Bouncing Back in Barcelona

Trip Start Jul 25, 2007

Trip End Jun 22, 2007

Loading Map

Map your own trip!

Map Options

Show trip route

Hide lines

Flag of Spain Barcelona, Spain
Monday, July 9, 2007

Barcelona is wonderful. I'm a little more comfortable with my Spanish now, and now I'm leaving Spain. We arrived here by an overnight bus Saturday night from San Sebastian. It was pretty miserable, but only 25 Euro which counted as our accomodation that night. It was about a 7 hour ride, but it didn't really seem that long. Every seat on that bus was full, so all of us had to try and sleep sitting up, which I couldn't do very well. So Sunday morning we arrive about 730am, and unfortunately my throat still feels like I swallowed glass. We were dead tired, but we found our hostel and but our bags down, although we couldn't check in until 2. We decided to change into our swimsuits and go to the beach. It was probably about 10am by the time we got there and it was extremely nice out, the sun didn't seem to hot, and the breeze was perfect. We rounded up some beach chairs and I dozed off...for about 2 hours. Whoops because you can know write your name in the red on my chest, arms, stomach, or legs

paella

. Yeah, I'm a little burnt. That might be an understatement. Anyway, the good news is that I'm starting to feel much better. Back at the hostel we meet some fantastic people in our 8 bed dorm. We decided to go out for Sangria and Paella with our new friends Jared and (her name escapes me, maybe something like Ree). Jared is from Arkansas, going to school in Philly, while Ree is from Japan and speaks very little English. We had a BLAST! We went to a restaurant, had our Sangria and Paella, and then walked around until we ended up on the waterfront. We stopped at another place on the Pier and had another pitcher of sangria thanks to Ms. Kacie:) Some of the conversations were priceless, and on the way back we had to give Ree a little english lesson...ask me about it later, hilarious! Anyway, we got back and I passed out, which was much needed because this morning I felt great! Thank God. I was really getting ready to get this sh** checked out. I'm sooooo upset about missing the run of the bulls to this stupid sick thing...but I am so relieved to be moving past whatever that was. So today we got up, had some cafe con leche y churros con chocalate (thats what I had), and then we went to see La Sagrada Familia, which is un catedral muy famosa en Barcelona. Giant church, started by the famous Spanish architect Gaudi, and still not finished today. We also walked around Las Ramblas and hit the Gothic Quarter. Later in the day we went to the Olympic Village and then hit the Olympic Playa, which I just wrapped myself in a blanket and read my book

la sagrada familia

. Yesterday was enough sun for me.
Spain is so wonderful I really don't want to leave. I actually miss San Sebastian a little bit. But for those of you who are on the edge of your seats about Kacie leaving the trip saga....well it ends in Kacie leaving. She booked a flight out of Rome just about as fast as we get there, which is tomorrow. It's a very sensitive subject, and I don't think we've ever fought about anything as much as we have about this. I offered her money to borrow or to have, I don't care, I just wanted her to finish this trip. But she's decided to leave me here in Europe as borrowing money would weigh too much on her. I was really upset...at her...at the situation. But I accepted it 2 days ago when she booked her flight, and I've actually turned my spirits up to the rest of my time in Europe. I've really been planning this for too long to be upset here, and I just hope that Kacie has enjoyed the time she's been over here as much as I have enjoyed her company up to this point. Ever since Paris I've really been preparing myself to travel alone...however, the latest news is that my sister is now joining me in a couple days! what!? Impulse, but great! I am very excited. My very very concerned and wonderful parents have emptied their pockets to provide me company on the rest of my journey and to provide Laura a celebratory "I'm done with my job" much needed vacation. So now it's the Smith sisters. It's like a whole new vacation from this point, and I love that I have 2 more weeks left! I'm just (love you mom and dad) not ready to go home yet.