On a bus to the airport right now, heading back to London tonight. It’s a split feeling I’ve got going right now: half-relief I’m headed to family and a little break, but half-nostalgic already for Spain. It became my favorite country by far because I found my comfort zone here. Good food, good people, good experiences, finally some good communication with locals after France and Portugal.
Today I ended up in my final hours here just relaxing. It was perfect. As every other day in Barcelona has been for me. I awoke early because I was dreaming there was a line for the shower. This was a really good shower I had in my apartment bathroom too. Clean, hot all the time, lots of space to move around. I mentioned before I really felt at home here in Barcelona, partly because I was living in an apartment where I rarely saw my roommates, so I felt I always had my own space to come back to. And it was big. And nice. And my friends lived upstairs. So I woke up after some nightmares and a restless sleep (my roommates left at 4:30am this morning and I was thoroughly confused as to what time it was—our room is always dark), but took a nice long time to shower and finish packing in an empty room. I cooked myself chorizo and eggs and tomatoes and had some apple juice on the side. I think I can officially say it’s time: I’m done with chorizo for awhile. Wow, never thought the day would come.
Oriol came out of his room and we ate our breakfast together. He was the Barcelona native who took us out to Montserrat on Saturday. He’s been staying in my apartment while looking for some jobs in the city. He gave me some pics from our hike Saturday:
Me, Jessica, Leighton and Lauren. We are basically an advertisement pic for this place, haha.
Gordon, Oriol, Jessica, Lauren in back, me in front, and Leighton. Yay!
Afterwards, I met up with Leighton and Gordon and we headed to the bike polo park. We were supposed to meet Alex there, but he never showed. So we just chilled in the sun on a bench and I ogled dogs while they journaled and wrote postcards. I found a dog that looked just like Kalee and probably bugged the heck out of the guys with my non-stop talk about it. We headed to a café next and got some cappachinos, and some food. Had me a croissant with Nutella. I have turned to the dark side. I love it now. I told myself I would never turn into one of those Nutella freaks that return from Europe obsessing about it. But I will. Same with croissants. Ilsa Omie used to give Chelsea and Steph and I oven-warmed croissants with jam for an afterschool snack when we were kids, and I liked them, but didn’t ever crave them as I got older. Nowwwww…..wayyyy different story. Think I’ll be living those up when I get back to the States too.
Trying to Couch Surf in Southern France this next weekend. Not sure if I’ll land a couch with a local, but my friend Ellie whom I’m meeting down there is working on it too. We met in Bordeaux and are planning to meet her friend Molly down in Marseille and Aix for the weekend. Hopefully, my newly updated Couch Surfing profile will gain me some new local friends to stay with and see things with. I’m so over touristy stuff and just want to get on with that local immersion stuff even further. Especially after Barcelona. It was amazing because all Leighton, Gordon and I tried to do after my first day there was get away from tourists. They were like a disease. It was amazing. We succeeded for sure.
I met some amazing people in Gordon and Leighton. All the “just doin’ nothin’” that we did together this weekend were really moments that I got glimpses into their lives and time with friends I definitely want to see again whether in the States or somewhere else in the world. This was the part of traveling I wanted. Though they are from the States, I still felt we embraced Barcelona together. Each guy brought his own personality to our little group of 3 and I truly felt happy in every moment with them. So thanks again guys for putting up with me—I know you’re gonna read this at some point. J
Here’s some more pics from Leighton’s camera that I liked of our times together, starting with Friday:
View at sunset from Parc Guell.
Walking up to the viewpoint at Parc Guell.
SOOO windy on top of the hill!
Gordon and I at the top of Parc Guell....aww...
Leighton and I.
Gordon's memory card is full!!! OH NO.
Nightime wine, chocolate and strawberries.
Me on a bike!! Trying to play polo...
Playing polo.
Alex and I.
So now, just hoping the caffeine from my cappuccino this afternoon won’t allow that stupid airline-fear to kick in on my 2 hour flight to London. In any case, I’m pretty tired after an amazing last 4 days in Barcelona, so hopefully I can sleep my way through the flight.
So excited to see Jess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hasta luego.
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