Day 16 - Arrival in Barcelona

I woke up a bit early this morning so I could take my time getting ready for my departure from Prague. I went downstairs and ate a quick breakfast and headed to the postoffice to finally send my collection of postcards. I feel much better now that those are in the hands of the post office and not me. :) It took some serious time packing my back today, it is very strategic placement now that I have more then I came with. In fact, I practically had to sit on it to close it, but it finally worked. I went downstairs to check out and sat on the FREE computer while I waited for my car.

My car arrived to take me to the airport and the bell boy who was very rude to me 10 minutes ago decided to help me carry my bag downstairs and to the car. Of course he wanted a tip, but in my opinion if you´re rude once, no tip for you. So I stiffed him and quickly hopped in the backseat and shut the door to make sure there was no confusion. The car ride was good at first, it was great to see all the landmarks and see the city from high views as we drove. But the driver must have been in a very big hurry because I was starting to get sick from his driving. Every turn was practically on two wheels and I was very thankful when we came to a stop in front of the airport. It felt great to put my feet on solid ground. I didn´t have the full amount for the taxi in Czech dollars because I used some of it at the post office, so I had to pay him a little in American Dollars. The reception desk told me it was okay, so I figured oh well, I´m not taking anymore Czech money out. So as we parted ways, I handed him a wad of cash with $10 US dolloars in the middle. I turned on my heel and practically ran the other direction just in case he would be pissed off with the money in his hand. I gave him a few more dollars than I would have anyway and assured myself that he would be greatful for the tip.

After I carefully lost myself in the crowd I went to check in for my flight. Everything went great and I headed for security. This was the most relaxed secruity gate I have ever seen...worse than Lincoln or Omaha. I didn´t even have to take off my shoes and the person checking the X-ray machine was talking the whole time and not even looking. I thought it was great until I realized what all she might be missing....Eh, oh well. I entertained myself in the terminal for about an hour. I wanted to buy a soda, but I had spent my very last Czech dollar so I tried not to think about it too much. The flight was great, it was my first flight sitting alone in my three rows of chair. Everyother flight I have been on has been packed. Also, there was a VERY handsome Spanish man sitting in the row across from me and we made eye-contact frequently through the flight. But I couldn´t imagine how the conversation would go with us speaking two different languages so I kept to myself. As you would all expect, I fell asleep for about an hour of the flight. But luck was on my side and I woke up right as we headed over the Alps! The views were unbelievable, it was such a beautiful flight, the mountains were completely covered in snow. I can´t even describe it, but I started out the window for a good 45 minutes as we flew over them. The cost of the flight was worth the view.

As the plane decended into Barcelona, it was wonderful to see the beach and the city on the coast. The pilot did a terrible job landing the plane, the entire landing was shaky and it was making our stomaches do circles. When the tires hit the tarmac I think we flew 20 feet in the air just from the bounce, it was awful. When we were all safe the entire front of the plane started cheering and clapping. It was hillarious. I thought everything was good and fine until I think the pilot almost crashed into the gate because he slammed the breaks so many times. It felt great to walk off the plane...right behind the cute guy. I made my way to baggage claim but not too easily, the airport is very big and a little overwhelming. I picked up my bag and walked right out the front, no passport check, nothing. Maria and Ada were the first two I saw right out of the gate. Ada was walking very well with Maria chasing behind her. Next I saw Roger and I went around the gate to greet them. They lead me to their car and we drove into Barcelona. The ride was a little long, but it was so great to see all the sights and mostly...the sun! It is so warm here compared to where I came from. Roger and Maria think its very cold, but its practically a heat wave for me!

We stopped by Roger´s mother´s house, Nurnia because Roger had to pick up a few things. Right when we pulled up and Roger parked the car, I instantly remembered the balconies on the buildings from my last visit to Barcelona in 1992 for the Olympics. Yes, I was 8, but I remember things here and there! Nurnia lives in the same apartment she did 16 years ago and I remembered her building as well as the building my family stayed in across the street, Roger´s Grandparents apartment. It was fun to have a little nastalgia.

