A November Weekend in BCN

11/18/12

Good Morning World.

First of all, my computer has decided to be a jerk and not let me upload my pictures, so as I try and find a way around that you're going to have to settle for the vivid images of Times New Roman. The curves of the round letters can serve for those annoying roundabouts on Barcelona streets that force you do lose your direction (this is probably just me, it's a bit worrisome that wandering this city has not improved my direction sense at all) and the apostrophes are the irritating city-pigeons that don't take the hint when you want them to go away. Did you know people have pet rabbits here that they walk on leashes in the streets?

This week will mark three months that I've been here. I sometimes think about that and can't imagine how it can be true. I don't know where October went, or even September. They waltzed off before I really even knew they were there! We're close to December now. December means... I don't know what December means. I don't know what December brings, in Barcelona, Spain. I know Christmastime in Minnesota and that's all folks. I guess that's one of the many wonderful things about studying abroad: the new things never end. It's impossible to be bored, really. So much wonder fillin' up my head.

Today is Sunday. So... My weekend was a good one with a big splotch of ugly thrown in the end. Friday I went to see ARGO with my friend at the cinema that plays VOS films (that means in English). We made it to the cinema with only a few frantic "Sabes donde esta la cine Icaria?" questions to passerbys. With popcorn and pizza and comfy theater chairs and a big screen speaking only English, it almost made me forget where I am. Good movie. It's even based on a true story- I recommend you go see it. Saturday afternoon I went to see my friend Andrew play a basketball game with some friends from school. That was nice. I miss sports- the uniforms were a lot uglier and the HEY BOX OUT was in Spanish, but the gym had a familiar stuffy and squeaky and loud feel to it and I haven't been around that for a while. Saturday night I met a friend at 10 and we headed on the metro to Vila Olympica, to a strip of loud clubs right in front of the beach. The metro was insane- I was literally sandwiched like a pannini in between a big fat cigar puffer and a little Asian woman trying to do a crossword. It was so packed in there, it smelled like breath, and no one had more than an inch of budge space. I'm surprised nobody had a panic attack. Finally escaping that felt amazing, even if walking along the strip of clubs and bright lights and people trying to sell us both fedoras and tobacco bongs wasn't the best possible "fresh air" out there. The port was full of shiny white boats and the beach was dirty, the sand hard like it was mixed with concrete. We had drinks and a carmel sundae until 12:30, because the clubs are mostly empty by then; the night comes later for Spaniards, I guess. Not clubs...they're called "Discotechas" here. I was having a great time! Soaking up the feel of loud music and hazy lights and all kind of people just going all out on the dance floor. It's not high school prom, that's for sure. 

Anyways I took my eye off my jacket on the table for a moment while talking to an Australian (you can't blame me...that accent!) and then it was gone. My jacket, keys, metro pass, about 30€, and my ol' trusty I-can't-live-without-you iPod. I will admit I gave in to a good solid freak out for a while. but in the end, there's really nothing you can do. Pickpocketing and stealing is pretty bad in Barcelona, and once it's gone it's gone. So, the world can be cruel sometimes. You learn by experience. Rough night! 

Tonight we went to Pepe's (a cousin) baptism. Maybe 15 minutes of service at the church and then a 3 hour fancy afterparty with these delicious little strawberry pastry delights (I hope no one was keeping track of how many times I went up to the sweets table). I guess Spain does it a little differently. Overall it is a very Catholic country (a few decades ago people had to name their babies only after Saints) and the churches and cathedrals are incredibly beautiful (want proof? Look up Sagrada Familia. Or, I'll have pictures later) but people don't go to church nearly as much as they used to. Especially the younger generation. My tutor Dino says "only the elderly go to Mass now."

On Thursday morning I go to the airport to pick up my mom and grandma! I am so happy. I have a week full of things for us to do, places to see, things to eat. There are many touristy things that I haven't seen yet, even being here for a while, and I'm looking forward to a week off of school to just explore with these two. Expect a lot of pictures coming up. Hope you're all healthy and happy at home!