Maybe one day

Maybe one day I'll look back and laugh. However, today is not that day. I have long been anticipating this day. The day when I would leave BCN and head to the city people have raved about: Prague. I knew I had a long day of traveling ahead of me, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel: Kath, Jo, and Colleen, all waiting for me in the land of Czechs.

I felt pretty darn confident when walking out of my apartment in Barcelona for the last time and catching the metro to Pl. Catalunya where I would hop on an Aerobus. Everything was going well until my flight out of BCN kept being delayed and then delayed again. They said it was because of the big storm in Madrid, where I would find my connecting flight to Prague. They said the flight would only take an hour. WRONG. So when I finally arrived in Madrid, I scrambled to find T1 where I would check-in for my next flight. After 7 moving-walkways, 1 bus ride, and some slight jogging, I found the Wizz Air check-in. As I approached, the single man standing behind the counter eyed me suspiciously.

"¿Que?," he asked with a lovely frown on his face.
"Pues, yo necesito coger mi vuelto a las 3:05"
"Ai, no. La puerta está cerrada."
"¿Cómo? ¿Está cerrada ahora? Pero, es 2:35."
"Si y estás tarde. Lo siento."

Lo siento my ass. Pardon the language, but at that moment it took all my strength not to break down in tears. After about three plus hours of talking to airport personnel, I got myself another flight to Prague. For tomorrow morning. That leaves me in Madrid for the night, just hanging out, in my hotel on the highway, eating chips and a Twix for dinner. If it weren't for the Skype calls I was able to make to my parents and Johanna, I would've been doomed. Not only did I need to get in contact with them, but they calmed me down. I can tell you one thing: I will be in Prague tomorrow, happy as can be. As for now, I have a book and the Spanish Disney channel to entertain me. So maybe one day I'll look back and laugh.  Maybe one day I'll find the humor in all of this. Maybe.

La despedida

Here it is. The post I have long dreaded; the one that turned my stomach this morning and makes things feel all too final. All day, hell, all week and even before that I have thought about my last Barcelona post. As I roamed the city today, for one last time, I had to stop myself when I felt tears welling. I kept my sunglasses on and put one foot in front of the other, not having any destination in mind, just walking. I shoved my ipod deep down into my purse and simply listened to the noises around me. I walked past my school, under the Arc de Triomf, toward Parc Ciutadella where I found a sunny spot in the grass. I stared up at the incredibly blue sky and started to reach for my camera, then hesitated. No pictures. I would remember this image on my own: the clouds that looked like puffs from an old man's pipe, the palms of trees swaying in the light breeze, and the blindingly bright sun.  Next, I headed to the Borne and Gothic areas, up La Rambla, and into La Boqueria market for my last chocolate treat. I made my way through the always crowded Rambla up to Plaza Catalunya where I stopped to write my last postcards from Spain. It reminded me of a day during my first week here - I sat by the fountains in Pl. Catalunya and felt completely overwhelmed by the great city that Barcelona is. Now, I see Barcelona in a completely different light. I see it as a place where I expanded my view of the world; where I practiced and stumbled over my Spanish; where I played in the sun and felt the chill of the Mediterranean Sea; where I gained a new appreciation for food; where I made a home for myself; and most importantly, where I grew up. 


Sometimes I forget about how nervous I was to study abroad for a semester. I feared leaving behind everything that was familiar and venturing to an entirely new place. And now, I can't imagine if I had not gone through this experience. It would not have been the same without my Barcelona family: Anjali and Mercedes. I mean it when I say that I lucked out with my homestay placement. Not only is Mercedes a truly sweet woman who constantly reminded us how much she enjoyed our company, but she is a phenomenal chef. La cena was our time. During our last dinner, we chatted away in spanish on a variety of topics, coming to a slight pause when our departure was mentioned. I will forever miss these dinners and the prelude of photo-taking by Anjali every night, without fail. 406 Balmes became my home away from home. Plaza Catalunya became a spot on my regular path to school. Barrio Gotico became my walking ground. La Rambla became my enemy, for its crowds, and my love for its vibrance. El Borne became my go-to venue for food and drinks. Barcelona became my city. So, to say goodbye is difficult. 


There's not much more to say because there's too much to say. That may not make much sense, but to me it is perfectly sensible. The four months I spent here cannot be summed up. They cannot be told in just one story because it is a chain of stories, of places, and of people. 


