Escapades in Spain

Hey Everyone!

Things have been pretty crazy here. I've switched my room and for some reason it seems like I've gotten my old life and my old self back just like that! I haven't seen any troublemakers and everyone else here can't seem to get enough of me. I ran through the park with this girl Cait yesterday. She in a little better shape then me, but we did three miles. Then I went and lifted with some of the guys. Today some of the girls and I are going to have a picnic in the park.

About a week ago, Dana and I started our trip for Spain. We caught a bus to the airport, but it got lost and we almost missed it! When we finally got to the airport we were pretty lost. We sharing puzzled thoughts with a few other Regent's girls when a Spanish girl (she sounded American) who had been studying in London and her mother offered to point us in the right direction. She told us what bus to take and offered to take our friends to their hotel because it was on their way!

Our bus dropped us off right in the middle of Barcelona. Our hostel was off the famous street, La Rambles. We were walking down La Rambles for about fifteen minutes when two girls said " Hey American Chica's !!! Where are you trying to go?" We told them where our hostel was and they pointed straight and said "diretto diretto diretto.. until you see Colom!" So we kept going until we hit a huge monument of a guy pointing out to the water and that's when we realized it was COLUMBUS and he was pointing HOME. It was really the most comforting thing I've seen in a long time.

Our hostel was scary. We slept in a 14 person room about the size of my dorm room. Dana and I didn't even sleep in the same room on the last night. Most of the other girls did not speak English. There were Japanese, French, Spanish, and German girls all staying with us. One time Dana sat up and yelled "JENNA!" but I wasn't in the room so all the other girls didn't understand. From then on out every time she said "Jenna" they all jumped as if it meant something bad. sigh. We did have a professional soccer player that worked the night shift there because he had all his stuff stolen and needed a place to stay. He definitely helped us get around.

I thought Spanish would be close to Italian, but its not. On top of that... They don't speak Spanish in Barcelona and Mallorca... They speak Catalan. Whatever that means. Dana tried to tell me how to ask for stuff... but it never came out right. She told me how to ask for two waters, but when I got to the counter I said "dos ables" which means "two speak"...so yea...

Every morning we woke up at 7 AM to shower and switch rooms (we're not sure why, but it was the cheapest way) and then we were off by 9. We paid for a two day double decker bus tour and used that as our transportation (when walking wouldn't cut it). We took it all the way up to Park Guell. It was a park designed by the famous artist Gaudi. It was AMAZING. His idea was to blend architecture with nature and boy did he get it right. Everyone was unbelievable. None of the columns or arches were the same because he said nature varies as should architecture. We spent most of the day there and then went to the National Building in Placa D'Espanya where there was a fountain light show (see Hola Coca cola? for the full photo shoot to feel liek you werethere!) It was really really beautiful, and so amusing to hear the people go, "Ooooooo. Ahhhhhh, Whoooooaaa." They are all very appreciative of everything here. Its great.

We made it back to La Rambles where we ate outside in the center of the street. We had Paella which was so yummy I can still taste it. We had a glass of Sparkling Citrus Sangria with dinner and that was like desert filled with oranges. The only downfall is I drank most of it on an empty stomach and took me a bit by surprise. There was a Good Friday parade going on, but it was dark and couldn't really tell what was going on. Of course I turned to Dana and was said OMG... who do you think died... they looked important...of course shes responded with.... um I believe that would be Jesus... I just said well its a good thing he comes back to life on Sunday. They waiter couldn't stop laughing. After wards we hung out in the square where we met some boys from New York. They were 28, 29 and 31! I wouldn't have thought they were that old, but they didn't believe that we were 20 and 21 either. We went to a club for a little while but the night life there doesn't usually start til 3 AM and we wanted to be in bed by 1 am so we called it a night early.

The next day we walked to the Gaudi area of town and saw Casa Batillo and Casa Mila. It just re-enforced how stunning Gaudi really is. Casa Batllo was a house inspired by water, waves, and bubbles. There were no straight lines and everything was curvy or twisty. We went to the roof and even there had some pretty crazy architecture. Casa Mila was really cool too. Inside were models and descriptions of many of Gaudi's works and how they came about. When we were done we got to go to the roof of that building too. The view was awesome. We could even see Sagrada Familia in the horizon. That's when we knew where our next stop would be.

We hopped on our tour bus and took it to Sagrada Familia. Explaining the detail is impossible.You'd really have to see it to believe how much work Gaudi put into this structure. It really was something else. There were three different buses included in the bus tour (it was a big city). So we took the red line all the way around the top of the city, switched to the blue to see Spanish Town and then finally to the Green line to see the coast. I loved this Lobster outside outside our hostel on the boardwalk. I mean who wouldn't want to wake up to giant happy lobster every morning. We laid out on the boardwalk for a while and then went back to get ready for dinner. We had chicken, rice, salad and croquettes for dinner. The waiter gave us our "digestion shot", but neither of us wanted it so we just dumped it in our big glass. When he saw we had "finished" it so quickly he brought the bottle over and said "here you like? have more!" hahaha we gave it to the table next to us and went home to crash early.

