Today was my second day in Barcelona. I'm exhausted.
Last night after I talked to you my stomach was growling out of control. I had to do something. I googled the local McDo's to see what time it closed. The website said one am so I grabbed my stuff and ran over. I was going to use one of the machines to order but I had forgotten my debit card at home. I went to the cashier and order a six piece mcnugget and a small order of fries. It was ready to go before I even paid. I ate my fries as I walked back to my hotel and then proceeded to shove down the nuggets with barbecue sauce like a crazy person. I was too full to move afterwards so I just went to bed.
I set my alarm for nine and a half hours, and my alarm woke me up this morning. It was still dark outside (I could see the outside throw a crack in the curtains) and I was reluctant to get up. A little prodding later and I was up by nine and out the door by 9:30. First on my list was going to park barceloneta so that I could see the beach. I walked to the bus stop and had just missed the V15. I had to wait about 16 minutes for another bus to come. I was cold while I waited because the tall buildings on the street act as a wind tunnel and block the sun. I was wearing my coat and scarf because I knew it would be chilly outside, but I knew that I'd have to carry it later. It was worth it. The bus finally came and I got on. I went past familiar places from yesterday and was enjoying my ride. This bus had a screen to tell the riders what the next stop would be. I got off at what I thought was my correct stop and started walking along the harbor. There were tons of perfectly white boats and fancy restaurants along the waterfront. It was pretty even in the early morning gray.
I was starting to get hungry so I crossed the street to be near the restaurants. Nothing was really open so I thought that I should just choose whatever was open. I found a cafe with a man smoking outside and decided to go there. The sign out front said that they served churros and chocolate so I figured that I get that so that I could cross it off my list. I ordered and then sat outside to watch the few people who were out at ten in the morning. The owner brought out my hot chocolate which was followed a few minutes later by my churros. The hot chocolate tasted like cocoa when I first sipped it, but after a second it tasted like nothing. It was also lava hot; the roof of my mouth is still burnt. The churros were tear drop shaped and only sprinkled with white sugar. They were still slightly raw on the inside. I dipped the churros in my hot cocoa and people watched. When the dishes first came out I didn't think that it was very much food. After I finished I was so full that I could barely move. I think I would have enjoyed my breakfast more if the owner wasn't sitting one table over from me using his phone. He did manage to teach me the word for check. I paid my 5,25 euros and left.
I went back to walking along the harbor until I saw a sign that pointed to the park. I crossed through the block of buildings and out onto a plaza on the other side. The beach was right there! I walked out to the sand and felt how smooth it was under my boots. I watched as a machine came along to smooth the sand. The water was so blue and the sand has a reddish tint to it. It was like California. I might go back to the beach tomorrow. I only stayed for a few minutes and then was back on my hunt for the park. I passed a park but it didn't seem too impressive so I kept walking. I then saw a sign that pointed to the park which said that it was in the opposite direction. I figured that the unimpressive park was the one I was looking for; it was. I walked through it and took a picture of the tiled tower coming out of the center of it. I walked around and found myself passing a football stadium which lead into an area dominated by a highway. I didn't think I should be there so I retraced my steps.
I knew that I needed to find a bus so I walked until I found a stop. The next place on my list of things to see was parque ciutadella and my directions said that I was supposed to start from the Barceloneta metro stop. The busses that picked up from that stop all said they would stop at the metro station. I hopped on the next bus and made sure to look out the window for my stop. I saw my stop…and then rode the bus past it. I got off at the next stop and walked back to the metro. I had a bit of trouble finding my way to the park because I set off in the wrong direction and then went down an alleyway. I finally found the park, and it was amazing. Right when I entered there were two lines of orange trees framing a path to a white marble fountain that was in front of a beautiful Spanish building. The park had the unique red dirt of Barcelona on the wide paths as well as grassy areas. There were also several ornate buildings and I found a small fountain like those at Versailles. There was also a lake where you could rent a boat. For the first time in my travels I wished that I had someone with me so that I could rent a boat. The pricing options started for two people and I dismissed the idea of going alone. Next I saw the famous fountain shown in all of the pictures for the park. It looks like Las Vegas. There is a golden statue with horses at the very top of a tan pyramid like structure. Beneath it is a huge pool and then an outer pool with horse head states. It was like the fountain came from a long lost society like Atlantis. I loved it. I really liked the park. There were white marble statues tucked into all areas of the park. There was also a huge aluminum sculputure at the entrance opposite where I had entered. I didn't see the entire park because I figured I should use the time to see other things. I should have stayed longer.
I then walked back to the metro and went off to see Sagrada Familia. I heard that the church was a must see. I easily found my way through the metro (including an interchange) and got off the metro at the foot of the church. Wow. I have never seen a church that looked like that before. I don't even know how to describe it. The church covered in so many bas-reliefs that it looks like stalagmites dripping off of the façade. There are also niches on the façade that tell stories that I'm not familiar with. The archways over the doors had bas-reliefs of men in military uniforms with swords. I could even describe it. I would have gone in but it wasn't free and I think that I heard that it was really expensive. Shame.
