I never want to leave

-
     I can't explain to you how it feels to know that I'm going to have to say goodbye to this incredible city in a matter of 4 very short days. Yesterday I got done with classes at 4:30 as usual, threw in a final load of laundry, Facetimed my sister, and set off to explore alone. One of the really great things to do here is just get lost. Wander, with no idea where you're headed. You find all these magical little surprises :)
They only speak French in this café; no English, Spanish or Catalan!  It's one of the most adorable things I've seen in my time here.



I loved the contrast of this angular, modern building next to these rustic, old-Spanish apartment buildings.
That angular building turned out to the be the Museum of Contemporary Art.  Who knew?
This woman probably thought I was weird for taking a picture of her apartment building but I couldn't help it!  It was too cool to pass up!
     I swear, all roads lead to Las Ramblas! I actually tried to avoid ending up there, but as fate would have it, I wound up there anyway.  Some of my friends left for Ibiza, an island off the coast. It's known to be THE party island apparently.
     Today I went to the beach alone.  I came home, showered and began packing.  I can't describe how depressing it was.  Everything except for a few easily wrinkled shirts, shower products and my towels is packed now.  Once I started I just couldn't stop.  I will be living out of my suitcase until Wednesday I guess.
     This weekend is Sant Joan, or Festival of Saint John.  It marks the start of summer, or the longest day of the year in terms of daylight.  To say that it is crazy here, would be a huge understatement.  There are firecrackers and fireworks going off every five seconds.  Loud bangs from people throwing things into dumpsters.  Cabs honking, people shouting, children shrieking.  The biggest central gathering on the Nit de Sant Joan is on the beaches, which attract crowds of around seventy-five thousand people. The day after the Nit de Sant Joan is a public holiday, so the party starts tomorrow (6/23) and goes on until sunrise the following day.  All the clubs and bars in the city organize Sant Joan parties.  Last year sixteen people died in the metro rush.  Everyone is dressed up, from children to great-grandparents.  So it should make for an interesting night out.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reentry

-
Image
     I have officially been home for a week and I'm still exhausted. The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to our return home  I slept for a total of about 5 hours .  I arrived home and slept for 9 hours straight, without moving the entire night. I woke up and took a long hot shower, which felt soooo good.  It was nice to sleep in my own bed with familiar smells and sights.      There are some differences in how I act and what I do.  I think my family and friends have begun to notice.   I detest driving now.  I never used to mind it, but all of the walking around Barcelona and using the metro, I realize what a nuisance driving is.  Many things are "like riding a bicycle".  You literally just fall back into the routine of things, like you never stopped doing them.  It's amazing how your body just automatically remembers how to do things.        There is something called "reentry shoc...
Read more

Mini Adventure: Memorial Day

-
Image
I have been talking about visiting the New England Aquarium since Bobby and I first got together.  I went as a child, many many moons ago.  I am a child at heart when it comes to animals and my family humors me.  Since Bobby and I now have the same holidays off, we I decided it would be a good opportunity to go. We once again hopped on the red line and headed into the city.  It was cold and damp, but being the trooper I am, I voted we walk the five blocks to the aquarium from our stop on the red line.  We saw the incredibly long line of people waiting to buy their tickets.  Immediate regret.  So I used my phone to immediately buy our tickets and we got to skip the line.  I highly recommend you buy tickets ahead of time for anything you do if possible.  Ever since our first date when we didn't get to see our movie, we have taken that lesson to heart and always preorder our tickets. I couldn't wait to pet the stingrays.  My mom had to ...
Read more

One Year With Cancer

-
Well kids, it's officially been one year since I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma.  My life hasn't changed that much.  I got engaged, I dyed my hair back to a normal color, we made an offer on a house... For those of you just joining our program, I have: a cancerous tumor on my right kidney, a cyst on my left kidney, a fatty liver and an ovarian cyst. I get ultrasounds and multiple tests every few months to ensure nothing has changed; they call it "watchful waiting".  It's incredible frustrating and doctors can be simply terrible about giving you all the information.  For a while I had no idea which ovary had the cyst and I didn't realize it until another clinician asked me. It's been quite the year but rather than focus on the negative, I'd like to reflect on the year and the lessons that have kicked my butt.  Here are a few things I have learned: 1.  Internal pelvic ultrasounds HURT.   It's a rod with a camera on the end that you ins...
Read more