Once breakfast was over and everyone went their own separate ways, I finished packing my stuff up and got out my list of attractions I wanted to see. I chose to primarily head for Park Guell and also stop at a tourist information point as I was interested in the tour bus as I thought it would be pretty cool to film my journey around Barcelona. When I got to tourist information, they told me it was like 40 euros or something ridiculous, and I had only budgeted around 100 euros spending money for the whole trip, so that idea went straight out the window! Instead I decided to go straight to Park Guell as I wasn't sure how much time that would take, and then to re-consult my list after.
I took the tube to the designated stop, and then just followed the occasional tourist friendly sign to the Park. I noticed I was starting to go up a rather steep hill, and have to admit I was a little worried for my lack of fitness. All of a sudden, I turned into a street of only stairs, and dead in the middle right outside in the open, were endless steep escalators. It seems so bizarre! On the way up, I saw my car! Or another one rather not mine, but still it was very exciting.
After a surprisingly long journey upwards, I finally reached the entrance to Park Guell, which actually had me walk a little further upwards. I emerged from the fenced area and the view literally took my breath away. I don't think I realised quite how high up I had gone, and I certainly didn't research enough into the park to know it was on a mountain. I could see the whole of Barcelona! I've never seen anything like it with own eyes, and the feeling up there was indescribably serene. It was especially strange for me as I am sickly afraid of heights, and it was yet another thing I never would of thought I would be able to do. I'm so glad I didn't know about it advance, as maybe I would have thought twice about going, and then I would have missed all of this.
Park Guell itself was also very beautiful, with lots of wonderful artwork, however I have to say the views of the city from the highest point were definitely the best part of the attraction. I got to the very top of the mountain and saw a very rickety looking stone column, maybe 2 metres wide with several crosses, and people standing on it.
Usually, my brain would absolutely deny me the right to go anywhere near it, but I was still running on my "I am superwoman" adrenaline for getting to Barcelona alone, and I didn't even think twice before getting up there with my camera. The view was incredible, the air was fresh and it was so much warmer than England has been for a long time. Up there, I felt like I could do anything. I think being up there, on that tiny wobbly column looking over the whole of Barcelona clicked something in my brain that has lasted even to now. But we'll come back to that in my final post ;) I took a few snaps and a lovely British couple took a picture of me which I was very thankful for.
I got down into the park, paid my fee and marvelled at the awesome Gaudi sculptures and buildings. While I was there, I found these bizarre sellers. They laid all their stock out on these big white sheets, which I didn't really get at first. This one dude even had a whole bunch of earrings displayed on an umbrella! Later I understood when a cop came past and they quickly turned the sheet into a bag and ran up the mountain to avoid him! Well not even ran, maybe fast walked at most. It was so weird, the cop could easily have arrested them if he wanted, but he just stood there and watched them run off. Then ten minutes later or so he would do the same again! I totally thought he was messing with them, but mum points out it may just be his job to move them on, rather than going through the effort of arresting them. I have to admit, I didn't stay in the actual monumental area for long, just enough to get shots of everything and by then I was hungry, hot and kind of done with the mountain. I know, I'm so cultural.
Anyway, I headed down the mountain and got thoroughly lost looking for the Metro. I asked for directions to the Gothic Quarter, as although I had written it on my list of places to go, and given the Spanish translations, I had provided myself with no directions and address to it. I got off at the stop I had been advised, and got my first view of Las Ramblas, the main tourist strip.
I wondered around for an hour looking for a specific restaurant that was on the guide hostel world had emailed me, as it said I could get a meal for 1 euro. After asking for directions easily 10 times and being sent in every other direction, I eventually did find the place and was relieved to find an English waitress/bartender. It turns out they did not have 1 euro meals, but at this point I was way too exhausted to give a damn, so I settled for a good old English lasagne and a beer. I know beer at lunch, what a loser but hey I'm on holiday. After my meal I went and introduced myself to a nice group of English students who were lovely enough to let me tag along with them for a few hours. If you guys are reading, you are totally awesome and thanks for letting me crash your trip! After a few hours of wondering around with them, and being shown the Gothic cathedral (and finally actually making it to the Gothic Quarter, which I forgot to take photos or video of in the end!) I headed back to the hostel.
I needed to be back before 5 to book on to Tapas night and after the amount of faffing around just to find somewhere to eat already today, I was more than ready to just come downstairs and be served a meal. I went back to my room and had a quick siesta. Or not so quick. I overslept majorly and had to rush all of my getting ready, even going down for food with wet hair! While I was relaxing in my room, two new guys arrived from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, David and Andre who were both lovely and bless them tried their best to converse with me in English!! During this trip I must admit regret that I didn't bother to learn even a little bit of Spanish! Live and learn I guess.
I went back downstairs to meet some people and ended up stumbling onto some free to use computers in the back corner of the communal area, which was very exciting. I wrote my mum a long email about my adventures and checked Facebook. I happened to find my room mate Lina on the pc beside me which was awesome luck :) I decided at this point that I would go on the bar crawl as I didn't know anyone yet and this seemed wise, so I ran back up to the room for a quick costume change (sorry for scaring you David and Andre for my whirlwind of energy as I tried to pick a dress!). I went back downstairs and Lina introduced me to a few guys out in the terrace, Cam and Brendon [Who was a model and I must say VERY nice to look at as well as talk to ;)] from Australia, and Alex the guy from our room who I finally got a chance to actually meet. They were all really lovely and great company. The terrace shuts at 11 and I then got introduced (I actually can't remember how, maybe one of you can remember?) to a bunch of students from Bristol. These guys became my travel family and I can't tell you how much they made my trip!! Shoutout to the boys Will, Greg, Ellis, and Matt (Hi guys!!).
We gathered all the alcohol we could find and spent the night making as much as noise as possible and just generally getting in trouble. I felt a little overdressed in a tiny dress and big heels, so ran back upstairs to change back into my leggings and shirt. At this point, another new room mate arrived, Peter from America :) I had a quick chat with him before hurrying back downstairs. As I remember, I wouldn't let the boys go to bed until 4.30am!! By this time we were the last people on the sofas in the communal areas, and the guys from bar crawl arrived home and joined us. Here I first got to properly know Mike, and we talked about Walking Dead while he teased my accent. Instant friendship right there! He called me mystical as I asked "So Mike, where are you going on your journey?" telling me that I sounded like something from Lord of the Rings!! I don't think I'll ever forget that :) The guys very graciously invited me to join them on their trip to the Sagrada Familia the next day, which was already one of the places on my list, and as I had enjoyed their company so much I snapped up the offer!
Peter and I stumbled back up to the room for some much needed sleep and I went to bed smiling for the first time in a long while :) I'm still smiling now!
Puddy <3
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