"Pet Hates!"

6/26-27
This morning there was a currency exchange on the ship for Euros, which was very convenient versus finding a bank and getting a fee! Plus, I was beginning to run out, and I still need Euros for a few more countries!
We got off the ship and just started walking. We didn’t know where we were going, what we were doing, or what we wanted to do. That is what made the day so incredible! We stayed on the mainstream streets that were full of people and shops, because we didn’t want to end up in a sketchy area and get lost. We had no map, no directions, and no suggestions! On our adventure, we saw many cafes but we like to wait it out and find the perfect one. I think some tourist’s mistakes are when they see the first café when hungry, then stop. We kept waiting and waiting to see what else there was, and then we found the perfect one. We sat outside on a patio (most restaurants and cafes have them) and watched the world walk by! In Spain, they do not rush you, and they don’t bring your check out when you are finished. Most people sit after they eat and then you have to ask for the check, it’s just another part of their life that is so different than in America. I got a bocadilla that was a fresh baguette with mozzarella, basil, y tomatoes (margarita bocadilla). The water comes in bottles and is usually more expensive than a coke!
Strange happenings- I’m thinking in Spanish sometimes! And when I talk to Semester at Sea people, I’m wanting to speak in Spanish but I have to consciously think to speak in English! That’s how immersed you get, it can happen in 3 days, but I love it.
After that, we walked some more (I’m guessing about 10 miles in one day, no joke). We ended up on Passeige de Gracia! The biggest/busiest street with shops and things everywhere! It can be compared to Rodeo Drive, but better. We stood in front of Gaudi’s buildings and took pictures, like all the tourists do. We stand out so much here... even if we wear their clothes and try to blend in, it’s impossible I’m pretty sure. Plus, even if you think you are starting to fit in, the locals will make it very obvious that they notice you… Anyways, there was a GIANT Burberry store, with a massive entrance. There was Valentino, Dolce and Gabanna, Chanel, and many more designer stores! Even though these can be found in big cities in America, what made these so amazing was the architecture; huge concrete buildings with very gothic designs and carvings. Wait until you see the pictures, it still blows my mind.
After walking from 11am-6pm, we stopped for gelato to rest our feet! It was delicious and it is every time. But…. when I finished, I noticed a “Nestle” label on the ice cream sign… I just ate gelato that I thought was so amazing and straight from locals, and it wasn’t…. It was still refreshing though! Haha.
We went to Las Ramblas when we were found our way back towards the ship. I bought a turquoise necklace charm. It was 15 Euro and I got it down to 7! Not much difference, but it was pretty cool to experience bargaining again (practice for Africa and Egypt!) Then, the best thing happened. We found a little stand by the beach that sold gofers. Gofers! You are probably wandering what a gofer is. Well, it’s close to Heaven. You watch them make a fresh waffle to perfection. Then they pull out Nutella and drizzle it all over! I’m sure it’s well over 500 calories, which makes it SO DELICIOUS! We were laughing about the name because it sounds like a gopher, the little animal. In Nova Scotia, there was something similar, but they were called beaver tails! Beaver tails and gofers are delicious. Haha that sounds funny.
After the days activities, we all went back to the ship to get ready to go out for our last night in Barcelona! First, we took a train (my first time!) and went to a huge water fountain light show. It was full of people and had a dance stage with lights everywhere! It was basically a huge night festival, just bustling with people. We asked some family (they looked American) to take a group picture of us. When I asked where they were from, they said Houston! Ends up, the daughter is best friends with Kelsey Devine, my little in high school band! I also saw Lauren Gilmore, from Highland Park. We went to camp together for about 7 years, and we saw each other on the street! You never know who you’ll see! Along with the stage with music and lights, there was a huge foam pit with hundreds of people dancing and having a good time. We were in nice clothes to go out so we didn’t hop in. If you ever go to Barcelona, you have to go to this water fountain light show. Nothing like I’ve ever seen.
We went to Chupitos again and then to a huge warehouse club called Razzmatazz at about 3am. It is so weird here, if you go to the club at 1am or 2, it will be empty! Unlike Sutton, this place played American music. I actually liked it better when they didn’t play familiar music because it made it feel more like a foreign country! It was so fun! We all met up with Sergio and friends after we got inside, we were careful about staying with a group and in a public place… but it is fun when you meet locals and become friends. I am trying to get to know their way of life, trying to expand my knowledge of the world and different cultures. You can learn so much in a few days. But, you can never be too careful. I never know what could happen next, so we all keep our group together and don’t separate or go anywhere alone. All the warnings my parents have given me become surreal when you are in the situation to decide if you should all go hang out somewhere, or if you should stay in the club with a ton of Semester at Sea students (smartest option). My parents are spot on, because you hear things that happen first-hand here, and we will do anything to prevent that! The ship announced that one person was already sent home for conduct reasons…
At about 6am, when the clubs closed, we all went back to the ship, just in time for breakfast/sunrise! We sat on the deck and watched the sunrise over Barcelona, our last day there. It was beautiful, yet again! I slept for about 3 hours, and then we all went to the beach. We decided to do the beach on the last day because we got all of our shopping done, and we only had about 6 hours. It was so crowded on the beach but that’s what made it fun! You can’t drive up to the beach, like in many places in America. It goes from the beach, to café’s on the sand, to huge sidewalks full of shops etc. The main roads are about a mile away. The water was so cold, but refreshing, and clear blue, and the sand was a little harsh on the feet! Another thing, unlike most of the beaches I’ve seen, there were little to no waves! There were Asian women walking around offering massages for 5 Euros, Africans walking around offering to braid hair, paint henna tattoos, and sold bracelets, Indian men selling sarongs, and Spanish men selling coconut pieces, beer, water, and home-made tapas. An interesting mix to watch! It was very diverse and entertaining to watch everyone sell their products. Shea and I bought a sarong. It’s blue, brown, and orange tie-dye, very pretty and authentic! Two nights ago we met a guy from New York who was quite a character, to say the least. He was a theatre major and was hilarious to talk to, and full of stories! Shea and I want to submit his name to have his own TV show, I don’t know how to describe his wit, but I took a few videos of him telling stories haha. And apparently, he is allergic to birds? Well, while we were on the beach, he was randomly next to us! Out of thousands of people! And what is even funnier is that he was getting a Tweedy Bird henna tattoo on his arm!! That’s how strange this kid is, so funny. Allergic to birds with a bird tattoo…
When people ask what we are doing here in Barcelona, it takes about 30 minutes to talk about it and answer all the questions people come up with! Every time I describe the trip to people and all the details, it sounds like a dream, and it is. I’m thinking- wow this sounds amazing and it’s happening to me right now, in this moment!! How awesome! It’s so surreal now that we have been in Spain, and we will be in Italy in the morning. Wow.
As we were heading back to the ship, for our last hour in Spain, we stopped for REAL gelato. It was very modern! It made me think of Berripop, but with gelato. I got saccriatello y dolce de leche mixed! SO DELICIOUS. I can’t wait for gelato in Italy!!
When we got on the ship, we ate another meal, because it’s free! Haha I feel like I should eat every time they provide food, because I’m hungry a lot from walking all day and being busy! In Spain, dinner starts at 10pm, and so that’s what we have been getting used to. On the ship, dinner is at 6. Sitting in my room at 10, I was wondering why I was so hungry. Then I remember that I’ve been adapting to their schedule and eating dinner at 10-1030 every night! In Italy, everything is going to change again, but I can’t wait!