As I end this adventure, I begin a new one tomorrow...a trip to three countries with three of my favorite people in the world. ¡Venga! Because the biggest adventure is the one I'll be taking on May 16th, back home to the States. 

Hasta luego, Barcelona. Te echaré de menos.

Last week lineup

So this is what finals week feels like...sitting inside, working on my Media and Politics study guide while it's 68 degrees and sunny. Every now and then, I glance up from my Mac and look out the window, tempted to grab my towel and rush up to the rooftop. However, I'm halfway through my review and insist on finishing it (after a blogging break, of course).

Monday, monday, monday. You know how Mondays are pretty much the worst day of the week? Well, I had two papers and two exams due this past Monday, which made for a late Sunday night. I couldn't have been antsier during my last class where I basically just had to show up and turn in my final assignments.  The bright side was that I got to see my ever-so handsome and witty teacher, Xavi, one last time. And guess what? He hugged me! My schoolgirl crush peaked at that moment. Filled with elation, I joined Anjali for a last tapas meal at La Boqueria market where we enjoyed patatas bravas and chorizo with our Estrellas. We then made our way home and I took a siesta so I could be revived for my first and last Loco Lunes at Apollo. The club was better than expected, especially when Maddie and I were asked to come to the VIP section. We danced our butts off and left a little bit sweatier than when we entered. However, there was a great loss that night: Maddie's camera. And it was her camera that just so happened to be the one that held all the super cool photos of us dancing on stage next to the hipster DJ, the vast and crowded floor of people rockin' to the music, and our smiling faces on our last night out. At least I captured these gems...

Tuesday was a beach day. Maddie and I were in need of some sun and wanted to sweat out any liquids left in our bodies from the previous night. On our way to the beach, we stopped at one of the many markets to grab some provisions: water and chips. And these weren't just any chips. With some encouragement, Maddie purchased a bag of cheeseburger flavored Lays. Now, stay with me on this. THEY WERE GREAT! It was like a teeny little cheeseburger in your mouth - ketchup, pickles, and all. Go ahead, judge us, but these things were delicious. I suggest you run to you your local grocery market now to stock up since they're limited edition. After a solid 4 hours in the sun, we packed up and headed home. Lucky us because a thunderstorm began just 5 minutes after I walked into my apartment. The rain continued into the nighttime, when FCBarça played their ultimate rival, Real Madrid, to see who would go onto the championship. Barça defended their home turf with a final 1-1 score, which was then combined with their 2-0 score from last week's game in Madrid. Ya know what that means...we're headed to the championship baby! 

Wednesday or, Hump Day, as I like to call it. I was 'up and at it' early to meet two of my friends, Christina and Nicole for a coffee date. We met at the ever popular Plaza Catalunya and sauntered up Rambla Catalunya to a cafe I had been a few times before with the lovely Deniz. We sat there, like true Barcelonians, sipping on our cafés con leche, while happily chatting away. Even after finishing our coffee and croissants, we continued sharing stories and feelings about our families, returning to the U.S., and being seniors. It was a great last coffee date with the girls and I hope to keep in touch with them once we return back to our accustomed lives. 

So here I sit, writing about Russian politics, wishing I was outside. One more final and I will be done with study abroad and done with my Junior Year (sigh). 

Six Things

Despite it being my finals week, I was able to get myself out of the apartment for my last weekend in Barcelona. Lately, I haven't been able to help but feel sentimental for a city I still live in. Everything I have grown accustomed to in Barcelona is about to end. Six days. That's it. However, the light at the end of the tunnel is that I go from Barcelona to Prague where my sister, Johanna, and Colleen will be waiting. And yet, I can't shake the inkling of sadness that pops up, reminding me exactly how much I am going to miss beautiful Barcelona. So, here are six things that I love about BCN. One for each day.

{ A refreshing Damm Lemon cerveza }

{ The view from my little window I look out everyday }

{ Mercedes' cooking }

{ My metro stop }

{ Afternoons in the park }

{The beach}

Bella Italia

Throughout my travels in Italy, I would ponder over what to write on my blog. A sentence, a memory, or an image would pop into my mind and I'd try to file it away. However, here I sit; wondering what moments to write out so that I can later look back once my memory has failed me.

