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Published: March 28th 2006
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Barcelona
Here is some pictures of the architecture by Gaudí...he is quite amazing. Well we moved on from Barcelona...west to San Sebastián, which is a much different place. It is a small city about 180,000 compared to however many million people there are in Barcelona. But wow...I know that Barcelona reminded me of Mexico City, but the longer I was there the more it made me see the differences. It really is a beautiful city, so much of it is just down right beautiful and there is always something happening. One day outside our hostel there was a festival and parade going on, for what reason, nobody knew but down our street came 20 foot tall people (not really they were in costumes) and bands of small children...then another day there was a marathon and everyday on the street near our hostel, Las Ramblas, there were street performers and a market. We tried the stay out late thing, which is infamous to Spain and Europe in general, went dancing at a place called guru...upon getting in the man at the door looked us up and down and wasn´t too approving of what we were wearing, but let us in nonetheless- probably because the italians we met were dressed up to par. The music was
Barcelona
more of Gaudí... some sort of techno mix that was a bit awkward to dance to...but none of us really care about what we look like, so were able to find ways to get in some John Travolta and 80´s dance moves in... We also met some nice people, that is such a great part about this trip, meeting other travelers as we go, telling us other places we have to stay and visit. One group of guys were from Israel although their ethnic backgrounds were Russian, Iranian and Morrocan...it was so interesting to learn more about that situation/conflict, or just find out how complicated it really is...they don´t even understand it all. But they knew all about this Barcelona night scene, although the night I joined them we just found out where not to go and ended back up at the hostel early (3am). One day we also tried to go see a game of fútbol of one of the major soccer teams in Barcelona...but ended up walking about 45 minutes to the wrong stadium, it was actually at the Olympic stadium but we went to the club stadium, and learned another lesson...never presume, especially when you´re walking somewhere. But in the
El mercado
At this market, made for touristas, but full of fresh fruit, meat, chocolate...you name it it was there... a bit like Pike Place end, mistakes like that, just help the nutella from sticking on- or at least all of it.
So we were in Barcelona for 4 nights and almost felt comfortable there before we moved onto San Sebastián...which is north central Spain, just where it disconnects from France, so we´re right on the beach...lovely. Really it is superb...I think I could spend a month here alone. This place is full of thrusts and folds, exposing the bedrock and creating a beautiful mountainous terrain, which the ocean errodes as it will. This morning we ran to one of the surrounding mountains and found ourselves overlooking the city, the sea and the coastline...quite spectacular. Running has been such a great way to see different parts of the cities we are in. The rest of today I spent on the beach reading a book, The Perfume, which I was recommended to read by one of the guys from Israel, by fate it was in the book exchange at the hostel were staying at. It is in spanish though and so my four hour time at the beach got me through 2.5 pages...but it will such a great way to learn the language better. Our
the little things
These are the little things that make Barcelona amazing... hostel is wonderful, it is ran by a woman and is just one floor of housing no more than 10 people...it is tranquil, warm and as close to home as we´ll find for awhile...Plus the owner is a woman you could just pour your heart out to...so wonderful.
It has been great to live simply, but I want to reduce more and more, I am also longing for a purpose on this trip. I think that when you embark on a trip like this you want it to change your life, and you want it instantaneously...like our fries and diet coke, biggie sized. But, I´ve been talking to Sarah a lot about this, it is more about getting there, working at it, learning, living that changes you...it may not even be while you´re on this trip that you realize what changes in you, but when it is over. I think I am also learning to not expect a high of excitement while I´m here... For awhile I was telling myself...why are you not ecstatic and full of life and vigor...YOU´RE IN EUROPE! But I have found that I will only feel like that for awhile, minutes and seconds even,
el groupo de israel
These are the guys we met from Israel... had a picnic with them... yum yum- blurry but you get the point the important things is just to be here. We are also learning that you for sure cannot try and see everything in one day. The first few cities we would set out for the day to see 15 different things that our travelbooks recommend...but really is just bogs you down...now we take it slowly and just enjoy the little things about each city. Like in Barcelona on Saturdays and Sundays old men play a game like shuffle board, but with metal balls in sand pits at the local park. And in San Sebastián at noon there are about a dozen 60 year old women who swim in the sea, regardless of temperature... those are the things I am here to see, not always the statues and Picasso museums, although I did go to Picasso´s museum in Barcelona and it really was wonderful. It is also wonderful to hear the different dialects of Spanish in these areas, or different languages altogether, in Barcelona it was Catalán and here it is completely different....very interesting and very hard.
So yes, we are here in this quaint and lovely little town for a few more days, we don´t really know how many more...then
sunset
Barcelona´s beach at sunset we may rent a car, which can be a really good deal, and head further west to Oviedo. We´re excited about the car because it will allow us to get into the countryside more...there is an amazing national park just south of here that we may get to...
OK- here are the pictures from the past few days. Sending my love.
Melissa
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