For a country that I wasn't even going to, I had the most amazing time and met some amazing people

I decided, well really my bank account dictated the decision, not to spend 6 days in the French countryside. I figured that it would end up being quite expensive due to a lack of hostels, meaning I'd have to stay in a hotel or find something else. First, I figured I do a couple of days in Luxembourg City, then a few in Belgium, possibly in different cities. The plus to this was that my EuRail pass was valid for both countries. But then I had the problem of finding hostels with good ratings and good prices for the dates I wanted. So I thought, maybe I'd go to Germany, but the trains from Luzern were upwards of €150! I had a look at flights next, and it was still quite expensive to go to Germany. Next I just picked a few cities, with some contributors on hand, and Barcelona happened to be the cheapest. Then I had to find a hostel. I found one with top rating and good a price, so I snapped up a flight to Barcelona, my hostel, and a cheap flight from Barcelona to Bruxelles.

This was my first solo international flight, and naturally I was a little nervous, and worried that I would miss my flight if I wasn't there earlier enough. I also wasn't able to print out my boarding pass online, and that worried me. I didn't want them to reject me because I didn't have it. So by getting there super early I felt that if I explained that I couldn't do anything online it would be more ok than if I got there at a more normal time. I checked in fine, phew, and then I had time to shop the likes of Hermés, Cartier, and Burburry duty free.

The flight went fine to Barcelona, and I got to rock the back Seat alone. It was really pretty flying over the alps, and I looked out the window most of the way. I also saw a lot of ocean, that was encouraging. I was looking forward to some sea and sunshine since I was deprived of both in Luzern. I took a bus from the airport to Plaça Catalunya, and then the metro to my station, and hostel. I have been told terrible stories of people having their bags stolen in España, and I really didn't want it to happen to me. I had even read up on some tips and warnings on an Internet sight about Barcelona. I tried to look savvy and as thought I knew what I was doing at the station, so as not to look like a target of crime against tourists. I made it through ok. I got to my hostel and, after a little trouble with finding my key, I got to my room to drop my stuff and went on a search for dinner; it was fairly late, an I hadn't eaten in a while. While I cooked and ate I met a great bunch of people from all over the world. They are Rose, Brie, Alec and Andrew from America, Tony from Canada, Kate from England, Daniel from brazil... I met so many more people over the next 3 nights. I wanted to get set up and well rested, but I ended up in bed about 1:30! The rest kept going long in to the morning I found out!

The next morning I got up, had breakfast and went out with my map in search of the Sagrada Família, the unfinished basilica designed by Gaudi. On my way I saw how beautiful Barcelona is. I think that the mix of art, the buildings designed by Gaudi and the diverse architecture blend in perfectly to make a playful and happy atmosphere (I'm sure that the sunshine helped, too!) I walked along La Rambla to Plaça Catalunya, and then continued on my way to the basilica.

 la Rambla

a quirky building in Barcelona

A piece of art by Gaudi along la Rambla

Plaça Catalunya

I noticed it from quite far off! It is amazing, with high, and many, intricately decorate spires. The closer you get, the more detail you realize has gone into it. There was a bit of a queue, but it moved pretty fast. I didn't care about having to pay €10, because it is pretty obvious where the money is going to; cranes and scaffolding were set up through the church and workers were continuing with Gaudi's unfinished work. It was a beautiful basilica unlike any I have seen. It is very grand, open, and light inside. I'm used to going to to quite dark, gothic cathedrals, and them filled with gold, paintings of the bible and multiple places to pray. Here, it is much more simple, yet their is so much faith represents through the design, the layout and the building itself. The pillars represent the Forrest, the skylight represents something like the connection between eat and heaven. It was really nice. There was a lift upto the top, but I didn't know, so I didn't have a ticket, and the next available lift was over an hour away. I decide not to do the lift but keep looking  around Barcelona instead. I went shopping along Gracía and La Rambla.

 Sagrada Família

 inside the cathedral

 the amazing stained glass 

 one of the many facades of the Sagrada Família

The afternoon, I decided, was going to be dedicated to the beach, and getting the sunshine that I had so dearly missed in Switzerland. I went back to the hostel grabbed my bathers, towel and Huckleberry Finn an walked along the Port di Barcelona  to the. Beach. It looked so good! I found a nice spot to set up and SPF+15'd myself, and some tanning spray and started to brown up a bit. It was very relaxing laying on the beach, and I felt like I deserved it. I went paddling as well to cool off, but I mostly stayed on the beach, as it was delightful. I Spent about 2 1/2 hours on the beach (but outside of the 11-3 peak UV time) and then went back to the  hostel to freshen up and eat (sunbathing takes up a lot of energy).

on my way to the beach!

the Port de Barcelona

the street to the beach

the beach!