We woke up at 7 and asked our soccer star how to get to the train. We found it with no problem, but we got off at the wrong stop! Then we had to wait twenty minutes for the next one. We got to the airport and made our flight just fine. We couldn't find the right bus when we got there though. Every time we said "Do you speak English" The locals would respond with "Not really, Do you Speak German?" Apparently its a hot spot for German Vacationing, so we were out of luck. We found it eventually, but we got off at the wrong stop again. (The directions and signs were awful). We found a tourist office and they directed us. We had to walk for about half an hour (with our ridiculously heavy luggage) to the right stop. From there another bus driver told us that we had to take that bus AN HOUR away to the OTHER SIDE of the Island to get to our hostel!!!! We rested while we waited for other passengers to load the bus. Nothing was open and we hadn't eaten for several hours. There wasn't anyone around. No one got on our bus. Dana looked equally as confused, and then it clicked... "Happy Easter Jenna" Dana managed to get out. I hugged her and I was like Happy Easter Dana!!! We found an open shop and bought a box of Chips Ahoy to celebrate.

When the bus finally went from Palma to Pollenca we were in the most beautiful little town, but had no idea which way to go. It was just a bunch of roundabouts with now signs. After a while Dana started to cry and I honestly had no idea what to do . No one was around, and the few people we did run into had no idea where our hostel was... or even the street! We found it eventually. But it was real dark and no one was there ! Finally, out of the darkness an old man said "Jenna?" and I'm like That's ME!!! He said he'd been expecting us hours ago and explained that everything was closed for Easter. We told him we knew! When we got to our room there was no hot water, no heat (and it was really cold) no blankets or towels, and the sockets were blown. Eventually we got him to fix most of it, but it was definitely interesting.

We had dinner on the boardwalk that night, and then went back to relax for a little. That man busted into our room and then when he realized we were there he left. We decide to lock up our luggage after that. We went for an evening walk and ended up at the only thing open, the only pub in town. There we met the entire UK!! The British, Scottish, and Irish. Later on the started a fight with some Germans, and they all went skinny dipping! They are CRAZY. Dana and I, more tainted then ever, went home and had trouble sleeping after that.

We woke up to gray skies and lots of rain. We went out and walked around anyway. We stopped for some Italian food which as actually really good. We asked some people where the closest movie theatre was, but they didn't; have one in this town!! AH ITS MY WORST NIGHTMARE!! What town doesn't have a Cinema?!?!?! We went back to the hotel cafe where a bunch of older people were hanging out. There they told us that "We make our OWN fun in Mallorca!" and they invited us to watch some cricket (the sport... I thought they meant the bug). We politely declined and went to find an Internet Cafe. We ate at and American Restaurant that night and ran into some more British boys (younger ones) in the square.They all pointed an were like "Look that's the American Girls!", Because we were probably the only Americans there. They told us to meet them at the pub later, and by default, we ran into them and the Scottish and Irish people we'd met the other night. Dana wanted to hang out with the older ones, but the younger British boys just kept yelling "Jeressyyyyy, come talk to us!!!" so I went over there and found out they'd been to Jersey several times, and probably knew more about it then me. They taught me all about their language and stuff. Like "Safe!" means "Hello Pal!" I told them what "mate" meant in American and they all got very upset. They also made fun of the fact that we call "trainers" sneakers and that we eat bagels and coffee instead of tea and crumpets. JEEZ! They were very nice and we still keep in touch. We walked along the beach where there were some pretty crazy sand castles and all sorts of games being played. They boys walked us halfway to our hostel, but once they left we were followed by some even younger Spanish boys who kept trying to grab us. It was very uneasy, but we made it back alright.

The next morning it was pouring so we decided to eat breakfast and catch the bus back to Palma. We walked around and saw the sights for a while, but our luggage was killing us, so we made our way to the airport early and had our own adventure there. Unfortunately, Dana was pickpocekted and her camera (and her pictures) and her phone which shes going to have to pay 400 dollars for is gone. We took the train and then a cab home to my own room. =)


Spain was defiantly one of my favorites. I should have traveled with Dana more. We made a pretty good travel team and saw more then anyone else did. This weekend I think the other girls and I are going to the Tower of London (where the crowned jewels are) and some museums.

Sunday I think I'm going to hang out at speakers corner and go to the markets again.

Next week Dana and I are going back to Wegamamas and the toy store where PING PONG was created. AND we are going to see Mary Poppins!!!!

Then Paris next weekend <3

I'll see you all in 20 days. Thank Goodness.

Love, "The Jersey Girl"