Packed all of my things and tidied because when i get back i wont be staying at Nichis. Got to the Victoria Coach Station just in time and was on my way to Stansted Airport. That is the weirdest airport I've ever been to which is saying a lot be it Ive been to tiny third world country airports. So anyway, a full day of travel be it I was worried about checking in and ended up waiting four hrs for my flight. Ryanair sucks. I dont think I'd ever take it again if I wasn't on such a budget. It genuinely felt like i was on an infomercial/game show and was bombarded with telemarketer flight attendants. You don't get any amenities on a flight like that, so I just slept and when we landed thought we had crashed because there was no warning. The people in front of me were freaked out too. We were then crammed into a shuttle bus for customs which was the easiest border I've ever crossed. I could have illegally immigrated here no problem. I was asked no questions, just given a stamp and told Bon Dia the Catalan expression for Good Day.
So after the near death scare, I was in the country, ready to make my way into Barcelona. I found my way to a bus and to the metro with ease though the stop I went to called Diagonal, had four exits and when I came out I couldn't find Martina. I scanned the area, there weren't a lot of people out in this neighborhood. A couple having a conversation, a few passers by at random. I spotted a guy sitting down who looked as if he was waiting. I had an inkling that he spoke english and that it wouldn't hurt to ask. Hables Ingles? Yeahh! He looked like a slightly tanned Keanu Reeves in his younger years, tall and slim with a Keanu voice to match. We struck up conversation and it turned out he was from LA had only been there four days and was meeting up with a friend at 1030 as well. "I have't seen her in a long time and if I don't find her Im just going home." He said. He didn't have a phone so we both waited till 11 until he saw his friend walking. "Ughh I think that's her." When he ran over to her I was like, okay that's it I have to figure out my life now, no more lost company, but he kindly walked over with her and she let me use her phone to call Martina since mine wasn't working. I think as far as Europe goes Spain is on another cell system than the UK because I was told my phone would work other places in Europe and it indeed did not here. Turns out Martina was waiting at one of the other corners (I figured) and she walked over my way and oh the relief in being found. I thanked my new friends and began walking with the next pair. Martina came to pick me up with her friend Bart, I had only seen a picture of her before meeting and she seemed really playful in her pictures, curly hair bright face. In person she seemed a bit rougher, edgier even, more direct and to the point. She told me to pay attention so that Id know how to get back to the house later. Bart her friend was soft spoken, semi quiet but kind. He asked me if I'd ever had Tortilla Espanol, I said no. Martina had made some for us waiting at the house. Are you hungry she asked? I was famished. Yes, that sounds great.
I must have ate three slices and cleaned off a couple helpings of salad before I realized that Bart was making me a key chain out of a marble and hikers rope that he had just purchased for their trip. Bart is Martina's business partner and friend, they are embarking on a trip to Nepal in August to establish schools for Women and Children. They are both from Mallorca and are super sweet small town types with loads of hospitality. Martina has been generous to offer up her flat even while shes away this weekend! In exchange Ive agreed to go with her to rugby tomorrow. Id like to go visit Mallorca someday, it sounds wonderful. We talked more about the culture and what it was like there and they taught me some swear words (cute right) and equipped me with maps.
Thursday I went to meet up with Minna who I met online. She's a CalBerkely student who has been here for nine months studying Spanish. When we met it was like meeting an old friend. There is something about being born and raised in the same area as someone that imbues you with likened qualities. (of awesomeness!!!!) Native Bay Area Pride. We walked around Gracia our now mutual neighborhood, and she told me more about the area. How Gracia was the main part of the city to begin with, insular with its plazas, completely self sustaining, and how they expanded the region to Eixample pronounced shamp being the newest addition. We ate salads in the plaza and walked about. Bought fruit from a local grocer (so cheap and delicious!) and went back to her apartment and lounged. Then we met up with Martina to go to rugby. Took bikes to the beach. Very sandy worried about nose ring. Got rules wrong had lots of fun hurt myself a bit tackled guys like it was football but really you are just suppose to like grab them and almost scored I would have if o wasn't so gullible and thought I had to pass it back. Took a swim in the ocean and ate tapas. Biked back and crashed hard
So after the near death scare, I was in the country, ready to make my way into Barcelona. I found my way to a bus and to the metro with ease though the stop I went to called Diagonal, had four exits and when I came out I couldn't find Martina. I scanned the area, there weren't a lot of people out in this neighborhood. A couple having a conversation, a few passers by at random. I spotted a guy sitting down who looked as if he was waiting. I had an inkling that he spoke english and that it wouldn't hurt to ask. Hables Ingles? Yeahh! He looked like a slightly tanned Keanu Reeves in his younger years, tall and slim with a Keanu voice to match. We struck up conversation and it turned out he was from LA had only been there four days and was meeting up with a friend at 1030 as well. "I have't seen her in a long time and if I don't find her Im just going home." He said. He didn't have a phone so we both waited till 11 until he saw his friend walking. "Ughh I think that's her." When he ran over to her I was like, okay that's it I have to figure out my life now, no more lost company, but he kindly walked over with her and she let me use her phone to call Martina since mine wasn't working. I think as far as Europe goes Spain is on another cell system than the UK because I was told my phone would work other places in Europe and it indeed did not here. Turns out Martina was waiting at one of the other corners (I figured) and she walked over my way and oh the relief in being found. I thanked my new friends and began walking with the next pair. Martina came to pick me up with her friend Bart, I had only seen a picture of her before meeting and she seemed really playful in her pictures, curly hair bright face. In person she seemed a bit rougher, edgier even, more direct and to the point. She told me to pay attention so that Id know how to get back to the house later. Bart her friend was soft spoken, semi quiet but kind. He asked me if I'd ever had Tortilla Espanol, I said no. Martina had made some for us waiting at the house. Are you hungry she asked? I was famished. Yes, that sounds great.
I must have ate three slices and cleaned off a couple helpings of salad before I realized that Bart was making me a key chain out of a marble and hikers rope that he had just purchased for their trip. Bart is Martina's business partner and friend, they are embarking on a trip to Nepal in August to establish schools for Women and Children. They are both from Mallorca and are super sweet small town types with loads of hospitality. Martina has been generous to offer up her flat even while shes away this weekend! In exchange Ive agreed to go with her to rugby tomorrow. Id like to go visit Mallorca someday, it sounds wonderful. We talked more about the culture and what it was like there and they taught me some swear words (cute right) and equipped me with maps.
Thursday I went to meet up with Minna who I met online. She's a CalBerkely student who has been here for nine months studying Spanish. When we met it was like meeting an old friend. There is something about being born and raised in the same area as someone that imbues you with likened qualities. (of awesomeness!!!!) Native Bay Area Pride. We walked around Gracia our now mutual neighborhood, and she told me more about the area. How Gracia was the main part of the city to begin with, insular with its plazas, completely self sustaining, and how they expanded the region to Eixample pronounced shamp being the newest addition. We ate salads in the plaza and walked about. Bought fruit from a local grocer (so cheap and delicious!) and went back to her apartment and lounged. Then we met up with Martina to go to rugby. Took bikes to the beach. Very sandy worried about nose ring. Got rules wrong had lots of fun hurt myself a bit tackled guys like it was football but really you are just suppose to like grab them and almost scored I would have if o wasn't so gullible and thought I had to pass it back. Took a swim in the ocean and ate tapas. Biked back and crashed hard
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