I arrived in Spain and had a feeling of uncertainty running through my body. I was excited but I already missed my friends in Italy. Leaving Italy happened all too fast and it hadn't sunk in just yet that it was all over.
The airport in Barcelona was the nicest airport I had ever been to. I travel all over the U.S for work so was a pretty good judge of a nice airport. The Barcelona Airport was extremely modern. Everything from the tile on the floor, to the flat screens with advertisements, to the classy restaurants just impressed me that Spain was now, in my opinion the classiest airport of all.
Luciana and helped me pick a hostel near the popular area called Las Ramblas. There was no availability right on the strip so I booked a few blocks away for one night and then decided in the morning I would explore the streets and find one right on Las Ramblas. I copied the directions to my hostel down to my iPad. This hostel would be more of a challenge because I had no one with me and the hostel was not in walking distance from the airport. The directions to the hostel were to take the Aerobus to the last stop Plaça Catalunya, then take the Metro line 3 to Paralel. Hostel Mambo Tango was on Poeta Campanyes 23. I didn't get into Spain until 9pm so it was dark and I realized this trip, I was not very smart in my planning. The directions did not lead you from the Metro to the hostel so now I was walking down the streets of Barcelona and asking restaurants if they heard of Poeta Campanyes. A few had no idea and then the next restaurant said tres streets down to the right. I walked down and asked another restaurant after and they said tres streets to the left. I felt like I was never going to find this hostel. Finally, I found the street and it was like finding gold. I got really excited that I was able to soon take off my pack and relax after traveling all day.
I walked in and the host was really nice. He welcomed me to Spain and got me all checked in. He told me there was a 10 Euro deposit for the key so I handed him 50 Euros. He looked at me funny and I waited for my change. He repeated himself, 10 Euros. I paused and asked if he did not have enough change to give me. He looked at me and then said ¨my darling, it's 10 Euros¨ I was now confused so asked him if he did not have change for a 50. He laughed and held up the bill. I had given him 5 Euros, not 50. I was clearly exhausted and not on point. We laughed and he guided me to my room. He told me that I was in luck because another traveler had just arrived five minutes before me. I was greeted by an Aussie and he was thrilled to hear that I was too traveling alone. The host told Mitch about how I tried to only give him 5 Euros and that I wanted change. Everyone always seems to reap the benefits of my silly mistakes.
Mitch having just arrived, was starving as well. We decided to head to the main street and find a patio for tapas and a cocktail. As we walked down the street talking each others ears off, I realized I was going to be just fine. Mitch was extremely funny and easy to talk to. He is openly gay and talked about his ex boyfriend that he's still in love. He went on to tell me the story of how they reconnected after five years. We ordered several Tapa dishes and a pitcher of Sangria. The sangria was the best I ever had, Italy may have Gelatos but Spain stole my heart with the Sangria. We talked over sangria about how Mitch quit his job in Australia to live in London for a year. He was in Advertisement Sales and wanted to try living in another country. He has never stayed in a hostel before, Mambo Tango her in Spain was his first one. He said he got terribly lost on the way to the hostel and it sounded like his experience finding it was worse then mine. I only got lost for fifteen minutes and he was lost for three hours.
Now that we were very much relaxed and able to unwind after our long travels, we headed back to the hostel. We crawled back into our bunks and my parents called me on Skype. I was talking with them about my trip and Mitch called from his bed and commented that he felt like he was watching the show Roseanne. He said our conversation sounded like what he sees on TV. Mitch says the funniest things, I never know what's going to come out of his mouth.
I crawled into bed that night and was now excited as I should have been now that I met Mitch.
Exhausted from the travel, Mitch and I woke up past 10am. We missed breakfast and check out for me was at 11am. I had only a hour to shower, pack and find a new hostel on the internet. I got ready as quickly as I could and headed downstairs to check out five minutes late. The host gave me a hard time but then said he was only kidding and made me some coffee since I missed breakfast.