Colleen and I began our trip in charming Venice. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until we couldn't find our hostel. "It said cross the bridge, turn right, walk 3 minutes, and look for a red door. Right?" Finally, after walking for way more than 3 minutes, we found our hostel check-in point. We then found out our apartment was located in the city center, close to Piazza San Marco. Perfect! However, that meant about a 30-45 minute walk with our heavy backpacks. Sure, we had the option of taking a water bus, but who needs public transportation anyway? Our apartment ended up being way better than expected with the added bonus of having a pianist at the hotel next door, which we could hear if we cracked open the windows. I'm not embarrassed to admit we tucked ourselves into bed early both Friday and Saturday nights, falling asleep to the sounds of the piano. For me, Venice was an alluring city with winsome views around every corner. I loved the canals, the bridges, and the fact that even if you get lost you are never too far from where you want to be.

I could have stayed in Venice for a little while longer, but was in no way unhappy about hopping on a train to Florence. The train ride just added to my love for Italy. Sitting by the window, listening to my ipod and staring at the scenery wooshing by; I felt like I could have been in a movie. Our arrival in Florence meant more walking to find our hostel. Then the exploring began! Between piazzas and churches, we stopped for food and some shopping. The most damage was done at the leather market near Piazza Lorenzo... the bags, jackets, notebooks, accessories, and shoes were all exquisitely crafted and "felt like butta" (as my mother would say). Colleen and I enjoyed visiting Santa Croce, the Duomo (and climbing Brunellesci's dome), Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and many other sites along the way. Sitting along the Fiume River, as the sun started going down, was one of the most relaxing things we did. However, one of my favorite moments was when we wandered back to Piazza S. Croce where there was an open market. We bought a cheesy bread roll, two beers and just sat along with all the other people savoring the great weather.

Tuesday brought a new setting: ROMA. We just so happened to run into Mrs. Ring there...funny coincidence. About twenty minutes after finding each other we hit up a nearby wine bar. Standard. The rest of the evening was relaxed with mild walking and a pleasant dinner by our hotel (note: not a hostel). Although I had previously visited Rome, I relished in getting to tour the city a second time. On Wednesday, we visited the Vatican and happened to get there when the Pope, himself was speaking to the people. Now I can say I've seen the Pope in person twice! [Nerd alert.] On our way back to our hotel, we crossed through many piazzas, including Piazza Navona. Thursday could have easily become a blur of site-seeing, however I miraculously remember every detail. The majority of our day was spent touring the Roman Forum, Palentine Hill, and Colosseum. Afterwards, we headed off to our next stop, which was planned to be a surprise for Mrs.Ring. The Cappuccin Crypt, which decoratively displays the bones of Cappuccin monks between the years of 1528 and 1870. Surprise! Thank goodness she fond it to be fascinating instead of just plain creepy. We ended our grand tour with the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. After all of that site-seeing we were starved so we took a tip from Rick (Rick Steves Italy guidebook 2008 ed.) and found Osteria da Mario, a family-run restaurant with delicious pasta. We made quick friends with our waiter, Nico and the co-owner, Franceso. When we asked if he was Mario or knew Mario he just shook up head, pointed up to heaven and said "Ah, no...Mario, Mario." Woops, wrong question. He didn't seem to mind and was friendly enough to sip on some limoncello with us too!

Friday we were off again! To the town of Salerno on the Amalfi Coast. My experience in Salerno can be summed up very quickly: trashy clothing, lack of sites, mediocre gelato, and Bernardo. Now, the last thing, rather person, may confuse you. To keep it short, Bernardo was our waiter and one of my many Italian crushes. Sure, he was probably no older then 17 (fine, 16) but I fell for his boyish grin, attempt at speaking english, and complete lack of shame in calling his mom "Mama" in front of us. One night in Salerno and our bags were packed again.

This is where things got good... We had a car take us to Palazzo Sasso in Ravello, which is the most beautiful place I have ever been. The winding cliff roads had the most spectacular views of the hillside, sparkling water, and plentiful lemon trees that Ravello is known for. Our time at Palazzo Sasso was beyond anything I could have imagined...we could choose what sheets we wanted (cotton, linen, or satin - satin, obviously),  had head pillows provided for laying by the pool, complementary champagne, and fluffy white bathrobes. The bathrobes became a staple outfit when in our room and we even played with the idea of walking down to the terrace wearing them. I can only hope that one day I return to Ravello and certainly Palazzo Sasso. Monday brought clouds and a case of the blues when we had to leave our heaven on earth. We ended our stay on the coast in Sorrento for one night. We weren't able to explore much of Sorrento due to rain, but the view from our hotel wasn't too shabby.

