hours (or what at least seemed like that) of traveling was TOTALLY worth it. I would definitely go through that complicated mess again to get to experience what I did just to get to San Sebastian!

I'd love to tell you what went on there but the rest is for another post...it is 1:48AM on Tuesday June 7th and I have class at 9:30. Buenas Noches!

Better late than never right?

"Mis viajes son sus viajes" in english means "my travels are your travels". This summer I am experiencing life in a completely different way than my previous summers: I'm in a new country with new friends speaking (or better yet trying to speak) a new language. I am eating new and unfamiliar foods, mastering the ways of big city transportation and drying my clothes on a clothes line three stories up. To sum it up, I'm learning and changing everyday. So, why not share this experience with my friends and family...and even if no one reads it at least I will have documentation of this new and exciting summer. I am starting this about 2 weeks too late but I'll do my best to catch up to where I am now. Get excited...but not too excited because who knows where this will go! 

But for now I'm going to bed...First day of class is tomorrow!