Barcelona

I apologize for the long wait on this post about Barcelona... but I didn't realize that I'd actually be this busy. Well, first things first: IMPRESSION.

I came to Barcelona on the 28th of May. It was a Saturday and could have been a normal day but it was the Champion's League 2011's championship gameday between FC Barcelona and Manchester United. Of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity of watching with my fellow FCB fans at a local pub so my new roommates and I decided we'd find one for the night. I head onto buying my first jersey (I know... I claim myself as a super fanatic but I didn't have a jersey...) and FCB flag to wrap around me like a cape. I went to the downtown area with new friends Mercedes, Cristina, and Bryan. As I have probably mentioned, or not, the night before leaving Granada was the night when we had our farewell dinner so you could just imagine that we all lacked sleep. Since I lack sleep, I easily got tired walking around Plaza Catalunya so I asked if we could stop by to get something to drink or eat. We did stop at this place where I got the usual bocadillo con jamon iberico and orange juice. It wasn't great but it sufficed although right after that my nostalgia hit me; I miss my favorite coffee shop in Granada. Pilar del Toro back in Granada was the best coffee shop for me. I made friends with the waiters and I even had my favorite spot. It's hard coping and comparing but I am in Barcelona now and I have to make do. I used to say I will like Barcelona a lot but it's not yet happening. Anyway, it's too early to say since I am only talking about my first hours in Barcelona. Speeding onto the night's festivities... We went to an Irish pub to watch the game and unsurprisingly found it full of FCB fans. We were welcomed with much gusto because of our blaring FCB outfits and my wonderful flag-cape. I didn't get anything alcoholic to drink just because I didn't want to... no particular reason. So, mom, you should be smiling right now. FCB scored 3 goals vs ManU's 1 goal. Celebrations after the championship was chaotic here! There were fireworks and crazy fans everywhere! I think I might have been hugged by people I do not even know. It's all good! I was so happy because my first day in Barcelona was epic! I went home early because I really just felt like passing out. I didn't miss out on a lot. When I came home I immediately hung my FCB flag by my window beside my bed. I'm telling you, the red, blue, and yellow colors suit me well.

The huge banner at Plaza Catalunya to support FC Barcelona

Fellow FCB fans at an Irish pub

My beautiful roommates: Mercedes, Valentina, and Cristina

Sunday... 28th of May

Well, it was a lazy day just like Bruno Mars' song. Y'all know that! Haha! I called my parents as soon as they woke up and put away my clothes inside my huge closet. Oh, I also got the biggest room in the apartment. I like having my own room! I made it cozy, nice, and ready to be my room for the next 2 months that I will be here. I also have my personal alarm clock next door, which sounds at exactly 7:45 AM. This alarm clock I'm referring to is the church bell. Yes! I live right next to a church. Again, mom, you should be smiling about this. Anyway, I spent the day just resting and getting ready for Monday because it's a regular school day. I was a week late for the Barcelona program so I missed a couple days of class. It's not big deal but playing catch up is something I really do not like doing. Hmmm... Monday came in too fast and my interview with the internship places I will be working at is also fast approaching.

Week #1: Playing catch up

Monday was a great day to meet new people. I met new friends at my internship class and Spanish class. I cannot help but to miss my old friends from Granada but, like I said, it's time to move on. Some of the new people I met were from Chicago and surrounding suburbs. I was excited because it meant that I'll be seeing them again after this program. The day went by fast and bits of it I already forgot. The next day I had my interview at the RCD Espanyol school camp. I found out that I won't be working with the actual team players, instead I will be working with other coaches as an assistant coach to the kids at the soccer camp. I was devastated at first but when I started the next day I had so much fun. I met a new friend and his name is Jaume. He speaks English to me all the time because he wants to practice but it's not helping me practice my Spanish. Oh, well... The kids mock me when I speak Spanish to them. One particular kid named Alex always says, "Oh my gawd!! Oh noooo!!" He tries to mock me every opportunity he has but it's ok cause he's only 6. My first day at work was fun and I already had my favorite kids, co-worker, and group. But different days means different group of kids. I am in no position to choose but it's all good.

These are some of the kids that are in my Wednesday group with Jaume and Fran. The little kid standing up is Victor. He's my favorite of all the kids I supervise. =)

This week went by fast and money did too! Barcelona is one expensive city... I have yet to find a tapas place that is good and cheap at the same time.


Week #2: Costa Brava weekend and France

We crossed the border to the South of France to the little town of Collioure. It was a really nice beach town with lots of small restaurants. My new friends, Courtney, Val, and Zyra all wanted to eat seafood and I was down for it too! So we ended up eating at this, well, French restaurant, which turned out to be a really chill place. We had wine, mussels, shrimp, and squid calamare. Really, it was so good that we could have stayed there for so long but we wanted to see the beach too. Unfortunately, it was not a sandy beach but a rocky one. So we just walked around and took photos of places, which I will be posting here as well. It was so beautiful there! The water was so clear... and everything else in sight was just... lovely. We walked around some more to buy souvenirs and postcards but we had to go to the meeting place soon. I wish we had more time to explore... although if we did I would have passed out on some bench because of a stomachache and headache. I'll tell more about the recurring stomachache later...

A lovely picture with Anita!!! Hey, Mat! This is for you! <3

Models... JP, Andrew, and Val

French guy with our wine at the restaurant.

I think he was trying to do the Mickey...

SEAFOOD!!!

