Weekend in Barcelona!

Back to Spain! Surprisingly, I never made it up to Barcelona when I lived in Sevilla. In fact, I didn't do much traveling at all because I was too in love with my own neighborhood (and too scared of my bank balance).

This time around, I've got places to be - things to see!

I've already ticked off Marseilles (twice), St. Remy, Les Baux de Provence, and now... Barcelona. 

The weekend started with a 5:37 wake up call (literally) from my friend down the hall, because we were supposed to be on the bus at 5:45 and my alarm was set for 5...pm. Oops.

No harm, no foul, I wasn't the only one struggling to get out of bed in the morning and the bus pulled out around 6:15.

Our first stop was actually a destination in France called Carcassonne. Carcassonne is fortified city which was popular due to its ideal location, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, and also between two mountain ranges. Since 1997 the medieval fortress has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. 

The view, as usual, was gorgeous. 

First, we walked along the ramparts of the fortress and enjoyed the view of multiple gardens, restaurant patios, and sleeping cats.

Then, we came out by the old church and just happened to enter in time to be serenaded by an a capella group. I didn’t take photos of them; I always feel like I owe a performer money if I take their photo (or honestly pay them any attention at all) and I didn’t have much on me, so I just enjoyed the music and the stained glass windows.

An hour after leaving Carcassonne, we were suddenly in Spain, and boy did my Spanish not come right back. The comprehension was there, but the words did not come. It’s super frustrating to understand what someone is saying and not be able to form a coherent response. Derp.

I did, however, find my old favorite snack in the gas station. So, it equals out.

By 4:30, we were in Barcelona. Our guide for the weekend took us on a quick tour of the city and then promptly left us in a nearby square (“You can find your way home, right? Great, bye!”) to explore. 

While we were taking photos of this giant piece of 3D art, someone nearby was explaining what it symbolized, but alas, they were explaining it in Spanish. So your best guess is my best guess.

It took us several hours (days?) to stop saying “Merci!” instead of “Gracias!” to everyone we encountered.

Saturday we went to a market in the port of Barcelona, then hopped on a bus and took a tour around the city. We saw the Olympic stadiums, some great views of the port, the Sagrada Familia (from the outside only), and Plaza España.

Saturday night my Spanish started to come back...after a few beers.

Unfortunately that's also when another tourist decided he needed to convince us to vote for Donald Trump. (Key piece of information: he was not American.)

Highlights of Saturday night: Dancing all out to Spanish music, bar hopping on the beach, our taxi driver who could have been an extra in Fast & Furious, and closing the Burger King in town at 3am to eat whoppers and wear our crowns in the park.

Sunday we checked out of the hostel and when to Parc Güell, Gaudi's beautiful mosaic garden and home of the benches where every basic college girl (me!) is required to take a photo before she can leave the city.

And that was the end!

Not going to lie, there is a serious place in my heart for Spain. I find myself unfairly comparing Aix to Sevilla, Marseilles to Malaga, and my life in France to my life in Spain all the time when I know I shouldn't. They're similar and different, both with advantages and disadvantages (Pro: Spanish music; Con: everyone speaks Spanish - but me).

But here I am in Aix - next stop, Brussels! And then Arles! And then London! And more!

I'll find my place somewhere ;)

(Big shout out to the Barcelona crew - my squad! - for an unforgettable weekend.)