Day 97

Well just got off an eight hour long bus trip from Barcelona to Madrid. Not the best way to spend a day when your on a trip, but unfortunately no night buses run that route, so a day had to be wasted. None the less since I have said everything that needs to be said about today I will update my days in Barcelona.

Definitely did NOT have the typical Barcelona experience. Which is obviously lots of beach and lots of drinking since it is pretty much the party capital of Europe. I got rain on both my full days in the city so that crossed the beach aspect of the trip off the list. With that said it did mean more time in the streets. I got to walk through La Rambla multiple times, seeing different vendors and street acts every time. Very talented Reggie groups and dance groups doing big shows during the evening. Many Catalan artists with their paintings or other works of art also line the streets. Stopped in one of Barcelona´s most known market the Mercat de Sant Josep/ La Boqueria. They have everything that your stomach should desire. Different smells coming from each corner, they have different food from fish, fruit, meat, candy, oils and spices and even walked by a chicken egg booth!

I was supposed to take a bike tour of the city the second night however a few hours before it would begin it started to storm outside, and it was pouring rain. The brochure said the tours go in ANY weather and that rain ponchos were available if needed. I could rock the poncho if need be but as soon as I heard the thunder outside I called them right up and changed dates to the next night. Which proved to be a good idea because the rain cleared up that afternoon in time for my tour. The tour was nice, we got to see a lot of the Catalan history, different monumental buildings, part of the beach, and the best part was of course the last stop. This was the Font Magica (fountain water show) with lots of water, lights, and music. The place was packed (just like the rest of Barcelona) and we got to see the last 5 minutes or so. I felt like a little kid gazing into the colours, I was just so impressed!

The down side of the bike tour was our guide did not stop much, so could not get a lot of the pictures I wanted. I attempted a few times while I was biking to click the camera away but after nearly stirring into poles and a few pedestrians I stopped. After the tour at around 10:30pm I rushed home because I was supposed to meet two Toronto girls I met that night. They actually stopped me in the street asking for directions in the broken Spanish that one of them spoke. Then we got to talking (in English) and found out we were both from Toronto area. They seemed really cool and we made plans for my last night in Barcelona. But did I mention that I had to change hostels for my last night? Well this new hostel was up in the friggen hills. Nice scenery and view of the city, but it is horrible to walk up! Especially after a 3 hour bike tour, 20 minute walk to the metro stop and then over 200 steps to the hostel (yes I counted). So after all of that I fell into my bed with my gyros and that is where my night ended. So no beaches of Barcelona and no clubbing of Barcelona.

Left the next morning at 5:30 to catch my bus which brought me to my new home for the next few days. Madrid seems very cool and I even got a tip from a Italian photographer I met in Barcelona about a Sunday market which has anything and everything you could want. I better practice my Spanish numbers tonight!