L-R: Courtney, Zyra, Val, and I after lunch

At the Turkish baths! Of course, Scott would do that!

Collioure, France

The Cathedral of Girona

We left for Girona back across the border to Spain. It's another little town with a big history behind it. There were Roman influences and a mix of neo-classical, Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance too. We went to the cathedral and the Turkish baths, which reminded me of what I used to see just by walking around in Granada. Around this time I was having nostalgic moments of how much I want to go back to Grana' to see the Alhambra, Albaicin, and the Sierra Nevada. Of course, I wanted to see my host parents on top of everything else. I just don't think I could stop comparing; it's inevitable. Anyway, after the tour, we had time to relax before dinner. I won't talk about dinner because it was not that exciting. AFTER dinner, my friends and I went out to drink some sangria at the plaza but I wasn't up for any kind of drink so I just chose to get gelato. Good substitute right? I think mom will be proud that I didn't have a single sip of alcohol this weekend. I had one drink since leaving Barcelona and that was just rum and coke. Nothing serious... but it was expensive so none of that in the future. After a while, we went back to our hotel because it got chilly. It was really fun just talking and laughing about little things. I'm glad I stayed another 2 months and met new people although sometimes I think I am just ready to go home now.

The next day we went to see Dalí's museum. We saw some bizarre paintings but brilliant in a way. What they say is that it's either you like Dalí or not. I think I like him... his paintings might be weird but they were made with so much feelings and it's hard to just disregard that. He uses logic in them too. Ah, had I not been having stomachaches all weekend I would have gone and looked at every painting there. I left after a while because there were so many people and I just couldn't tolerate the crowd after a while. My good friend Mercedes went with me because she didn't like the crowd as well. We left the Dalí museum to go to a little beach somewhere. We got there and waited for our bocadillo for forever... So, I went to lay down and nap. I woke up and felt cold so I got coffee and thought it would be fun to play some volleyball. I met new people and there and it was cool. It was fun and everyone had a good time. Too bad we only had more than a couple hours to stay... We headed back to the hotel and showered. Dinner was served... again it wasn't too impressive but this time I stayed to chat with people after. We decided to go out that night but I wasn't feeling it. I still went but guess what.. I had another gelato while my friends had mojito. Hahah! Mom.. aren't you smiling big right now? =)

Gala... Dalí's true love.

Surrealist cab.. it's raining inside!!!

Huevos de Dalí

Cadaqués beach!!!





Do you see what I see? Yep! It's Abe Lincoln!

JP thinks he's a model... lol

The next day we headed back to Barcelona and I couldn't be happier to get back and lay on my bed. The following week went by fast and the weekend came; the weekend for Mallorca.

Week# 3: Palma de Mallorca

Our flight to Mallorca was early but it still didn't stop me from packing my bag an hour before taking the bus to the airport. Oh, well... We weren't late at all because it turned out that we were there 2 hours before. Standard procedures, I know, but still... Sometimes I choose sleep over any kind of traveling. It wasn't a trip for all students so it was just me and a couple of people I knew. the rest on that trip were new faces from other programs. They were IES students as well but they weren't in either one of my classes. I promised to make new friends and so I talked and sat with new people. I did a great job at it! I made new friends and took pictures with new people.

We arrived in Mallorca shortly after boarding the plane. Haha! JK! The flight was so fast that it felt like it only took 20 minutes to get there. We took a chartered bus to Belver Castle where we went before going to the hotel. Inma, our tour guide, told us the endless history of the castle but I couldn't really pay attention because I was taking pictures here and there. I think I might have mentioned beautiful so many times already but I will mention it again: Belver Castle was just so beautiful... so breathtaking. But then again, I still haven't seen the Cathedral of Mallorca. That too was beautiful. Gah.. Everything is... You'll see in the pictures.

My memories might be slipping me now because I waited a while before started writing but I guess, since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll just show you a lot of them. I'll write captions under some, but for now I want to stop typing. There's more to say but I'll save it for later.


Here are the pictures:

Palm trees!!! Welcome to Palma de Mallorca!!!

Hotel by the beautiful seaport? I'll take it!

Outside of the Catedral de Mallorca

Inside... it was so beautiful!

Theater inside the Belver Castle

Upside down house! LOL

Yaknowwww... Just a picture with a tree...


One of the many stained glass windows inside the Mallorca Cathedral.

La asuncion de la Virgen Santísima

It took forever to mount this pigeon statue. LOL

The next day we hiked here at Fornalutx. It was a little town with pretty houses. =)

Picture with Bri, Madie, and Mariah before the hike.

The last orange juice I will have for a while... Stupid gastritis... Anyway, it's ok! The orange juice we had was freshly squeezed and was really good!

This was the olive oil factory where we had that amazing free lunch with bread, tomato, olive oil, churrizo, and almond cake! Yum!

Beach after lunch? Yes please!

We went to Real Cartuja de Valdemossa on the last day of the trip to Mallorca. Inside, there was a library where antique books are maintained. It was kind of creepy inside but that's how everyone feels around antique stuff. Billy Bob Thornton, do you agree with me? Yeah you do..

See? I told you.. Creepy

Inside Chopin's cell

Wishing well/fountain.

Horchata and tarta de xocolat while writing on my postcards! Nienke! I was writing yours when I took this picture. Mira!!! =)

**Sorry that it took a long while to post this entry. I really have been busy with my 2 internships. The entries about those will follow soon. Adios for now...