I had done the last thing on my to do list so I went back to my hotel to sit down for a minute and find other things to do. A friend of mine from Paris (Tatiana) had sent me a facebook message of things to do in Barcelona. I looked at her message and saw that she suggested barri gotic. I looked up the directions and set out. I got on the V15 and tried to find the right stop. I've been having a devil of a time with the bus. I rode it until I thought I was in the right spot and got off. While on the bus I had seen a Christmas market set up in a square and I knew that I had to visit it. I wandered through the market looking at the different stalls. It was mostlly nativity figurines and some Christmas treet stalls. I was going to get a Tio de Nadal but I decided that I didn't need one.
I then started walking around. It turns out that I was in the right spot. I took a picture of the cathedral and then walking into the neighborhood. The buildings are mostly from the 1800s and the streets are tiny and dim due to the lack of sunlight. I walked around until I came to a plaza. There was a huge Christmas treet set up and an enormous nativity scene. I took pictures and then kept walking. I was getting hungry so I wanted to find somewhere to eat. I popped into the first place where I saw fries on the menu. It turns out that the stand only serves french fries and falafel sandwiches served by a blonde woman with dreadlocks. I ordered my fries and was handed a cup for saue. I chose aioli. I then snagged one of the few seats in the restaurant and waited for my fries. The woman brought over a huge cone of fries and set it into the specially designed hole in the wooden counter that served as the table. The fries were thickly cut and perfectly soft on the inside with a slight crunch on the outside. The aioli was oddly sweet but tasty at the same time. I went through my first huge cup of sauce and then decided to get ketchup instead of more aioli. I should have stuck to the aioli. I finished my fries (that were only 2,20 and more than enough to fill me up) and left.
I walked through the area looking at tourist shops. I think tomorrow I'm going to get myself something with tile because it seems to be the speciality of the area. I was still thinking about what to get Jimmy as his souvenir of Barcelona. He really wants to see Spain so I felt a need to get him something. I knew just the unique item that I should get him. I can't tell you what it is, but I'll give you hints: it's a unique part of the Barcelona nativity scene and it's vulgar. I picked up the item and got on the metro back to my hotel.
I got to the hotel and messed around on the internet before looking up places to go to tomorrow. Paris has really spoiled me. I'm so used to not paying for museums or cultural activities that it makes me sad that nothing is free in Barcelona. I guess that I'll just have to get over it. I wrote down the directions for a few places and then got ready to go. Tatiana had told me about the magic fountain show and told me that I had to go. It only happens on Friday and Saturday nights so I had to go tonight. I left the house at six so that I would be on time for the seven o'clock show.
I took the metro and easily found the fountain. The area is really pretty. There is a huge statue in the center of the traffic lanes right when you get off the metro. There was also a huge Christmas tree made of lights in front of one of the buildings. I took some pictures and then headed to the fountain. There were illegal vendors pedaling everything from light up toys that fly in the sky to beer to Chinese fans. I took the escalators up to the plaza and took some pictures. There is some kind of ornate building at the top of the hill and with rows of fountains leading up to it. It was beautiful even before the show started. I walked through the crowd and found a spot sitting on the stops in front of the fountain. I was about half an hour early so I sat on the steps and waited for the show to start. You know one thing I won't miss about Europe is that people sit so close to you that they actually touch you. There's no respect for personal space. I need breathing room! Besides the crowds I loved it. Since it's Christmastime the fountain had a Christmas themed show for the first few minutes before moving into more modern songs (mostly in English). It was like Fantastia (I assume, I'm not really even sure what Fantastia is). I stayed for half an hour and then took the metro back to the hotel.
I wasn't hungry yet, but I still remembered yesterday's middle of the night food run. I thought that I'd just grab some chips at the quickie mart near my apartment and call it a night. I went into the store and discovered that it has a terrible chip selection. I'd just have to get something else. I looked at the Chinese food menu and passed, then another Chinese food menu and passed. I then saw a tapas bar across the street and went to look at the menu. They had patates braves so I figured that I'd just get that. I sat down at a table and looked at the menu. The worker then asked me if I knew what I wanted and I told him that I didn't speak Spanish. He brought me the English menu and I picked out a "Berna" sandwich because it was described as pork with garlic sauce. I got my food to go and watched VH1 music videos on the tv and my food was being prepared. The bar was exactly the kind of small restaurant that you'd expect to find in Spain. I found it interesting that there was a special wooden bar that they put on the day's newspaper so that readers wouldn't jumble the pages. After a few minutes my food was ready and I left.
I came back to my hotel and got read to eat my dinner. I then saw something that looked like a huge pill sitting on the nightstand and a white towel on the floor. Someone had been inside my room after I had left! The pill looking thing (it was wrapped in the silver wrapping like a pill) was some kind of chocolately nut shenangians. I ate it but was still a little weirded out. I then ate my dinner while watching Judge Judy. The sanwich was delicious! Number one it was huge, and it was on a toasty French roll. The chunks of pork were perfectly fried and not fatty at all, and the whole thing was covered in some kind of a white sauce. I loved it. I finished my food with a few minutes to spare before mom called on skype. We talked for a bit then I took my shower. I'm so ready for bed.
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