Livin' La Vida Loca

Like it is with every time I begin an entry, I have no idea whatsoever where to begin when trying to recount an experience I have had recently since being abroad. However, this week's has proved particularly difficult due to the fact that it entails the greatest trip I have had thus far during this semester, a weekend adventure to the amazing city of Barcelona, Spain! Why was this trip so special you may ask? Well there are actually numerous reasons that made this recent voyage of mine so memorable, but we shall start with the fact that this past weekend was my first time since arriving in Europe that I traveled outside of France to another country. One of my main reasons for studying abroad was to not only be able to study a foreign language, but to also be given the opportunity to travel throughout Europe and be able to experience cities and cultures other than those of the French, and it proved to be quite a treat this past weekend. Secondly, my trip to Barcelona also marked the first time that I have been able to see one of my best friends from home, Shannon (who is studying abroad this semester in Granada, Spain), since we both left Charleston in December 2010 to go home for the holidays and prepare for our grand adventures! It was definitely a surreal experience to say the least for us be to hanging out somewhere other than our home back in Charleston, and the fact that it was in Barcelona, which was a trip we always talked about taking when first making our decisions to study abroad, only made it even better.

So, from the beginning. Last Thursday afternoon, after waiting impatiently all week like a toddler on the night of Christmas Eve, I began my long awaited voyage to Barcelona with a flight provided by RyanAir from the Paris Beauvais Airport which even though caused a huge head-ache to travel to, proved to be well worth the very discounted price of only 8 euro...yes, 8! After an 1 hour delay and a 1 1/2 hour flight where I met some great Americans studying in Paris as well (who will come up later in the weekend), I had finally reached the Barcelona Airport where I then began frantically searching for Shannon and her friend Claire. I guess you could say that we caused a bit of a scene when the two of us first saw each other in the airport, but after waiting for almost the entire semester for this reunion trip and being exhausted from traveling for much of the day, how could you blame us?

The commencement of the reunion

Hug it out

Ready for a weekend to remember

After a few good heart-warming embraces we began making our way from the airport to inner city Barcelona, a task in which I proved to be completely useless seeing as I can't speak a lick of Spanish, where we would be staying in an apartment owned by one of Claire's good friends from home who happens to be studying there for the semester. Immediately upon our arrival, which finally occurred after a very interesting bus ride where Claire befriended a dangerously old Spaniard and a cab ride during which both Shannon and Claire became angry with our egocentric driver (me, I just nodded my head as I constantly repeated "si!"), we got ourselves ready for our first experience with the Barcelona nightlife, something that is definitely not lacking in that city. While out, it was pretty amazing for me to see how Barcelona's raging night scene differed from that of Paris's (or even all of France for that matter). While it's not to say that going out in Paris isn't popular, you would never see the countless amount of bars and dance clubs (many of which are open until 6 or 7 AM), types of acceptable dress (much tighter, less fabric), or even the prices of alcohol (EVERYTHING was so much more affordable) that are showcased in the party capital of Barcelona. In short, our first night was a definite success that ended with a stop at Opium, one of the most popular beach front dance clubs complete with go-go dancers throughout its numerous floors, that kept us out until the early hours of the morning.

First bar excursion in Barcelona

CofC reunion in Club Opium of Barcelona, Spain. This should probably go on some advertising materials for the Study Abroad Office

