BarThelona

Long weekend in Barcelona: 2 days in Barcelona, 2 days on a bus.

VIERNES 27 DE FEBRERO
We left Plaza G.G. at 8.00 a.m. Here began our eleven-hour journey. Our first stop was 3 hours down the road, where we all enjoyed coffee and pastries on the JMU budget (well, money that used to be ours). We watched the movie Troy in English, how lovely. Our next stop was at 3pm to eat the lunches our madres had made for us. This time, Allison and I got three bocadillos (sandwiches: one with chicken and roasted red peppers, another pastry kind with ham and cheese, and the third with our beloved Spanish tortilla). Madre also packed us each a huge chocolate pastry and 2 pieces of fruit. Another blue ribbon lunch, Acension. We watched the Bodyguard, also in English, a movie I’m a little embarrassed to say I liked a lot.

We FINALLY got to Barcelona at 7:30pm and I was assigned to room with Angela☺ I enjoyed my ritual hotel bath and got ready for dinner downstairs at 9. Once at the table, the first course the servers brought us was plane fettuccini pasta. “Where’s the sauce?” I thought. I shouldn’t have worried though because the waiter was close behind with a twelve pound mixing bowl of ketchup (two for each of the three tables). Spaniards seem to think that Americans practically drink ketchup on a daily basis. I guess this is kind of like marinara sauce? Instead, I opted for olive oil and cheese. Next, we had a typical interesting Spanish salad, complete with white asparagus, corn, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and artichokes. For the main course, we were given a hamburger patty and French fries. It was pretty cute how hard they were trying to make the meal as American as they knew how. Personally, I would have preferred one of their specialty Spanish dishes instead, but I can’t complain. One, because the burger tasted like a sirloin steak and two, because we now had an acceptable food with which to use the STILL 12 pound bowl of ketchup. This having been said, at the end of the meal we had only lowered the ketchup content about one centimeter.

After dinner, Alex met me at the metro stop right behind our hotel and we road the 25 minutes or so back to his apartment. It was so cool to be able to see all the places he’d been telling me about, now I can really imagine him in his stomping grounds. We hung out with his roommate, also named Alex, and another friend, Will. Apparently, they had done an extensive cleaning of their tiny apartment, complete with air freshener, in anticipating my visit. Although I didn’t really notice, the thoughtful gesture was very sweet. Alex gave me a late Valentine’s Day gift: T-shirt that says “Espana es de Puta Madre!” and a jar of peanut butter. I was pretty much shaking when I opened this; it was painfully perfect.


SABADO 28 DE FEBRERO
We ate breakfast in the hotel at 8.30 a .m. The buffet offered fresh fruit, pastries, cereal, yogurt, meat and cheese. But it wouldn’t have been complete though without the champagne for your morning mimosa. We left at 9:30am to visit Gaudi’s Parque Güell. Way guay. This huge park is right near the water and filled with mosaic benches, gingerbread looking houses, and sea plant inspired fences. We also enjoyed perusing all the paintings, hand-made jewelry, and fun crafty things out on display. I bought a black leather bracelet with painted red and turquoise flowers. It’s so cool! The lady who sold it to me said she and her cousin make these all the time. The girls in our group practically sold her out too, each donning her own unique colorful pattern.

At 12.00p.m. we saw the Olympic Stadium from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. This place is huge! At 1.15 p.m. we went to the Picasso Museum. I think if Madrid hadn’t completely (and perhaps irreversibly) ruined museums for me, I would have enjoyed this more. When we were through at 2:30, Tori, Alex, and I hightailed it out of there to find the nearest café with a good Menu del Dia. Thankfully, JMU gave us money (our parents’ money) for food this weekend. That’s right, $60 in my pocket. Many of us often try and see if we can make a profit on this allotted money, but it’s pretty difficult at times. I think I about broke even for this weekend, an entirely free weekend in Barcelona, Spain. Not bad.

After lunch, Tori, Alex, and I made our way back to the hotel. I had been feeling a lot better, only with a fading sore throat and lingering fatigue. I popped another 3-euro pill and fell into a dead-sleep. I woke up an hour and half later (only because I had set an alarm), showered, and met Alex at the transfer metro station. We got dinner near his apartment at a café (one he and his friends call “Bros Café”). I ordered croquetas and Alex a steak and egg platter, like a typical football player. Previously, I Had been anxious to get a taste of the unique clubbing nightlight of Barcelona, but now really couldn’t will my body to go since I was still on meds and trying to be healthy again. Thankfully, I’m easily pleased and was just as content to stay in and watch the amazing American film, Step Brothers, with Alex.


DOMINGO 1 DE MARZO
Breakfast in the hotel again but at 8.45 a.m. At 9:45, we left to see la Sagrada Familia. This place looks exactly like a dribble castle on the outside. Started in 1898, this cathedral is still being built today (and we had thought the scaffolding was just for renovation!) Gaudi died in the early to mid 1900s, but his original design is still being followed as precisely as possible. Most of us took the elevator to the top for an incredible view of the city. Without guardrails or any safety devices to protect us, I was reminded once again that I wasn’t in the States.

At 1.15 p.m. we visited Casa Milà (Pedrera). These are apartments designed by Gaudi, a complete architect. This means that he not only designed the building, but everything inside it as well (furniture, lighting, etc.). After ALL we saw of Gaudi’s this weekend, I must say I’m extremely impressed by the man.

We didn’t get to eat lunch until 3:30pm. Excuse me is this some kind of sick joke? This is even pretty late for a Spanish lunch. By the time we were dropped off at Las Ramblas (a huge shopping strip by the harbor), we were all extremely fussy. About ten of us chose an Italian restaurant where a coke light cost almost as much as a meal; however, I finding this to be pretty commonplace here in Spain. Leah and I split four-cheese fettuccini, the boys got paella AND pizzas, and others got Menus del Dia.
After lunch, I met up with Alex who was already in the area of Las Ramblas at a friend’s apartment. We walked along the harbor and to the beach. Despite the overcast sky and 50-degree weather, it was so beautiful sitting in the sand looking out on the water. The proximity of city high rises to palm trees and beach creates a very distinct urban tropical mix. Next, we left to walk around the Olympic Village and returned to Las Ramblas for dinner. I got a Greek salad tapa (essentially tomato, mozzarella, and pickles I think?) while Alex got a Menu del Dia (salad and seafood paella). We both ordered sangria, and it almost measured up to the kind we made in Florida over winter break...almost. I enjoyed the fact that the waiter brought me a significantly larger glass than his. After dinner, we headed back to my hotel and Alex waited patiently as I dropped off my things and showered. We made the metro ride back to his apartment, picked up some wine from the general store (with a cashier Alex and his friends have affectionately named “Gracias”) around the corner and called it a night. We decided to be lame for the third night in a row since Sunday nights in the clubs just aren’t the same and since I had to get up early to leave the next morning. And when Monday morning rolled around, I was more than pleased with that decision.

LUNES 2 DE MARZO
Enjoyed our last buffet breakfast and boarded the bus to leave at 8:30am. We made two stops as before, but no goodies from JMU this time. Boo. We watched Happy Feet and Superman in Spanish and arrived home in Salamanca at 7:30. Madre made Allison and I a really delicious garbanzo bean salad with red peppers and onions, and a beef and carrot stew for dinner (no doubt from the siesta lunch we had missed). It felt good to go to bed early for a change.