Barcelona...Again!

March 28

The buses (all 2) were packed full, so the chances of getting a seat to oneself was super slim. Jacqueline managed, though, somehow...only a little jealous. Once we got to the hotel Jacqueline and I were starving so we went to Panaria, right by the hotel to spend a cheque on lunch. We had to meet back at the hotel and then we headed off, with FSU, to see Park Güell. This was my third time to the park, and it still wasn't super fascinating. We had an hour and a half, and a scavenger to do, so the time passed quickly. The company this time around probably made it much better than my previous visits too.

For dinner, there were about 13 people total who decided they were going to walk with us and Brittany, Jacqueline and myself were trying so hard to get them to split off from us. It's difficult finding places that can seat everyone of us, a place that we'd all be willing to eat at, and it makes paying ridiculously terrible, because they don't split the checks in Europe, and we always find a way to come up short. After an hour of making everyone walk around groups started splitting away and Logan, Brittany, Jacqueline and myself ended up at an American diner. It was fantastic. It was super cheap and we got drinks, 2 appetizers, and a main course each for about 50 euros...it was a well spent 2 cheque meal. Although we promised to return to the hotel right away, we didn't want to, so we didn't. We walked to the pier to get dessert, gofres covered in chocolate and we sat by the water for an hour or so. The fish were really close to the steps, and the weather was gorgeous. I didn't want to go back, but we did end up walking back around midnight...much later than originally planned.

March 29

We woke up early for breakfast, which is normally pretty decent at the hotels we stay at with FSU...it wasn't. It was pretty bad, there was nothing warm, and it was really just a sandwich making station (lettuce, tomatoes, meat, cheese, and all), which most people ended up doing both mornings, but it was extremely disappointing. After breakfast we took a tour through Old Town, but the groups were of 30 people, so we couldn't ever hear anything so we were really just walking through the city with 30 other people, not being able to separate. We got a little break before continuing our itinerary for the day so we went to Starbucks for Lia and then stopped by the market. 

Our next, and last stop of the day was to the Sagrada Familia, and like Park Güell it was my third time there...and it's not even done yet! 2026 is the projected finished date, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death. I might have to come back. It's interesting to see things that I hadn't seen or noticed the first few times. The stain glass, for example, the only part I remember from my 2014 visit, was only added in 2010, and there are still panels that have yet to be finished.  Unlike my first time there, I actually listened to the guide this time.

We went out for lunch afterwards and then walked around Old Town some more. CC, Brittany, and Lia went in and out of stores, and eventually came out with bags of clothes (even though there was no room to store half the stuff they bought, considering we were traveling afterwards). Then we headed towards the beach, and just made it to the pier, again, which I wasn't going to complain about. We ended up in the mall, on the water, and had dinner there. On the walk back everyone decided to go out, so we changed at the hotel and headed back out. The first, and only stop for me, Aleesia, and Jacqueline was Obama's Bar. I remembered seeing it in 2014, so it wasn't as humorous to me as it was to everyone else, but we got drinks and listened to the live musicians play. We got back around 1:30, and Jacqueline and I had quite a few, interesting conversations, considering neither of us could sleep until 3am. She couldn't shut up.  It was a hilarious.

March 30

We didn't wake up nearly as early for breakfast today, we learned out lesson. It was also really hard getting out of bed after the night before and the little sleep we got. We got on the bus for  along drive to Figueres, the hometown of Salvador Dali. We walked through his museum, which had to sense or purpose to the layout, just as he had wanted, but it was really cool. Whenever I think of Dali, the only artwork I think of is his melting clocks, but he did so, so, so, so, so, much more than that. In the 3 stories of this museum, I actually only saw melting clocks 3 times. He was a strange man, that's for sure, but the bus ride was totally worth it. One of my favorite museums by far, probably right behind the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain. 

We rested a little at the hotel, once we got back, before heading to the actual beach. It was a lengthy walk, but it was a nice night out, so it was worth it. It was dark by the time we got there, but that was okay, because, at least we made it. Then we went back into the city for dinner.

Once back at the hotel, the madness began. We had things to pack and tickets to print (or download) and we needed transportation to the airport and whew. It was a lot. One of the most difficult things to pack: a painting Brittany, Jacqueline and I bought for the apartment next year. It's a large canvas painting, that the artist took off the frame so we could roll it up, but it's still about a meter tall. It's large enough, that we can later cut it into 3 different paintings, once we separate ( :(  ) and it'll still be a complete painting. Mother Kim (Jacqueline's mom) and Debbie (Brittany's mom) approved...but my parents don't know yet ;). We also had the fun of having Lia sleep in our room this night. Brielle, her roommate, didn't need to be up at 4, like the rest of us, so Lia invited herself to sleep in our room for the night...that was definitely an experience. It's not like I haven't shared a room with her before, but it's different when there is a shortage of beds... We spent the majority of the night singing country songs at the top of our lungs and we ended up with 3 hours of sleep.