Barcelona. Didn't know what to expect, I didn't realize how attached I would become.

Landing in Barcelona, after
Several delays and umpteen extra hours, the whole ordeal climaxed. British airways decided that I wouldn't require my luggage.

With spirits less than elevated, we decided to drop what belonging we had at our hotel and head into the city. The time was wandering past midnight, yet the city was alive! As if locals were sealing from siesta's and slumbers.

The main square of Barcelona was the epicenter of the action. Street performers lined the walkway, extravagant, organized and incredibly engaging. Churro stalls were running on overdrive. Bars and pubs wailed local and strangely familiar music. I like.

We had to pass all the attractions in search of food. Paella? Tapas? Italian? McDonalds? Most diners would continue service until the early morning, keeping doors open to feed the hordes of young ravelers arriving back from an all night disco.

We chose a small underground pub that served it all, we wanted something authentic, but a glance at the menu and we probably chose the wrong spot. The first page was in Spanish, the second in English, the third in Italian. An obvious give-away for a tourist focussed restaurant.

Nevertheless, I didn't hesitate to order a mixed Paella. The last time I had ordered a paella was 7 months prior in alienate. It was everything I remembered and everything i was looking forward to.

Somehow Barcelona had opened it's arms wide and comforted me. Even if all I had was the clothes on my back.

The architecture was amazing, obvious Dali influences in the street art which presented improvisations of elephants on stilts, the scream and melting clocks. No skyscrapers here, just mid century European class, wide cobblestoned roads and amazing fountains.

Our hotel was a 3 minute walk from the city square which proved very handy.

After having dinner and a churro or two; we decides to head back. Tomorrow would be a big day. We had much to explore, with not many clothes to do it in.

I could already tell that I was going to love this city.