Barcelona

Alright, so it has been a while since i have been at this... sometimes it is really hard to find a computer!!

So I made it to Marsielles and spent a day and a half there. It was kind of a rough and tumble city. Kind dirty and gritzy. Had some really cool sights. My favorite two being this huge fountain with all of these plants and flowers around it! The other was this big fort wall thing that was near the end of the city right by the ocean. Thats right i saw ocean!!!! My first official sighting since getting here. There isn't much to be said for the city otherwise.

I made it to Spain and barcelona which i was really excited about! Finally made it to Spain! I was staying about a 5 minute walk to Plaza Catalunya, where La Ramblas starts! All around me were all the Gaudi modernistic buildings! I was excited to go to Spain as Spanish is the only language i know a few words of. Nothing spectacular, but if you need someone to count to 10 i am your girl. I will even pretend to have a Spanish accent!!
However in Barcelona, they speak Catalyunian, which is almost like French. Blast the damn french!! So i was screwed again. I got in late the first day so i just crashed at the hostel.
The next day i wandered down La Ramblas. Saw all thetypical sights there. The statue people that get all dressed up in all sorts of crazy things, and will only move when you pay them. However these ones moved alot more, trying to coral people over to pay them and take pictures with them. And if someone took a picture, they usually tried to guilt them into tipping. So needless to say i kept my camera tucked tightly away!
Now i thought i saw EVERYTHING being sold on the streets of Africa, however, i found something new. The Africans may have been upsurped by the Spanish. In Spain they have Pet Kiosks. Think of those little booths that you see in most malls. Now pack it full of bunnies, turtles, gerbils, fish, birds, chickens, baby ducks and chicks, full roosters, pigons, and ferrets! I wasn't tempted until saw the little ferret faces staring out at me. All the cages were disgusting and overcroweded with the animals. And it was one of those kiosks that at night they just put the cages on the shelves, and close it up for the night. It was so horrible. Everytime i walked past i was debating how i could save all of the animals! how many i figured i could get in my purse and pockets!
After i reached Port Vell, where there is a big statue of Christopher Columbus pointing out to the ocean. He is supposed to be pointing to America, but instead he is pointing to Asia... oops! I jumped on one of those on off buses which took me to all of the important sights, saw alot of the modernistic buildings, the cathedral which has been being built since early in the 1900's, and is still under construction. Basically just checked of my tourist traps.
My roomies were two Brazilian girls and i suckered them into taking me out that evening. We went to a big fountain, light and music show, (think the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but on a smaller scale and to classical music rather than Celine Dion!) After 10 minutes we got the point and headed down to a 'tavern'. Now i have learned that words in Spain refering to drinking spots are very different than North America.
For example, Tavern (Spain )= Pub
Pub = Lounge with a dance floor
Disco = VERY fancy Club
So we went to a tavern, which was actually pretty funny. It was called the Black Sheep, and looked like this normal house doorway that you entered. And then you walked through a cave, and came out in this really strange pub. I felt like i should have been a pirate, or a pirates wench. It was all made out of stone and wooden floors which whenever anything was spilled they just threw sawdust on. All the tables were scarred and the wooden benches looked like they might crumble away with too much weight. We stood in line (yes line) for about 15 minutes to get up to order our drink, and shared a pitcher of sangria. That basically ended our night. As we were finishing the pitcher, debating on a second, two boys came up and decided that engangement rings, husbands, and un-interest werent quite enough to turn them away, so we left.
They left early the next day, and it was my mission, as i had found out the Tiesto (big DJ) was going to be in Ibiza (island off the coast of spain), to get there. It took me most of the day, but i got the ferry tickets and the concert tickets. I was slightly beside myself with excitement!
Later that evening i met up with a guy Manu, who i had met in Munich, and when Carter last minute bailed on me, called him up to show me around the town.
He showed me all of his favorite spots, we went for an awesome and super cheap dinner (each of us had an appetizer, entree, and shared a bottle of wine for 25 euros!!) I was ready to go to bed, but he wanted to go to a pub (remember NICE lounge with dancing). The place was beautiful. Had 2 levels, one being just a chill place to sit and have a couple drinks, then the downstairs had a live DJ (who sucked) and lots of seating area, and then a dance floor. Then outside was a deck with a bar, dance floor, seating area, then a beach area where you could walk out onto the sand and grab a seat on the beach overlooking the ocean. It was crazy!!
We stayed and danced for a while as Manu wanted to go to the 'disco' after, even though the dj sucked i was starting to get my second wind. But this magical thing happens to Spanish men at about 3am, they get slimy. Manu, was no exception. So that magically ended our night as well. I had been forwarned, and even talked to a few people about this magical hour. It is like a cinderella effect.
I was supposed to leave the next day, but as my ferry didn't leave until late that night i had an extra day in Barcelona. I stored my bag at the hostel and spent the day at the beach. LOVELY! Finally letting some sun touching those hidden spots so i can stop looking like a Canadian, blend in with the locals a little bit by not being so trasnparent.
That summed up my time in Barcelona. It is a beautiful city and has a really fun energy. I sansed alot of the local food as it looks like cous cous with this massive prawn thing in it, but the head isn't removed so you have these little beedy black eyes and antenna all sticking out of your food. GROSS!