Barcelona

I don't know anything about architects and architecture, but I think Gaudi may be my new favorite architect. I took my first trip to Barcelona two Saturdays ago to visit my dearest C squared, aka Cindy Castro. I arrived in Barca only to discover that my phone doesn't work internationally, which resulted in Cindy and I wandering around lost at the train station looking for each other for over an hour. Mucho stressful and I freaked out a little but luckily we spotted each other.

I did the usual touristy Barca things and tried to do the bar to club and dance all night scene but my body (and feet) could not last all night and I had to call it quits at around 3 or 4am. It really is a whole different world in Spain. Everything is so laid back and relaxed. No one rushes. Everyone walks so slowly without a care about where they have to be. And they party all night long.

Park Guell and Sagrada Familia were my favorite things that I saw. Both are designed by Gaudi. So beautiful and colorful - like it belongs at the beach.

Sagrada Familia. Construction started in 1882 and won't be completed until 2025! 

Park Guell

Mosaic ceiling in Park Guell

I spent my Valentine's Day with Cindy and 2 of her friends. We went to a Chinese restaurant in the Gracia neighborhood. Oddly enough our server started speaking to me in Mandarin Chinese so I had a conversation with her in Chinese. Who would have thought I would need to whip out my Chinese in Spain? Thanks mom for 13 years of Chinese school. She ended up giving us more food in our orders because she felt bad we were students. After our Valentine's Dinner we went to a really cool lounge called Sham's Lounge that had Buddha decorations and couches everywhere. The atmosphere was very cozy and perfect for a relaxing night. The bartender charged me less than what I ordered so all in all it was a very awesome Valentine's Day.

Being in Barcelona was the first time since leaving America that I really experienced a language barrier. I don't know any Spanish and definitely don't know Catalan. I guess I've taken for granted that everyone in Oslo speaks English very well. The experience wasn't too horrendous though...I had Cindy to translate and speak for me. I was like her mute child in public.

I came home to snow and -20 degree Celsius weather in Norway. Typical. By the way, I walked around in jeans and a tshirt my first day in Barcelona. Man do I miss warm weather.