So I am here . . . I know this sounds crazy to say but I have been here all day and it is just now starting to set in that I am in a foreign place. As I walk the streets I don´t feel out of place but as soon as I have a question or am unsure of what a transit maps says I realize that . . . I am the outsider! HAHA
I found my place today without problem and my living situation while in Barcelona is going to be interesting to say the least. I am renting a bed in a flat that currently has a guy from India there, three French students, and a local spanish girl. There is also a random girl who has been there all day named Birgida, she has been doing laundry all day but clearly is a local. I am guessing she works there? At any rate, it is clean, the bed is comfortable and the wardrobe I was provided with the bed is lockable with the padlock I brought from home. So . . . in general I am in good shape!
I exchanged 500 US dollars when I arrived at the airport this morning and had a WONDERFUL (sarcasm here) exchange rate of .57 to 1. That means for every dollar I spent, I was given .57 euro. Essentially one US dollar is half a Euro . . . yes, I will be poor while I am here!
I have been fascinated all day with the culture and lifestyle of the people of Barcelona. I love the vibe of the city, and today I wandered through Las Ramblas which is the centre city market. It is HUGE and runs from the center of the city down to the port (which is the old Olympic site). It was so amazing to be looking through Prada purses and Dolce and Gabanna glasses at street vendors and then to turn a corner and be facing a castle that literally dates back to the Middle ages. It´s mind-blowing!
ALSO! Literally at 2:00 pm on the dot EVERYTHING closes for siesta, which lasts until around 4:00 each day. I followed everyone else´s lead and went home and took a nap. Man, these people have got the right idea to life! Businesses and schools do not start until 10 am, they then close from 2-4 for lunch/siesta and open back up from 4-8pm. It is currently 8:45 pm as I am writing this and the city is DEAD. Everyone gets off work at 8 and goes home to hang. Dinner reservations begin around 10 and easily go until midnight from my understanding. Most of the bars open at 10, but many of the "dance clubs" don´t even think about opening their doors until midnight or 1 am.
The place I am staying backs up to a school and all day I have been amazed at the educational system (from what I can see from my window). The school takes up an entire city block and is stories tall . . . with a backporch at each level that students use to go from level to level and to enter their classrooms. At 8pm, when the school closed, I heard a bell ring and literally I could hear the kids BOOing because they had to go home. I need to take notes so that I can evoke this feeling in my students state side!
Tonight I am going to head to a local cafe for dinner with an American I met on the flight who backpacked like I am doing 10 years ago and never went home! Her name is Jill and she is married to a local guy who owns a pub in Porta de Catalunya (which is just a few blocks from where I am staying in Passeig de Gracia). She has been very kind and offered suggestions and advise on how to stay safe and what places to catch on what days for the best prices. She even said, "If anything happens to you, just come to my husband´s pub and we will help you!" She is a teacher here and I took comfort in knowing that IF something bad did happen I knew an American whose Spanish is beautifully fluent to help me!
At any rate, I think I am going to log off for now (internet is .50 Euro per ten minutes). I will post tomorrow with more information about the city and the cool things I see. Tomorrow I am going back to Las Ramblas for open air viewing and I am going to also check out the beach. If I have time I am also going to visit a few wineries located a short ride out of the city. Yes, I did rent a tiny European car to go . . . this should be every interesting! I took a peak in the window today and I can only decipher 4 gears . . . lol, we will see what happens! At least they drive on the same side of the street here as Americans do back home.
Much love from,
Derek
I found my place today without problem and my living situation while in Barcelona is going to be interesting to say the least. I am renting a bed in a flat that currently has a guy from India there, three French students, and a local spanish girl. There is also a random girl who has been there all day named Birgida, she has been doing laundry all day but clearly is a local. I am guessing she works there? At any rate, it is clean, the bed is comfortable and the wardrobe I was provided with the bed is lockable with the padlock I brought from home. So . . . in general I am in good shape!
I exchanged 500 US dollars when I arrived at the airport this morning and had a WONDERFUL (sarcasm here) exchange rate of .57 to 1. That means for every dollar I spent, I was given .57 euro. Essentially one US dollar is half a Euro . . . yes, I will be poor while I am here!
I have been fascinated all day with the culture and lifestyle of the people of Barcelona. I love the vibe of the city, and today I wandered through Las Ramblas which is the centre city market. It is HUGE and runs from the center of the city down to the port (which is the old Olympic site). It was so amazing to be looking through Prada purses and Dolce and Gabanna glasses at street vendors and then to turn a corner and be facing a castle that literally dates back to the Middle ages. It´s mind-blowing!
ALSO! Literally at 2:00 pm on the dot EVERYTHING closes for siesta, which lasts until around 4:00 each day. I followed everyone else´s lead and went home and took a nap. Man, these people have got the right idea to life! Businesses and schools do not start until 10 am, they then close from 2-4 for lunch/siesta and open back up from 4-8pm. It is currently 8:45 pm as I am writing this and the city is DEAD. Everyone gets off work at 8 and goes home to hang. Dinner reservations begin around 10 and easily go until midnight from my understanding. Most of the bars open at 10, but many of the "dance clubs" don´t even think about opening their doors until midnight or 1 am.
The place I am staying backs up to a school and all day I have been amazed at the educational system (from what I can see from my window). The school takes up an entire city block and is stories tall . . . with a backporch at each level that students use to go from level to level and to enter their classrooms. At 8pm, when the school closed, I heard a bell ring and literally I could hear the kids BOOing because they had to go home. I need to take notes so that I can evoke this feeling in my students state side!
Tonight I am going to head to a local cafe for dinner with an American I met on the flight who backpacked like I am doing 10 years ago and never went home! Her name is Jill and she is married to a local guy who owns a pub in Porta de Catalunya (which is just a few blocks from where I am staying in Passeig de Gracia). She has been very kind and offered suggestions and advise on how to stay safe and what places to catch on what days for the best prices. She even said, "If anything happens to you, just come to my husband´s pub and we will help you!" She is a teacher here and I took comfort in knowing that IF something bad did happen I knew an American whose Spanish is beautifully fluent to help me!
At any rate, I think I am going to log off for now (internet is .50 Euro per ten minutes). I will post tomorrow with more information about the city and the cool things I see. Tomorrow I am going back to Las Ramblas for open air viewing and I am going to also check out the beach. If I have time I am also going to visit a few wineries located a short ride out of the city. Yes, I did rent a tiny European car to go . . . this should be every interesting! I took a peak in the window today and I can only decipher 4 gears . . . lol, we will see what happens! At least they drive on the same side of the street here as Americans do back home.
Much love from,
Derek
2 comments:
Derek,
I feel like I am there with you. What a cool thing to do at such a young age. Enjoy this time in your life and cherish all your experiences. I cannot wait to see you and hear all about your trip. Keep posting....
Love ya,
Mandi
that is so cool that you know all of those great things in Barcelona. I wish i could come with you. I hope you are safe. We all are praying for you ever night. I am not happy about the mail i got yesterday. I am not looking forward to doing that reading. SO LONG FOR NOW HAMILTON
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