I’m pretty much ignoring the fact that I have final exams.

Perhaps the hardest thing about maintaining a travel blog – especially this kind of travel blog, where I dont really write for the readers as much as I just write for myself – is that at a certain point things just arent different anymore.  I get into a routine, a life, and I dont feel the need to explain about the weirdos on the metro, or almost getting run over, or screwing up words or something like that because it’s just part of my life.  It’s unfortunate though, because those experiences are just as valid now as they were when I first arrived… heck, maybe they are even more so, because if I actually catalogued them I would probably recognize just how much I have changed or learneda long the way.

That being said, especially after not speaking Spanish for 10 days, I am quite fastinated with my level of Spanish.  Don’t get me wrong, I am no where near the level that I had hoped I would be by the end of my program, but I am quite amazed by my developments.  My words come so quickly, and even though they aren’t right, and I’m pretty sure I have a habit of just not conjugating my verbs, I really can say what I want to pretty rapidly.  It’s pretty invigorating, and makes me really regret that I couldn’t get into a spanish class for the fall.  I really need to look into getting involved in /something/ Spanish over the summer and fall back at home.  I can’t let this all go away.

Obviously, I was on Spring Break for the past week in a half and it was unbearably amazing.  It’s all in my real journal.  Maybe I’ll blog it later – Jolene and I had some hysterical adventures. 

Hedgehog still smells like Eric’s cologne, for which I am very thankful.  He’s picking me up from the airport when I get back to the States.  I am beginning to become a ball of nerves.  Everything seems so fragile, I feel like every minute is just… loaded.  I will miss sunny Barcelona very, very much.  I will miss people from my program… I will miss this second life that I have created.  Literally, I now have two lives and it is very scary to think that when I leave Barcelona that one life will actually, completely end.  There will be no coming back.  It’s hard to imagine… in fact, I think I would rather not.  Thank god Madison will be beautiful weather as well.

I bought three tangerines today for 33 cents.  I almost paid with some of my left over kuna.

Love and fuzzy stuff,
Ash

Cha cha cha

Recap

I have found four out of the god-knows-how-many little notes Eric secretly left for me before he got on this plane this morning.  I miss him so much.

I’m terrible about blogging and writing in my journal when Eric is around.  It’s a bad thing, but they are definitely some of my happiest moments.  I can’t even recap it.  All I can do is recap some memorable moments:

 a 6-0 win at the Barca game
getting our feet wet in Sitges
Cuttlefish
Sandy floors
“Hola Mesaje ?”
Back aches from the single bed
Hedgehog’s backflips
Frying up sliced butafarra
Earrings
“If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.”
Cockroach in the Japanese restaurant
Our room getting cleaned
Pizza Hut… chicken delight?
Being held again
Exploring “Jew Mountain” (Direct translation of Monjuic)
Renfe, renfe, renfe

Did  I mention that he missed his plane yesterday?  His flight left at 10am.  We planned to be there about two hours early.  However, when we got to the train station we found ourselves a little confused.  Why were there no trains arriving for more than an hour?  A couple more minutes of confusion led us to understand that Daylight Savings Time had happened in Spain.  Okay, that sucks, well we were already halfway, not much to do but rush thruogh the airport.  However, that wasn’t even an option as we arrived minutes after Delta closed the gate.  They closed it at 9am, a full hour before the plane was to take off.  Lots of exasperation later, and Eric pays 500 dollars for a ticket for the same flight the next day.  We got him on that one just fine.

It was definitely an adventure having him here.  I got to do some more t0uristy things that I had missed.  I also was able to explore a whole slew of new restaurants and we cooked our own little Spanish meal.  Besides that I got to be with my Eric again. It’s impossible to explain just how much I have missed and still miss him.  He’s just a part of me, is all.

But tomorrow I have to go to at least one of my classes…

When Eric arrived on Sunday I promptly burst into tears.  Maybe it was because I literally hadn’t slept (Girl Talk the night before meant that I didn’t arrive home until 5 in the morning… which was quite early, really… but I had to be at the airport by 7:30… and I NEEDED to shower) but I was very emotional.  The tears didn’t last long, thankfully, and very quickly the tour began.  I am sure Eric is going to know way more about this city than he ever really wanted to.  By the way, Hedgie came along to greet him in the airport.

Yesterday we walked forever – down Las Ramblas, along the playa, and through old town.  Then it was off to the Barca game where we work matching yellow jerseys and tried out best to sing along with the cheers.  I sat next to a very old man who didn’t stand up when Barca scored but asked me where we were from and said that we were good luck when Barca won 6-0 against Malaga.  Damn right!

Today we slept for much too long but still managed to get to Sitges by 1 where we laid on the beach for hours, reading our books (Eric a Salvatore, myself Nothing to Declare… love it Zoe) and eating the ranch flavored snacks Eric had brought over for me from the US.  It was amazing.  Then we went and found a great menu del dia at a fancy place and experienced an interesting seafood situation that was both delicious and intimidating.  Ah, Spain.

I cannot get over how amazing it is be the little spoon again.

Apparently, I just like listening to myself talk

I went over thit once again. I am ridiculousy horrible at this – take a looksie at facebook to see my most recent adventure (and I promise that you will wannnnt to!)

Why am I not studying for my final exam on Wednesday?

I should really be studying for my exam.

Montpelli-yay!

Soon I’ll be across the border!

So I made another video

that is too long to put on youtube. Sorries, off to facebook with you for it!

Food consumed today:

-Pear yogurt
-croissant (sticky-sweet thin layer of honey on top)
-tuna sandwich with spinach and lettuce on a dried-red pepper bread
-tea
-dried kiwi, dried papaya, and dried strawberries from La Boqueria
-salad with carrots with vinegar, oil, and salt
-slice of pizza with cured ham, black  olives, and green olives
-slice of pizza with onions, black olives, and tuna
-slice of pizza with onions, black olives, and anchovies

I absolutely love how differently I eat when I am here   Ha!