Barcelona... part 1

I am sitting in a hostel in Barcelona writing this at the moment. It is 1:25 am and Lauren and I have just finished a couple of rip-roaring games of rummy (or gin-rummy as Lauren swears it is called) after a three hour dinner of tapas and sangria followed by ice cream.

And for all of you keeping score, that's 2-0 games of rummy to me and 3-2 scoops of ice cream in favor of Lauren. Yes, she saw the sign with pictures of the different ice creams she could order and her eyes went straight to the triple scoop cone. She had me order of course because too afraid to say anything in Spanish (except hola which I think she said for the first time today) and the guy refused to give us 3 scoops on a cone so we had to settle for in a bowl with a cone on top. This produced to brilliant effect of Lauren eating a cone with one hand and with a spoon out of a bowl in the other. I took a picture :)

We had a big night last night with Monica and Amy, two of my girls from Madrid who were here this week and met up with us last night. Since this was the case, and we spent all day walking around the city, we figured we would spend a quiet night in just hanging out.

Not to mention that my feet practically need to be amputated because I refused to remove the Vans my mom sent in the extra bag for me. How did I used to wear those to work, without socks even? My feet need to get accustomed to them again.

Speaking of the extra bag, the blessed extra bag, it was the best gift I have ever received in my life I think. Good old mother packed it with peanut butter, chapstick (that I can purchase here for about 6€ each but that's ridiculous) and some DVDs that will help me pass the lonely nights when I am sitting in my bed waiting to fall asleep and I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT read another word of Spanish because my brain hurts. This has never happened as often as it has happened in Spain!

Also she even packed some Lake Tahoe mugs to give to Carmen as a present like I asked and an LT (place not the player) calender for yours truly like I didn't ask.

Again, thanks mom... you don't know how much I appreciate it! My eyes teared up when I was pulling everything out. It made me feel very special.

ALSO, she sent me a new camera because mine broke on Valentine's Day for inexplicable reasons. I could have bought one here but I didn't really feel like using a converter for the rest of its life in the U.S. of A. It works great, mom.

Also, the tights you sent are completely perfect... exactly what I needed. Everything was exactly what I needed :)

So, now to Barcelona.

I like it. It is beautiful and fabulous and all that. But I cannot escape comparing it at all times to Madrid.

I know, I know... this is a terrible thing to do because all cities are special and important in their own little ways. I only do this I think because everyone else is always comparing the two. Everyone I meet talk about Madrid versus Barcelona. I can't help thinking in terms of this distinction as well.

I love traveling but I also love my city. I have enjoyed seeing Barcelona but I can't wait to go home tomorrow night. I think some of this has to do with the fact that I don't speak Catalan at all and I can't read any signs or menus or anything. I didn't really understand the difference between Catalan and Castilian Spanish before I came to Spain. I didn't understand what a big difference there actually is I think. I guess I was a little disappointed that I can't get around as easily here.

AND I can't wait to show Lauren my city and how wonderful it is!

I am going to go to sleep because I think poor Lauren is fading fast. The girl is a trooper... I have been dragging her all over Spain for 2 days and she just arrived and is probably jetlagged like crazy, even though she won't admit it. I am even tired, she must be feeling like crap!

I will definitely write more at a later time. Right now we have a date with our pillows.