En Espana....

My first night in Spain was arrivals, open windows, the Spanish lisp, anticipation, the Sagrada Familia cathedral looming in the dark, cerveza, and so glad to be out of Milan and with family, laughing, tortilla sandwiches, the smell of Spanish tobacco, sisters whispering until 6am....

Sarah and Timothy arrived a couple hours after me and we settled in and they paid me for the hostel and we went to step out for a bite. The sweet girl at the desk approached me as we got to the door. In Spanish, she says, “So, then, you’ll pay me tomorrow?” I was so confused..? I say, “What do you mean? They already paid..?” And I can’t believe it and I swear I remember... And, oh yeah! There was a GUY, not her at the desk... I say, “Well, who was that guy then? Does he even work here?” And, I’m so stressed because I realized whoever that guy was just pocketed the money!

Sarah and Timothy don’t understand what’s going on, as the exchange is all en espanol, and I try to explain, when I realize- OH MY GOD. I took the money from Sarah and Timothy for the room, but never paid the desk! And I look like world’s BIGGEST asshole. EVER! I apologize and pay up, and sort of choke out a fake giggle, embarrassed. Then I put my foot in my mouth and hop, on one foot, to the cafe she recommended.

Breakfast was around 10am the next day, and we ate the same food I ate every morning when I studied here- mini muffins with jam, toast with chocolate spread and coffee. We headed to the Sagrada Familia soon after and wow, it is sooooo incredible! It has been under construction since 1882, and I think it always will be. As the new construction goes up, the old bits have to be rehabbed, and it’s been so many people’s life’s work, and I’m proud to have gotten to see it. And I feel like a real cultured bitch when it’s my second time. We stopped by the Parc Guell, a public park designed by the same architect as the Sagrada Familia- also breath taking.

In the afternoon we headed to Stiges, a beach town outside of Barcelona. We loaded up the bags and start walking to the station. We get to our stop and follow the signs to Cercanias, the suburban rail. And ok look, I do a lot of walking, but the underground transfer was more up and downs and turn the corner and dig a tunnel and throw the bags over the fence and sweating and a lady sees how exhausted we are and says, “I know it seems unbelievable, but this is really the way,” and we answer the gatekeeper’s riddle and we FIND IT, and I fight an old lady for a spot at the self-serve counter. Tickets are booked and its sandwiches and cervezas on board! FAB!

It’s about a 1/2 hour to Sitges and our hotel is adorable with a little balcony. We head to the beach and even though it’s about 5pm and the sun is getting low, I’m in the water splashing around like a FREAK! It’s amazing and we watch these Mediterranean men in Speedos do push ups on the pier and snap photos of each other and a kid run around naked and people lounge and it’s just so relaxing and the sun sets and we go to get ready for dinner.

The recommendation sends us past the touristy area, and we browse a menu there, when an old local offers us his table and declares that the restaurant has the best paella in the city. We sit and it’s true. Dinner was PERFECT with wine and jamon and shellfish by the sea...

We walked out on a stone wall and reached a little rocky peninsula. My peripheral vision could only see rocks and ocean, and I was at the end of the Earth and I felt small and secure and happy. We walked toward home and stopped every now and then to watch the Mediterranean. What is it about the water? That night we all slept easy... More from Sitges later!

-H*

Pics from Barcelona: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2146251&l=889c2&id=22001348