Departure Day! May 7th

Mimosas in celebration of the start of our journey! As well as Mimosas #2, 3, 4, and 5.

This is the way to travel for us tall and lanky folk.

The night club we went to!

Our new friends :)

 Had to document our new crazy schedule of going out!

Pepe's Bad Ass apartment!!

So, John and I began our journey to Barcelona yesterday. Since we flew standby, we were just praying that we got on a flight, but not only did we make it on our flight, but we got to sit first class!! It was unbelievable. I had the window seat, and the moment we sat down we started taking pictures like it was the best thing that had ever happened to us...and quite frankly..... it was. They provide each passenger a mini toiletries kit and a huge blanket with pillow to help you sleep in your fully reclined chair—not to mention the free drinks they provide you for the entire flight and the 5 course meal. It definitely didn’t feel like a 9 hour flight, and quite honestly, I would have been okay with it being longer!

Once we arrived in Barcelona we went through customs, got my bag, and immediately headed to the information desk to see how we could exchange money, as well as find out which bus we needed to get on. We exchanged money and the clerk totally made fun of us as we fumbled around with our money belts to get our cash. We definitely looked like a couple of American tourists with our huge ass backpacks and money belts haha. We got on our bus and made it to the city in about 25 minutes. We hopped off the bus at the Catalunya stop and went to the conveniently located tourist center (which was underground like a subway). I thought it was funny that they directed tourists there like it was a dungeon. Our mission was to find a free wifi coffee shop so we could get on the internet and let our parents know that we made it alive. I have to say that it was a bit scary not knowing exactly what we were going to do, or where we were going to stay for the night. I know it’s part of the fun, but it’s difficult for me to step outside my comfort zone and travel the hard way. However, it was all for the best, because once we were able to get online at Starbucks (which by the way I feel totally guilty for going into…we’re in Barcelona for crying out loud!) John connected with a couch surfer, Pepe, who he had been talking to for a while about hosting us. I must say that John is really good about researching, and reaching out to people who could potentially help us. Since we didn’t have a phone, Pepe said that he would meet us at Starbucks and he could take us to his place. Literally 10 minutes later Pepe arrived in his New York looking style clothing and bike helmet. I turned around and was amazed as to how tall he was! He’s gotta be at least 6’3”. He shook John’s hand, then I stuck mine out, but was rejected as he went in for a cheek to cheek kiss. I felt like an idiot, and it totally caught me off guard! We talked for a minute and then he said we would need to take the metro (subway) to a certain drop off, then he could meet us there. He would have taken us on his bike, but it would be a bit difficult with two tall lanky Americans with 2 huge packs…so really it would be like 4 people total. After walking down La Rambla street, which is the main strip in Barcelona where a lot of tourists are, we made it to the metro, fumbled around to get a ticket, and made it on the train. It’s set up much like New York’s subway system, but much smaller and less crowded. I definitely didn’t feel like I was going to be shot or anything like that. It was very entertaining too with a random techno guitarist who played for the whole train. After he performed he walked up and back, rolling his portable amplifier, with a plastic cup and asked for change. Many people gave him coins which was surprising to me. He probably is making a fortune doing that...John and I might consider that if we start going broke. We made it off the train to our “Fontana” stop and waited for Pepe to pick us up. About 20 minutes passes, and I thought that he might have stood us up...which would have sucked by the way. He finally comes around the corner and said that he went home (probably to clean up) and walked to come get us. We then made our journey to his apartment. We were in the district of La Gracia (pronounced La Grathia…like a lisp) which was beautiful. All of the streets are narrow surrounded by 6 floor apartment buildings that have small businesses on the bottom level. I felt like I was on an old street in Italy. Uneven pavement, and barely any cars drive on the streets because the city has made a point to make it very difficult. They want to increase foot traffic. The walk is long, and my pack starts to take a toll on my body. I then realize that there is no way that we could truly backpack all throughout Europe without having a place to put our stuff. As we walk Pepe is answering a million questions (mostly from John) about Barcelona, going out, making money, culture, practically every topic. We get to his apartment and he takes us up. He lived on the second floor in a small complex where his best friend lives next door. He opens the door and I’m absolutely amazed as to how nice and upscale his place is. It’s a studio apartment, hardwood floors, and a huge bookshelf to the right filled with books. He must be a very intelligent guy. He trades on the stock market and dictates his own work schedule.

After the short tour we drop our packs and walk to an outdoor café to eat lunch. It was beautiful weather and we had a 3 course meal for 9 Euros. We were there for at least 2 hours, and with the wind I was a popsicle by dessert. I guess it’s just part of their culture to sit and enjoy conversation…not to rush through life like we do in America. I just needed to get a pair of closed toe shoes and a jacket and I would be golden. After lunch we head back to his apartment and he heads off to work (around 5pm) and leaves us a set of keys to his apartment so we can do whatever. I just can’t even fathom leaving a set of keys to a stranger from a different country. It’s wild how trusting and nice people from Spain are. We immediately pass out on the couch and sleep for a good 3 hours. It was amazing because at that point we had been awake for 2 days straight practically. We get up, go grab a bite to eat at a small Mexican restaurant across the street (which was hilarious eating Mexican food in Spain) and quickly realize how the language barrier is going to be a factor for me and John. Neither of us know Spanish very well…particularly me, so it was interesting talking to the waitress. In Barcelona people speak Spanish and Catalan, which are similar, but two different languages, so it’s unusual and you can’t distinguish one from the other.

After dinner we shower up (a cold shower after 30 seconds) and head out to meet Pepe and his friends at a bar they love to go to. Salvador Dali used to be a regular at this bar, and it was really old and rustic looking. Had a ton of character. Pepe introduces us to his friends and they are all wonderful! As soon as he says I’m from Texas, one of the friends, Alberto, screams, “you’re from Texas?! What part?!” I told him Dallas, and he started freaking out because he went to school at UTA and knows all about Dallas. It was a great connection, and we had lots to talk about. He was hilarious and wouldn’t stop talking about how much he misses the gravy and pancakes from the states. Then he kept imitating how black girls talk smack to each other, so it was so funny. He’s so flamboyant in the way he explains things, but he is straight as an arrow! We get drinks there—gin and tonics—which are SO STRONG, but delicious because they actually use real tonic...not the watered down tonic I'm used to in the states. It has much more lime flavor. After our first drink we have a shot of tequila(courtesy of Pepe's friends), another gin and tonic, then we’re on our way to a dance club. It was pouring down rain though, and quite chilly, so we walked fast through the streets to get to the club. We were absolutely drenched by the time we got there. I’m glad I didn’t do my hair, it would have been a waste. The club was downstairs in what looked kind of like an airplane hanger/bomb shelter. Really small and crowded, but everyone was dancing and having a great time. It was hilarious because the music that they played was a combination of old 90’s rock and pop music. They were all classic songs, but I hadn’t heard them in so long. It was great because everyone was belting out the lyrics and dancing in a circle. They know the lyrics more than I do! They played a few random oldies like the Beach Boys and Chuck Berry. At one point Alberto looked over at John and said "I know, its hilarious, you guys don't ever listen to this stuff anymore." We danced and danced and danced. Then I look down at my watch and notice that it’s 6 in the morning! Bars don’t close until 6am, so we stayed out until then…it was unreal. I’m pretty sure John and I were reaching the point of delirium because we had been awake for about 48 hours, but it was well worth it. It had not been 12 hours and we were already partying with a great group of friends in a night club in Barcelona, and staying in a wonderful apartment with an awesome host. So far this trip has been wonderful and we have been so lucky. What a memorable first day in Barcelona.