We did as the Spaniards..

Since my last post, I have been to Barcelona, Rome and Amsterdam. Im not quite sure how much I can cover in this one post but I will try to get through Barcelona at the very least. 

Meredeth and I booked a really cheap flight to Barcelona this summer for this Halloween weekend.  We thought it was a good idea to fly out of Rome, and that it wasn't that far away.  We didnt realize that the fast train to Rome from Florence was 40 euro, each way.  So we took the 4 hour train that only cost 17 euro each way.  Between the train, the bus to the airport, our flight and another bus, we arrive in at the Kabul hostel in Barcelona at around 3 or 4 in the morning.

So when in Spain, do as the Spainards. This consists of sleeping in, taking a siesta and staying up all night.  We did just that.  Except the siestas were a failed attempt.  All my friends and I booked a twenty person room in our hostel.  Needless to say, it was impossible to sleep there if we wanted to.  About half of the people in the Gonzaga In Florence program decided to go to Barcelona this weekend too, so before we went out at night, our hostel room turned from a 20 person room to a 40 person.  I met one of my best friends from home, Britt DeLine, in Barcelona.  She is studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain and I was so glad to have someone who knew Spanish with us!

The first day, we went to Parque Guell.  We walked to the top and saw a view of the entire city.  We also saw some of Gaudi's work and the mosaic lizard. We then saw the Sangrada Familia, which was by far the coolest church I have ever seen.  The construction of this church should be completed in 25 years, so we vowed to come back to Barcelona when it is completed.  We were able to see the beach that day too. It definitely wasnt beach weather, but we ate lunch and drank Sangria by the ocean.  That night, we went to a club on the beach.

The next day, we went to the beach again and saw the awesome Halloween sand castles!  That night we went to Razzmatazz, the largest club in Barcelona. 

In my final day in Barcelona, Elle, Will, Britt and I decide to rent Go Karts and tour the city.  Driving in Europe is just about the scariest drive I have ever had to do.  It felt like I was in Mario Kart but if I ran into a bus (which I was very close to doing so), the consequences would be more severe. My Go Kart also broke down twice, so all the cars behind me got really angry.  But that definitely was one of the best experience I have had this semester.

We decided to stay up all night, since our flight was at 6:20 am.  So Britt and I say good-bye (I miss her already!) and Mer and I head to Rome. 

Ahh, Roma.  We decide to see Rome in one day, and let me tell you, we saw alot for that one day we were in Rome. In the four hours we were there, we saw the Colessuem, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and St. Peter's Square.  Of course we threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, because we both have plans to return to Rome later this semester.  I wish you could have seen us walk around Rome though.  We looked like zombies, due to the lack of sleep we had.  But we did it, and made it home safe and sound!


I will update this again soon about my trip to Amsterdam and my adventures in Florence. (And more Barca pics!)

My dad and his girlfriend are here with me for Thanksgiving this week and I am excited to show them around Florence!

Happy Thanksgiving!