barthelona

Just got back from Barcelona a few hours ago. We took the overnight train (note to self: NEVER again) Friday and Sunday nights so as to 1) maximize our time in the city and 2) save about 150 euros or so. I am glad to have done it just this once, but it was not worth the extra money at all. It smelled like body odor and old food and the people (2 rando strangers) were completely making out in our cabin on the way back. It was disgusting and after the 9 and a half hours were over I don't think I have ever been so happy to see the inside of the Madrid train station— where not only did they speak and write in Spanish instead of Catalan but also advertised in bright neon that Toledo was only half hour away. 

OK enough bitching. Seriously this weekend was more than incredible. For once (kind of sad to admit) I had WAY more fun during the days than at night. We got in Saturday morning at like 7:30 and emerged at the bottom of the Ramblas (big touristy strip of Barcelona with restaurants, etc.) only to be greeted by fresh Mediterranean air and the huge statue of Christopher Columbus. I was grumpy at first but then realized, like everyone else, how incredible is this?! When else will we be able to see Barcelona at daybreak before the bustle of tourists? Great start to the weekend.

We continued the day with a visit to the Picasso Museum. I honestly was not too thrilled going into it because I knew I was not a huge fan of his- cubism really is not my style. It ended up being pretty cool actually. The museum, located in the heart of Barcelona, took you through the many phases of his career and proved me wrong about thinking Picasso was only about weird geometric shapes and distorted faces. 

We later took a visit to the Chocolate Museum, as recommended by Rick Steves. Interesting, but kind of disappointing. Don't you just think of free samples galore when you think of a chocolate museum?

We later walked the Ramblas and ventured into a huge outdoor market, where we picked up fruit, bread, cheese and wine to take to the park. We sat on benches and enjoyed our two-buck chuck while Spaniards walked through hand in hand, dogs barked, children laughed and the sun shone. It was one of those genuinely beautiful afternoons that I just wanted to sit and feel everything going on around me. We went to this little lake and took boat rides in these cute dinky rowboats. 

The next day was hot and gorgeous. We went to mass (yea, can you believe it?) at the Catedral and visited Gaudi's Sacred Family Church, which was started back in the 1880s and is not expected to be finished being built for another 50 years. Another Steves recommendation, and while I paid the 8 euro entrance fee very begrudgingly, it was definitely something I am glad I saw. We later went to this one huge park at the edge of the city (can't remember the name but it had Gaudi buildings all over for the city's nobility back in the day) and finished off the day with a walk to the Olympic Stadium and of course, sangria.

One thing I have come to realize for certain is that Europeans have no shame whatsoever. Chunky Europeans will wear whatever they want proudly, no matter if they should have thrown it away four or five waist sizes earlier. They make out mercilessly and passionately in the streets, no matter who is watching. They proposition you most disgustingly, no matter who you are or what kind of other guys you are with. They tell you the honest to God truth, no matter how frustrated or disappointed you already are. These are things that are delightful and shocking about this place. All things that make me think and rethink my everyday as well.