Tuesday, we made our way to Naples where I split off from the Ring ladies to catch my flight back to Barcelona. A part of me was sad to return to Barcelona because I loved Italy so much. However, now I'm back and only have one week left here. There isn't a good way to express exactly how I'm feeling about leaving, but if I could pause time, I would.

Sunny Kind of Mood

You know how people say the weather affects one's mood? Well, I'm a true believer in this saying and this past weekend just reassured it for me. Lately the weather has been fantastic! Ignoring the fact that I have 3 papers, 2 oral presentations, and menial homework due this week; I spent my weekend in "el aire libre." Friday started off on a good note when I ran into Maddie on my way to meet Anjali to get Bo de B for lunch. It didn't take much convincing for Maddie to join us (no surprise there). It was a bit of a buzz kill we when arrived at Bo de B and the guys already waiting outside informed us they weren't opening until 1:30pm. Are they insane?!? How dare they make us wait even longer than usual! If you know anything about Bo de B, you know that a line begins forming on the sidewalk about 30 minutes prior to opening. In order to keep our 2nd place in line, we waited patiently and chatted with fellow Bo de B lovers to pass the time. The bocadillo and patatas bravas were definitely worth the wait, but who's kidding, when aren't they? After gorging myself, Anjali and I headed to the beach. Perfect! Now I could show off my expanded stomach to the world! Nevertheless, I relished in the Spanish Sun and was content people-watching for hours. Barcelona's beach happens to be a nude one so it's not uncommon to see...well, everything. 

Part of the beach & the W Hotel in the background

Saturday was another day spent on the beach with friends. However, the evening brought new and excitings things - the FCBarca vs. UD Almeria game! Anjali, Colleen, and I formed a plan earlier that day to go early to the game in order to scalp our tickets. After walking about 15 minutes to find an ATM near the football stadium and being hassled by countless scalpers, we got our tickets. Once we were in, there was the small issue of sitting together. Anjali may have had to jump over a barrier to get to our section, but in the end we were all together watching the game. The atmosphere and liveliness of the crowd was a new experience for me... the entire stadium chanting "Messi, Messi, Messi" while bowing down; the children sitting in front of me yelling at the players "¡Venga, Pique!" "¡Ai! Chuta, chuta!"; and of course the swift movements of the Barca players who dominated the field. Definitely a fun experience I'll always remember.

Best seats in the stadium...

Now it's almost mid-week and I'm attempting to balance my massive load of schoolwork, prepping for my Italy trip, and hanging out with friends before their program ends (this pertains to you, Deniz, Mo, and Colleen). Wish me luck!

Just Another Jueves

7:30am and my first alarm goes off. As I reached for my ringing phone, I realized exactly how heavily I had been sleeping. My head stayed glued to my pillow until 7:45, when I finally threw up the sheets. Thursday. As I went through my morning routine I contemplated how I would spend my afternoon because the sad fact is I don't have many more of them left in Barcelona. Urban Studies class at 9:00 and Media & Politics at 10:45, done by 12:15. Then what? Come home and hang out? Nap? Go for a run? 

Once I got out of class for the day I knew I didn't want to go home, but I did need to get some work done. Sitting at a table in IES didn't seem appealing though. And so, I walked out of the building to the nearest café, got myself a coffee and took a seat. After slowly sipping on my coffee, I rifled through my bag and reached for a book. It just so happens that I've felt deeply deprived of reading lately. By reading, I mean reading a good book for pleasure, not that reading for school junk. The little bookshelf in my bedroom has numerous travel books, but only 2 regular ones. My choices were Eclipse from the Twilight series, or Chelsea Handler's Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. So as you can see, my options were limited. I admit, I've already read all the Twilight books (that was a phase). Option #2 it was! So as I sat in Farggi cafe, I read another chapter of her witty and slightly inappropriate "memoir." That's when I realized - I was doing one of the things on my goals list! No fidgeting, no cell phone use, and no uncomfortableness. I was in a cafe all by myself, enjoying a book. At that moment I smiled then quickly realized how creepy I must have looked and buried my face in my book. 

I let myself leave Farggi after finishing two pages of a paper I have due next week. When I returned home, I sat in my bed on Facebook, Gmail, etc. Without realizing it, I dozed off with the window wide open above my head and the warm sun streaming in. One hour later I woke up and felt like a new person! Not really, but I did feel pretty great.