The next morning, despite the fact we were all lacking in sleep, Shannon, Claire, and I began our grand tour of the city led by Claire's friend Sam who brought us first to a great Mexican restaurant called Rosé Negra that offered up some great quesadillas and burritos that, try as they may, were still not as good as Taco Boy back home. After the well deserved lunch we continued walking throughout the city seeing sights like the Barcelona Cathedral and examples of Antoni Gaudi architecture such as Casa Batlló, which I unfortunately did not enter due to the entrance fees (apparently I've become accustomed to having free admission into all the museums and churches in Paris thanks to my impersonation of an EU student). Later, I experienced a true Spanish afternoon that included the traditional siesta during which one should nap and rest up for the remainder of the evening. Despite my efforts, however, I was unable to keep myself still for even the slightest amount of time and convinced Shannon to do some more exploring in order to see the Sagrada Familia (another beautiful cathedral of Barcelona that was designed by, you guessed it, the one and only Antoni Gaudi) and La Rambla, one of Barcelona's main streets where all kinds of street performers, bars, and the amazing St. Joseph market is located. Once we felt that we had done a sufficient amount of sight-seeing, we returned to Sam's apartment where all of us decided that we were way too tired to try another night on the town, and decided we would rather make dinner (well, Claire and Sam made amazing burgers while Shannon and I watched), watch movies, and rest for the next day's festivities. Here's something to note: burgers made on the stove in a skillet and topped with some sort of French cheese may be one of the best things you could ever eat...I am definitely trying this one when I get back to the states.

The amazingly clean Barcelona Metro. In fact, I found the entire city of Barcelona to be SO much cleaner than Paris.

The Palace of Catalan Music

Side streets of Barcelona. Apparently it's laundry day

Great seafood and mushroom quesadillas from our lunch at Rosé Negra

Shannon and I with the Cathedral of Barcelona

My first gelato since coming to Europe...don't know how I went so long without it

Gaudi's Caso Batllò

I've heard it's amazing on the inside. Guess I'll just have to go back to see it

Shannon showcasing her solo photo skills with Sagrada Famillia

Myself with Sagrada Famillia

More of Sagrada Famillia, yet another example of Gaudi's greatness

Cool oasis-looking park behind Sagrada Famillia

I'll definitely have to go back to see the inside one day.

Trying to plug his CD

One of the most interesting and greatest markets I've seen

It all looked SO good

There was a ton of seafood

More seafood. We noticed that all of them were still alive as well

Saturday marked our last full day in Barcelona, and therefore, marked a day in which we would be going non-stop with much exploring left to do during both the day and especially the night. To begin our day we decided that to walk down La Rambla towards the beach area of Barcelona where we stopped to have an amazing harbor-side lunch which could possibly be classified of one of the best meals I have ever eaten. Everything from the sangria (SO good), to the seafood Paella of which Shannon and I split between the two of us (which she said was the best paella she has ever had in Spain, woah.), to even the beautiful sunshine-filled weather made our last lunch in Barcelona one to remember...but especially the food. After indulging ourselves we continued to walk around the beach area which was full of people laying out in the sun in their bathing suits despite the mildly chilly temperature...I think I'll wait for when I'm back in Charleston with 90 degree weather to begin working an a tan. After the beach, we made our way to the other side of the city so we could explore the famous Parc Guell, which is yet another area of Barcelona that has been designed by Antoni Gaudi. Now, if you ever find your way to Barcelona, this place is definitely a stop that you should include one your itinerary. Everything about the park from its architectural design, to the amazing views it offers of the city, to the great and interesting performers that station themselves in the common area of the park all make Parc Guell an amazing place to be, especially  on a sunny, warm day in Barcelona. One having seen the breath taking views of the city, we returned to Sam's apartment to rest up, grab some dinner (this was also when Shannon and I decided to pay back Sam and Claire for their generous dinner from the previous night with homemade breakfast burritos) and prepare for our last night out in Barcelona. 

La Rambla

Not too sure

A lot of people liked this guy

Video of Spaniards dancing in the metro stop off of La Rambla. Please note the little old woman tearing it up.

Downtown Barcelona Harbor

THE paella

Great harbor-side lunch

I guess you could say we like it

Barcelona beach

Mini-model of Sagrada Famillia

Barcelona = huge soccer fans

What can we say? We love the beach

Welcoming us to an amazing park

Steps of Parc Guell

Puppeteer in Parc Guell. Looks like a giant Kermit, n'est pas?

Parc Guell

Gaudi designs

Love Parc Guell and Barcelona

Pic of us with Barcelona in the background

We really liked this guy and his band, see the video below.

