Barcelona-hostel friends, late nights, & petty theft

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December 3 – 6




In many ways Barcelona reminds me of Paris-big, touristy, and a bit over-hyped. I am sure it is very different in the summer. But December isn’t exactly the busiest time to be there. At least the beaches aren’t crowded, though even empty you can still see a fair share of wiener in the winter (they stay true to their nudeness). Although the beach clubs are pretty fun and even in the winter you can find some cool people to hang out with at the hostel. My first night I spent exploring with two of the guys from my hostel and we walked from the gothic quarter to the beach. It always strikes me how open people traveling are.  Unfortunately I didn’t get out much. 

Cataluña = Wine


Park fountain-also apparently pickpocket site
On Sunday I went for a walk up in the botanic gardens to the south of the city and got to take some great photos and see a huge castle. Unfortunately as I was on my way back a bird pooped on me (or so I thought). When I went to wash it off, a man tried to “help” me and stole my camera. As someone who has traveled quite a bit, I was pretty rattled and felt incredibly dumb. I knew Barcelona was terrible for scams and pickpockets but all it took was a second of me being confused. At least it wasn’t my passport.  There is this terrible feeling I get after being robbed though.  It isn’t necessarily about losing something material; when my car was broken into a few years ago I felt this same sense of loss. But there is a deeper sense of betrayal. Everyone knows people are selfish and not everyone has the same morals but I think we want to believe that the whole of humanity is inevitably working in our best interest, and theft feels like a breach of trust, and an invasion of privacy. Needless to say, it didn’t give me fond feelings towards Barcelona. I had planned on training circus there, but ended up leaving early.

Famous Barcelona Cathedral



Just a little much..
I did have a last good night in the big city though. I went out with hostel friends to the biggest discoteca Razzmatazz. Heading over, we walked past group after group of teens drinking in the streets, music pumping from cars, and the couple of kids who have had too much already leaning against a wall looking like they won’t make it much longer. Razzmatazz lives up to its reputation.  It is enormous. It also made me feel extremely old and germaphobic. I love dancing, but I think my urban nightclub days may be behind me, although it was good for people watching. It reminded me of New York City, LA, or a scene from Skins-lots of young adults in black, smoking and sitting up on an urban rooftop. Barcelona is nothing if not the ultimate trendy urban city of Spain. That being said I realized I only had a few days left in Europe and would rather be in a city that I adored. So I headed back to Porto.




At least the Eyescream is fun!



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