Mi Vida Continua a Barcelona y Valencia

Another morning departure, the last train ride of my eurail pass. I could have used another week of it, the buses and trains are ridiculously expensive over here. Well, that is in terms of what the rest of Europe has been like. One way from Madrid to Barcelona was 130euros, so the last day of the eurail came in very handy. I'd say for the convenience and the ease of use the eurail was super helpful, and I'm pretty sure I more than broke even. But if I buy it again, I will be smarter and breakdown my journey, making sure if with the extra reservations it is still worth it.
   I got off the train and written bus instructions for myself, but I got completely lost trying to find it. To add, it was raining out. But grumbling around with my backpack and tote in hand, I was so stubborn. Looking back, I was like my dad when he is lost, not wanting to ask anyone for directions because he can figure it out himself. Well, after getting pretty soaked and adding an extra hour or so to my journey I found the right bus. While on the bus it was super crowded and the driver was a complete grump. I got on and he didn't even give me a moment to grab a handle. With a 18kilo backpack on and nothing nearby to hold onto, besides an old lady, I went flying. Seriously though, I flew. Landing on the ground face first. Fuck, shit. I started uncontrollably laughing as I lifted myself up. All the Spaniards were just staring. It was pretty embarrassing as I had another 15 minutes on the bus, and no one asked if I was ok. So I giggled about how clumsy I was while the bus was completely silent. Ayayayayyyyy

Fountain Nearby Hostel

My hostel was a site to be seen. Located centrally in the city center. Reviews had said it was new, but it was like super, super new. Sufficient check in process that landed me in a room with what looked like comfy beds each with a curtain. A curtain, alright let's see how I can jump up there. (Open curtain). Oh shit, umm sorry haha (close curtain. Girls voice "sorry I didn't know the bed was taken"). I was laughing pretty hard, and some young sorority college girls were laughing too. A 12 bed suite, I guess something kinky had to be happening.
      So after explaining to the cleaning lady in spanish that someone was having sex in my bed and that I would need the sheets changed she was a little pissed but was totally cool with it. I was happy to be talking with the Spanish staff, everyone basically spoke English in Barcelona. It's such a tourist place so it makes sense, but when I try and speak to you in your own language can you at least give me a chance? I mean, there were times by the end of the trip where I would just speak English, it was easier and since I wasn't forced to I just yielded to my national tongue. I guess I should have just demanded to speak Spanish to everyone for practice's sake. But sometimes its nice for someone to understand your every word, not like the first grader speech my Spanish spits out. Ok, I'll give myself more credit, maybe 3rd grader haha.

Harbor Bridge Near Shipyard

    Meanwhile my sheets were being changed, I toured the city and did some napping by the harbor. Reminded me of Charleston, with all those palm tree lined paths by the waterway. Yeah I miss my home, Charleston,SC just got voted this year for #1 city to visit in the world, last year we received #1 city to visit in the US. But nothing compares to being able to flitter around Europe, dipping my feet in here, testing the waters out there. I am living the life. A walk back past the Column of Columbus, pointing to the New World (woop woop). And back to the hostel to figure out directions to this fountain that had a night light show and some restaurant my college friend suggested. But once showered and changed, an Aussie girl and guy handed me a beer and insisted I skull it. Alright. These two came from a bigger group from my room, of about 8 Aussies and Kiwis. I decided to F the tourism and join the socialness.

Statue of Columbus

     A great night to follow. One of my favorites was this placed called Chupitos, specializing in crazy shot concotions...and all only 2euro. My favorite this flaming one with whipped cream. Yum! Barcelona is renowned for pick pocketers, the worst in Europe, so I had pretty good clutch on my handbag at all times. A great night, and the two sexing it ended up including the birthday boy so I guess my bed was a birthday present. But once I got home, ready for clean sheets, this sorority girl has a note on my bed with curtains closed "hey, I wanted to be closer to my friends hope its ok to switch". Yeah sure sorority girl, do as however you please....I didn't really want that bed anyway.