More Parc Guell. Apparently this was the location of an America's Next Top Model fashion show?

Had to get a picture with the America's Next Top Model fan and the runway

Barcelona from atop the highest point in Parc Guell

Loving the view

More cool designs by Gaudi

Don't really know what he/she was, but it was interesting nonetheless.

Now here's the part where I really fell in love with Barcelona...well besides all the other parts before. As we all ventured out on the town for our last night of this amazing weekend, I don't think any of us truly new how much fun was in store for us. For our first stop, we made our way to a spot known as Q-Bar right off the main street of La Rambla. I must give credit to my friend, Deborah, from back home who was the person who first told me about this small, local hangout, because Shannon and I both agree that Q-Bar is now one of our favorite bars of all time. Everything from the relaxed and easy-going atmosphere to the best sangria we've ever tasted made by the funniest, nicest, and most amazing bar tender we've ever encountered,  has now made Q-Bar somewhere that I have told all my friends visiting Barcelona to go in order to experience the amazing hospitality of the fun-loving Spaniards. Soon after Q-Bar when then made a stop at the well known chupiteria, Espit Chupitos located close the city's harbor area. Since I had never heard of a chupiteria before this weekend, I was in for a rude awakening. Apparently, the Spanish use the word "chupito" to describe the expression for a shot of alcohol, and in Spain a chupiteria is a bar that solely serves these chupitos...interesting isn't it? Espit Chupitos in particular is a chupiteria known for having over 580 different kinds of shots, with most of them being only 2 euro per shot. Needless to say, we all had a great time, especially when Sam introduced us to his favorite bar tender who served us Boy Scout Shots (which involves roasting a mini marshmallow over a flaming shot which you eventually drink and chase with your mallow) and her very interesting personal favorite shot of which is inappropriate for me to describe. Honestly, it was quite interesting to see all the different things one is able to do with alcohol, and Espit Chupitos is yet another establishment that I recommend those visiting Barcelona check out...however, if someone ever says the words "Monica Lewinsky" to you while in Espit Chupitos, you've been warned. Later, we ended the night at a club called CatWalk which, as expected, was an amazing multi-story dance club with great music and the uncanny ability to keep one out until dawn when they should rather be getting rest for an early flight the next morning...quel dommage, CatWalk.

Casual self-timer shot of the group before heading out

Claire pouring carefully, trying not to waist the liquid gold

HUGE fans of Q-Bar

I wasn't kidding when I said over 580 shots...

Fire used to roast the marshmallows

bottoms up

A true bartending master

Having a great time

My reaction after almost being tricked into taking a Monica L...I'm telling you, be careful

Sad we didn't get more sleep before the flight

Unfortunately, Sunday merely consisted of Shannon, Claire, and I rushing to the Barcelona Airport in the early morning so we could catch our flights back to our respected homes. While we had a bit of a scare that we wouldn't make it thanks to the fact "spring forward" had occurred while we were out the previous night, we thankfully had no problems getting to our terminals on time...although I'm sure none of us would have minded spending any more time in Barcelona. Then, as it must come for all vacations, the time came for Shannon, Claire, and I to say goodbye to each other, as well as one of the greatest cities we had ever encountered after having an amazing weekend that I'm sure we will all remember for years to come. 

So, there you have it! As I've said enough in this entry, my weekend in Barcelona was one of the most amazingly enjoyable adventures I have had thus far during my semester abroad. Everything from the location, the amazingly hospitable Spanish culture (which in fact reminded much of that of the South's), and especially the company made the voyage an absolute treat to say the least. And although it was bittersweet for Shannon and I to leave each after such a great time, we knew that Barcelona had provided us with some of the funniest/craziest/most memorable experiences of our lives....that is, maybe until we meet up again in London for the Royal Wedding.

Add Barcelona to your Euro-trip list and I promise you won't be disappointed. In fact, you'll probably want to return one day.