Brie was going to have to look at some apartments to rent, and she invited me along to see them with her, and said that afterwards we'd get some dinner. We also invited Tony and Kate along, and we ended up going to a very cool Spanish/ un-touristy tapas bar. We ordered 3 or 4 different Tapas each. It took a while to order because we a) didn't know what half of it was, and b) Moja, our waiter, didn't speak English. So, Tony, who could speak a little Spanish and myself with my Italian, worked everything out with Moja. Brie kept changing her mind, so that added a bit of confusion. It was really great food though and we didn't finish it all! We has bombas, croquettas, fritte with aioli, sardines, calimari, pasta salad, green peppers... So much! We washed it all down with a litre of sangria and wine and beer after. We also planned on going down to the beach to watch the eclipse, but time got away*. But once we got out, Tony spotted it and we were all in awe of it. We went back to the hostel, had some whiskey, and after one drink I called it a night.

Kate and Brie wandering down the streets of non- tourist Barcelona

Myself, Tony, Brie and Kate at our tapas bar

the eclipse!

Brie and I were suppose to go running on Thursday morning (didn't happen) so I went to Plaça Espanya and the not-so magical fountain. I wander for a little bit, until I wandered off the map! I got back on the map and walked to Plaça Universitat, and then back to the hostel. We were also suppose to go to the beach together, but because the girls slept in, and I had gone out, we missed each other. I still went to the beach that afternoon. I did more relaxing than paddling this time. Another 2 1/2 hours... It was a little cloudy that afternoon, but it was still really nice.

 the magic fountain and the art gallery behind it

view of Plaça Espanya and Barcelona from the art gallery

That evening it seemed that there were more people (apparently they were there the whole time). We drank cava, more cava, and bad cava. We also had a free Spanish dinner at the hostel that was cooked or us. It felt like we were all one big family. After drinking about 3 bottles of cava, we went up to the hostel bar and ended up getting 2 bottles of bad €3 red wine... Another bottle appears later. It was bad, but we drank it all anyway. it was a very relaxing, social evening, and it went well into the Friday morning.

Kate, Matt, Brie, Ewan, Myself, John, and Tony

I had one day left in Barcelona and there was still so much that I wanted to do. I really didn't feel like I had enough time and I definitely wasn't ready to leave. I needed to experience a little more culture, so I went to the Picasso museum. The girls were going to the beach, and I planned to meet them after the museum; I still needed my beach time! The museum was good; I was not aware of the extent of Picasso's art. I am only familiar with his cubism. There was so much more to it, and it was fascinating to see the way that it developed through out his life. It was also interesting to read about his life, and how it influenced the way that he worked with his art.

After Picasso, I walked to the infamous gold fish, looking for Brie and Kate at the 2nd buoy, but it is very hard to ind people at the beach. We were all meeting up later to go to Sonar, so I went home and figured that I should organize all my bags, seeing as I had a flight at 10 the next morning. 4 o'clock came and the girls weren't home, 5 o'clock Tony came around, but the girls still weren't home... We  could only get in free until 6 and by 5:30 we knew it wasn't going to happen. It was probably best I didn't go out, as I was also a bit sick, too (cold sick, not alcohol abuse sick) and I did have my bags packed. Tony left, and I just chilled, and then the girls came home and we ended up sitting in the courtyard hanging out, and that was nice. We just had drinks and chatted and it was great. Better than having to yell over house music at Sonar. I also had to say goodbye to everyone that night because I would be leaving early. I didn't want to say goodbye, they were really amazing people.

the infamous goldfsh

more friends!

I got up at 7 on Saturday morning, packed my stuff, had a few other things to get organized, stressed a little, but everything was sorted out. I got to say goodbye to a few people again because they hadn't actually gone to bed. Stefan was also going to the train station, so we went there together. It was good to have company, and I also didn't exactly know where to go. I took the train  to the aeroport, checked in for my flight, had breakfast, and went an got ready to fly to the capital of Europe, Bruxelles!

xx

(*we were too busy eating/drinking/having a merry ol' time)