Blogs from Spain, Europe - page 1373

I´ve made it to Alicante. The trip was a bit rough...but I´m here and that´s what matters. I stayed in Barcelona on Thursday night and didn´t want to leave. I loved that city! I have decided to cut a couple of cities out of my plans so that I can go back there for a few more nights. I was just great! Art and beaches and great architecture! I wasn´t able to get a seat on the train I had planned to take to Alicante and had to take a later train. I emailed Heinrich to let him know that I would be late...he was meeting me at the station. During a layover in Montpellier, France I decided to grab a bottle of wine as a thank you for letting me stay with them. You would ... read more

So we got out of Pamplona in one piece, had to hire a car cos all the trains to Barcelona were full for the next few days but it worked out well. We met up with Dani, a good friend of mine who I met in Argentina last year, and also Debs and Anna-Marie turned up from Vigo so all of sudden we had a pretty big group, boosting around the streets of Barcelona on rented bicycles checking out a few of Guadi's famous buildings, and trying to take out pigeones along the way (Tim was the only one who connected). We've also had plenty of beach time, I cuaght up with Silvia who i met at the same time as Dani last year, and now we're all off up to Cadaquez where she's got a ... read more

We left Barcelona early in the morning and I listened to Michael Buble songs on Dan's i-pod throughout the quick ride to Valencia. When we got to Valencia, I was immediately enamoured: clean, white and tall buildings, a beautiful fountain in the middle of a big, beautiful square, and frankly, I was just happy to be out of Barcelona. I constantly feel like I'm going to be pickpocketed at any minute there. We had to walk a fair piece in the boiling heat to our amazing hostel, Home Backpackers. Along the way, I chatted with Chris Floreani (Flo), Chris Franga (Frank to me) and Gareth (from London). They had been in my room in Barcelona, although I never officially met them there. We had to wait forever to check in, so everyone chatted with each other. ... read more

The original plan for the day was to visit Bilboa. That didn't happen, in good part due to a bit of a lie in. Hence, it's been another very lazy day. I did make my way up Mount Igueldo, albeit by funicular, and enjoyed some pretty spectacular views of the town. You really see just how packed the beaches are when you look down and behold what looks like an army of ants crawling all over the place. I made a point of visiting Eduardo Chillida's "Peine de los Vientos" (Comb of the Winds). The sculptures are interesting, but don't really fit in. I guess you really do have to see them (as recommended) when it's raining and storming. Apparently, subterranean fissures cause the entire area to howl when the wind kicks up. I really wouldn't ... read more

Anytime one travels to a destination that is foreign to them, that person will inevitably experience a state of culture shock. This state has many phases, covering a broad spectrum of emotions and experiences. Undoubtedly, any experience one may have is largely effected by the emotions it fosters within them. Memories of home or thoughts of ones dreams realized effect these experiences as well. The initial phase is one of overwhelming bewilderment and endless fascination. Like a baby, wide-eyed and innocent, your experiences are all new and rushing in at incredible speeds. There is little time to make anything of these experiences; the sights and sounds are simply too furious and fairly daunting. For me, this phase was like a high; a rush of energy that enabled me to push on through situations that may have ... read more