Buenas Dias
8:57pm -Barcelona -La Rambla
Hola to all. Life in Barcelona is more then pleasant. This city lives, it breaths, it dances! It is so full of life that it´s hard to put things into words.
I´ll start by saying I started Spanish classes yesterday and they are going well. Learning a lot already, and classes are suplemented with activities…and drinking. After calss today we watched a movie in Spanish (though it was originally French). While I didn´t understand all of it, I got the general idea. Translating comedy is a bit difficult and I missed a few of the jokes, though I think the voice over actors did as well. Plus there was a big protest going on outside with a whole lot of noise…people protesting tearing down buildings to build a new metro station…sounds a lot like New York and the proposed stadium in Brooklyn.
(click for more)
Afterwards we went for coffee and drinks…and more Spanish, though my brain is full up for the day and sort of shut off…the Spanish station anyway.
I´m sharing a flat with 3 other people, Thalia from Brazil is my roommate, Sandro, also from Brazil, and Katarina, from Germany, have single rooms. All of them are really nice and the girls and I go to school together in the mornings and have lunch together after with another German girl from school. I might just learn some German here too! I think I lucked out, as our apartment has a fabulous terrace and even a washing machine! (I´ve got pictures which I will upload later when I can figure out how…need either a computer that will allow a USB connection or a wireless connection).
I´ve been walking around the city a ton, just taking it all in. Barcelona is an orgy of magnificent architecture and every walk brings new things to look at, photograph and generally be happy to have seen. I went to the fabulous Santa Maria del Mar today, a less famous church (then the enormous Catedral or Gaudi´s Sagrada Familia) but astounding none the less.
The evening was spent desperately, and a bit embarrassingly, looking for a bar where I could catch the Yankees/Red Sox game. It seems not one person in Barcelona is interested in baseball…and there are two huge football games on tonight, so no luck. I pounded the pavement for a good 2 hours before finally deciding the only place I was going to get any info was on the internet. (3/1 in the top of the 6th…go Yanks!) Knowing the game is on at a watchable hour here is driving me a bit mad…but a bartender at Travel Bar said he might be able to get tomorrow´s game on the tellie for me. 🙂 Keeping my fingers crossed…
This weekend was a bit too much fun. It took till Monday to adjust to Spanish time…late nights of dancing, drinking and befriending locals kept me up till sunup both Saturday and Sunday. I had too much fun to complain and found a promising club that has a drum and bass night weekly which I´m excited to check out. Can´t beat free entry.
Speaking of cheap…Travel Bar is a god send. It´s a local bar with tons of expat bartenders and travelers from all over the world. They do pub crawls, informal spanish and english practicing sessions, all sorts of drink specials and my fave…1€ dinners! Being on a bit of a budget, I can´t think of anything better. Every night happy people come and share Cheap Eats, watch footie and enjoy chats that span many a language barrier.
So, generally all is well…although I do have some homework to attend to tonight. A vacation with homework…strange mix.
I´m sure I´ll have more to write soon, but have to sign off for now…
Adios todos…con cariño,
*Liz
Tags: Spain
LizG
I miss you already, but I’m glad you’re having such a good time. Everything sounds great!
Re Yankees:
Jeter had a walk off homerun yesterday (his first EVER during regular season), and Matsui hit another homerun as well. Did somebody say MVP? Mariano was scarily bad again against the Red Sox, giving up a homerun and tying the game. Does the MLB have his number? Does Mo need to come up with a new pitch?
Wish I was hanging at the Travel Bar with you!
mmmmWAH!
By the way, both A-Rod and Tino hit homeruns in today’s game. TINO! TINO! The game is not over yet but we’re are leading 3-2.
Love you!
I spoke too soon. Mariano blew ANOTHER save, giving up 4 runs. Bosox win this game 7-3, but we win the series 2-1.
Hey, Liz, it sounds like the trip is going better after the flight-from-hell. Good to here you’re already making friends, not surprising though, and that you’ve found good, cheap drinks and eats. Nothing new here( surprise, surprise), same old, same old, what’s the feeling there with the Pope’s funeral? I’m guessing it’s kind-of heavy. Don’t get to distressed about the the loss the the Bosox, you guys are still 2-1, whereas my Mets are 0-3 for the first time since ’64( AAARRRRRGGGG). Have a great time, looking foward to the next update.
Liz, it sounds like you are having a fantastic time. I’ve heard so many great things about Barcelona that I’m dying to go. Do you think Barcelona is a backpacker ghetto? someone mentioned that on BnA.
Yeah, there´s a lot of mochileros (backpackers, in spanish) here. Also a lot of stag parties come here. But still…you can get away from it. The tourists congregate in one area so it´s pretty easy to avoid if you want a glimpse of real Catalan life…just avoid the Barri Gotic. Actually though…that too is worth a look, it´s gorgeous, if touristy.
I love this city despite tourists, and at times because of them. Hearing British people attempt spanish really amuses me. (sorry brits)
Definitely worth a visit…pack your bag…