The host asked where I was from and I told him the states. He asked where I was from in the USA and I said San Diego, California. He asked me if I was born in San Diego and I told him no. He told me ¨Julie, take this back with you and tell all your American friends that they continue to answer our question incorrectly. Every time an American is asked ¨where are you from?¨ They respond where they are currently living. You change the question we are asking. When we ask where you are from, we are asking where you were born. If we ask where are you living now, then you say California. See the difference?¨ He said that Americans are the only people who mess up this question. So, dear all Americans...get it right.
I told Mitch that I would need to take my pack with me while we explore and I'll find a hostel on the way. He thought this was silly that I didn't just stay at this hostel for the rest of my trip. I told him that I didn't know what Las Ramblas was like but I knew it was where the center of all the fun would be so I would figure it out once we got there. We got a map and walked in the direction of Las Ramblas. We talked about Mitch's plans this afternoon. He had come to Barcelona for the Circuit Festival, an International Gay and Lesbian event at a water park. It was a huge party with music and water slides. He asked me to join him but I wanted to check out the city today and I wasn't sure if I would quite fit in at this rave.
We walked along the streets and would stop in random hostels from time to time checking availability. No one had any rooms. Mitch seemed a little concerned for me, but I was sure I would find somewhere to stay.
We reached Las Ramblas and it was a beautiful street. It reminded me of a cleaner version of New York city with palm trees down the center of the side walk. Buildings filled with shops, restaurants and hotels lined both sides of the streets. This city was beautiful and unique.
This is exactly where I wanted to find a hostel. I grabbed Mitch´s arm and led him to a street right off Las Ramblas. Surely, there would be a hostel down here somewhere. We stumbled across Hostel Sun & Moon. It looked like a perfect location. I asked for availability and they had rooms. Mitch now was incredibly jealous and was trying to figure out a way to get a refund from Mambo Tango. Now seeing where I was staying, he was very far away from all the fun. I was in the heart of the city.
We dropped my pack and headed in the direction of the beach. I had the host circle the hostel on the map and write down the street address so that I could find my way back later.
Mitch and I chatted about life, work, love and travel as we toured the city. The city was memorizing. Mitch was even moved. We loved it and took silly pictures by statues and the down by the harbor. I found myself speaking Italian on an accent when we would buy things in shops. I kept forgetting we were no longer in Italy, so should be saying ciao or grazie.
As it got closer to the Rave he was going to, we walked back toward Las Ramblas. He was excited to go to the Circuit Festival and I was excited to go to the market. How lame was I turning? When we reached the Mercat, we sad our goodbyes and he friended me on Facebook so we could meet up later.
I went into the market and it was a very cool experience. It reminded me of the West Side Market but much bigger and more exotic produce and meats. I bought some fruit and ate it as I walked around. I went to reach for my map and realized I had left it at the counter while paying for my fruit. Now, a little panicked, I walked around the maze of the market to search for my directions back to my hostel. I retraced my steps and still sitting on the counter, laid my map. That was lucky.
I made my way back to the direction of my hostel making note of all the fantastic restaurants I wanted to eat paella and have tapas. Barcelona was going to be the best week of my life. I couldn't wait to see all it had to offer.
I came back to the hostel and logged on to the computer in the common area. I asked the guy at the computer next to me if his computer was frozen too. He told me his was working fine and I could use it when he was finished checking Facebook.
He introduced himself, Arnaud. He was from France. We talked for a while about Paris where he lives. He said it's so boring compared to Barcelona. He friended me on Facebook and we made plans to meet up later for the bar tour that was leaving our hotel.
So here I am in Barcelona, I'm loving the city so far. In Italy, I was searching for something. I was looking to separate myself from work and do some soul searching. I left Italy, refreshed, relaxed and filled with inspiration from all the people I met. In Spain, I wasn't looking for anything, now I'm in a good place, I can just soak it all up, eat some good tapas and enjoy.