Barcelona

I´ve arrived in Spain with very little jetlag, and have spent the past two days walking almost the entire city with Nicole and a good pair of sneakers.

The flight was great--never flown business class before, with seats that go entirely horizontal for a good sleep. I got free magazines, watched a movie, read my book, slept a little & ate some incredible vegan food. In fact, I was feeling quite full and satisfied from my meal of couscous, beans & salad and was relaxing when they brought out the entree! I could barely eat anymore. The same goes for Spain--the food is so delicious. Paella, tapas, fresh exotic fruit juice...it´s all so good! I´m actually finding that despite the fact that I,ve walked for hours each day (almost 6 today!) I am so filled from the meals that I can go with just a small breakfast and mediocore dinner. Dinner, by the way, begins around 9 or 10 here, although not many people seemed to be out tonight because it´s Monday.

I have found Spain to be such an accessible country. Everyone one has been so friendly and helpful, especially with our lack of Spanish. Pretty much everyone speaks English but Nicole and I have been trying to flex our Spanish muscles...

Barcelona is filled with expectionally unique architecture, so rich in details that it leaves me speachless. The city from the ground appears quaint and every European--very narrow streets filled with cobblestone and alleyways. From a height the city is a very different story; so vast, craddled within two dramatic hills. We ventured to the top of one of 1 tours on Gaudi´s Cathedral today, which was a great challange on my vertigo. With shaking legs, Nicole and I traversed the 90m tower, exploring the high-depth reliefs and winding staircases (photos to come).

We also visited the top of one hill, and a great beautiful Museu National d´Art de Catalunya, the arena where they want to hold the Olympics in 2012, and some botanical gardens. Depsite their vastness, these buildings have a quaint feeling to them, and are so personal. You can really see the heart and soul of a people through their architecture.

And talk about romantic! fyou wanted to buy a rose a dinner for your lover you could, or talk to a complete stranger about your life experiences, or enjoy a long-haired man play spanish guitar in a lonely alley at 1am. This place has already exceeded my expectations!I don´t want to leave Barcelona, but I must because I have a plane ticket for Mallorca at 8;30 tommorow morning, and it´s already past midnight here.

I will take more time to write tomorrow, and post some photos if possible.

-Alyssa
(ps, sorry about typos, they have different keyboards here and I´m on a time limit...)