Flaming Chupitos

     I woke up the next morning to say goodbye to the crew. Just one night and we got insanely close having an insanely good time. I was pretty spent the next day, one too many chupitos, maybe. I decided not to waste the day away and took some good sun to work, going to Park Guell. It was a gorgeous park, so quirky and edgy, and with a kiwi, mango, banana juice drink the day was getting better. These juice places are so popular in Europe, seen them in Amsterdam and Spain especially. Just the juice, think it would be good place to start up in Charleston. After the park I headed to La Boqueria, this open market hidden on the side streets. It was much fun, so much food to buy, to eat, meats, fish, tapas, juices, chocolate, Spanish ham, olives....the list could go on and on. Such a spectacle, a really cool place I would love to buy my local food from if I lived there. Energy dissipated so I went back to the hostel, ate lunch at the hostel, super good food, super cheap prices. Then I got in touch with my lacrosse friend, who is studying abroad this semester, and went to her boyfriends place. Friendly faces are so great. For dinner I went to a spot my friend from school recommended, La Negra Rosa, great find and great raspberry mojito. I spent that night just chilling, it was rainy, and Spain always makes me feel like I haven't slept at all. You go out until 6, you get up at 10, and if you don't take a siesta you are dead. So there I was, dead in bed.

La Boqueria

    The next morning I took my luck at another good weather session early in the day. The Arc de Triumph, La Sagrada Familia, and two parks. I went to a tapas place for lunch-my favorites: croquetas y chorizitos. But this old man, I could sense he was the boss, started talking to me from the bar. Asked me to drink, I said water, he said "your in Spain, vino blanco o sangria". white wine it was, the old man moved to the seat opposite me. And then he began to talk to me in English, no Id like to practice my English, he said he was from Florida, I'd still like to practice. Although this old man was funny, he was yelling my tapas order over and over again, it was obvious he just wanted to talk to a pretty girl. He gasped when I corrected "nina" for "adulto" and when he learned I was 22, not 18 like he thought. I guess I'm not as old as I think I look. Anyways, although conversation was light and friendly, there is only a certain amount of time you can get hit on by an old geezer. So I proceeded to my map and made it obvious I had other things to do. That night there was some event that was going on in the hangout area, so I opted for the outside lounge for a bit. Three college cats were outside as well and we ending up talking. The two guys study abroad in Holland, the one girl studies abroad in Florence-oh wait let me correct myself "interns" she thought her college internship semester counted as her not being a college student. I really wasn't judging, but "so the internship is for your degree...your still studying then?" "Well, yeah I need it to graduate, but I'm, like, not in college, I'm, like, an intern you see." So funny. Free drink arrived because of the party they were hosting, and it was a great last night in Barcelona.

My Favorite Park, La Ciutat

Jardines Del Turia

    Early AM ride to the bus station. Last minute style. Running to catch it, like a school kid. To Barcelona right? I said in Spanish, no not to Barcelona. I was so confused, shit wrong bus. He goes to Valencia? Then I remembered yes that's where I'm going. Sometimes I forget what point I am in my journey, so many places...hahaha opps. (American Girl smiles)
      I'm getting better at this direction process, I map quested on my phone  to my hostel ahead of time so I had directions, and I landed there! Not the best of hostels, but they had a kitchen and a terrace. The first day I just walked to a bunch of parks, ordered the churros and hot chocolate while taking a break by this beautiful fountain. 

That night I went to bed early and could sense I was getting really sick. The next morning I knew it was strep, went to the pharmacy, talked a bit, and boom-antibiotics. 8euros. No talking to doctors and getting tested, no insurance needed, nothing like that. So easy, which is just what I needed when I didn't have the energy for anything. I cooked myself up some soup and that was my only move of the day, kicked it by the TV for the rest of it. Since I only get a certain amount of time in each place, doing anything besides walking around and taking in the sites has been mentally considered just being lazy. But I'm sick, I have a fever, I think even a tourist has to take a day off. However crapy I felt, I swear it was as if I'd gotten myself all dolled up for a ball. Everyone in the hostel kept on calling me "bonita" (pretty) and wanting to chat with me. I didn't feel pretty and really wished everyone would stop talking to me, I just wanted to watch tv in Spanish subtitles. Please and thank you.

My favorite piece

    I mustered up the strength to take a walk around the city that night. I hadn't done anything all day and I needed some movement. I walked around and enjoyed staring at all the graffiti in the area. It was amazing how the outside walls was basically an art exhibit, but better. The graffiti in Valencia is renowned and you basically see murals on the street everywhere. I walked by a guy spraying graffiti and watched him create his masterpiece, the following day I went back through the city to capture the beauty of the street art world.
    The following day I woke up and felt slightly better, I could tell the meds were kicking in. Back home this would warrant another couch day, but as my last day in Valencia I mustered the energy to do some walking. And at night I took the bus to "La ciudad de las ciencias y artes"...it was another world. Architecture so futuristic, and the way it was illuminated-so breathtaking. I spent a while just walking around it, watching the buildings sparkle against the water with their tilled design creating the effect. A beautiful end to a good destination. And the strep throat was going away...wahoo for antibiotics!

La Ciudad De Las Ciencias Y Artes