We then drove to Roger and Maria´s apartment and I dropped of my bag. I was surprised at how big the apartment is because Roger descripes it as so small. I really enjoy the way they have decorated the apartment, they have given it life with lots of colors and lots of art. I am staying in a ver large bedroom with a very comfortable bed. It suits me just fine and I am so thankful for their hospitality. Roger and I walked back down to the car and we drove a few blocks to park the car. Once we parked in their parking garage we walked upstairs to the Market of La Sagrada Familia. This market is a fresh food market with all possible foods...fresh fruit and vegetables, all kinds of seafood, all kinds of meat and all kinds of cheeses. It was so fun to walk around and take pictures. The seafood was the most facinating for me, all kinds of fish laying there for you to purchase. Roger pointed out pig legs hanging from the stands and stations where they cut off slices of meat from the leg for you to try. I declined trying any of the meat, even though I ate some later for dinner. The market was so great to see, I wish we could buy all our food like that back in the states. The size of the fruit was amazing, it all looked so delicious.

After the market, Roger, Maria, Ada and I walked around the Cathedral de Sagrada Familia. They had Christmas marts set up all the way around. The Cathedral is beautiful, but of course unfinished so you can not enter. It is a great piece of art and I wish the scaffolting would not get in the way. The Christmas mart was full of nativity scenes and all the contents to go inside. Roger explained that it is tradition to build a new nativity scene every year. Families go to buy the house and all the figurines, it is even possible to buy political figurines or many other unique ones. The houses for the nativity scene are made out of real wood and grass or moss. They were also selling Christmas trees, they smelled great and even though its warm here it made me think a lot about Christmas. There is also one other tradition that is common to sell at a market. They sell all different sizes of logs with a face painted on the front and legs made out of smaller logs. According to Roger, on Christmas children beat the log with sticks and then will recieve presents. I think the larger the log, the larger your presents are supposed to be. Its a little odd for me to grasp the concept, and perhaps I have it wrong, but still its fun to think about.

After the market we walked back to their apartment and I got the grand tour. Master bedroom and office, Ada´s bedroom, the main entry, the living room, storage room, my room, kitchen, dinning room and bathroom. We used skype to talk to my Dad for a little while and Roger showed the camera around the apartment so Dad could see everything. Next it was bath time for Ada and once that was finished it was time for her to eat. After her dinner, she selects a book, tonight she selected a Cheerios book my Mom actually sent them as a gift and handed it to me to read. Roger laughed saying, she knows the book is in English so she wants you to read it. It is quite difficult to talk much to Ada since she doesn´t understand English well. I know a few words in Spanish, but she speaks Catalan so it doesn´t do too much. So Roger and Maria read to her and put her to bed.

I helped Roger prepare our dinner. It is a traditional meal in Barcelona to take bread and smear tomato on the bread to soften it and give it flavor. Next we poured olive oil and topped it with salt. Done. Roger and Maria also served some sausage and ham, goat cheese, almonds, spinach salad with ham, cheese and a vinigarette dressing, and lastly carrotts with ranch dressing. Roger laughed and said they liked vegetables with Ranch so much when they visited Mom and Dad in August that they started eating it frequently here in Barcelona. So it was "a little taste of home" as Roger called it. Roger also served me a bitter soda made by Coca-Cola and some delicious wine. The bitter soda was very different, but I liked it. I was starving and ate way too much, but the food was delicious, so fresh and light.

I was exhausted after dinner and went to bed not too long afterwards. The bed was very comfortable and I fell asleep almost right away. Barcelona is so pretty and I can understand some things here. My Spanish is finally coming in handy! It makes me really wish I studied it longer because it would feel great if I could speak it here. I am proud of myself because I can read some things and I can talk to Ada in words I know in Spanish. I have said a few things here and there, but I have much to learn!

Adios! Anna