My first stop was Barcelona. After calling to fight with the U.S. banks to allow me to use my ATM card abroad, I caught a night train leaving from Orléans for about 75 euros (US$100 or so).
Photo: Parc Güell
During my time traveling through Spain, I learned about two great ways to meet people: on the trains and in the hostels. In Barcelona I met people both places. On the train I met a Chinese girl who was traveling in Barcelona for less than a day and we decided to go ahead and see some of the city together. After we arrived, we spent most of our time searching for a place to leave our bags so we could walk around freely.
Immediately, I was glad I had brought a simple backpack. Yes, that’s right—not even a stereotypical backpacker’s backpack, but just a simple, I’m-going-to-school backpack (though perhaps a little larger than the average 10-yr-olds). I bought it at Wal-Mart for about $30, and it was a dream compared to my new friend’s rolling suitcase which could barely make it across the broken sidewalks and metro staircases.
Photo: Parc Güell
Once we finally found a good place to leave our bags, we headed to the main cathedral in Barcelona which was beautiful, though under construction. Then we went for lunch. Like a good traveler, I headed straight for the traditional food—paella. Unfortunately for me, someone show have warned me to take it slow. Paella is a traditional Spanish dish of rice with seafood on top, and for a girl who had just flown a few thousand miles and changed through six different time zones, experimenting with foreign seafood probably should have been a red flag. An hour later as we wound our way around the city in search of the Picasso museum (whose line made it truly impossible to enter), I decided it was time to say goodbye to my friend and check out my hostel.
My first real hostel experience was unique. I was told that hostels were the way to go because they are cheap. Thus, I booked the cheapest hostel I could find at about 10 euros (US$14). After searching about half an hour for the place, I managed to completely miss the reception desk and walk right into a girls dorm just as one girl was changing and another coming out of the shower.
Safe? No. Clean? No. Secure? No.
Photo: My first hostel
The front desk was run by young, English-speaking 20-something-yr-olds from the Czech Republic, England, and Italy.
I fell asleep on my bed as soon as I saw it and woke up feeling better a few hours later, ready to head off for a bite to eat and a look at the Sagrada Familia, the beautiful church by Gaudí.
Photo: Sagrada Familia
That night I headed back to the hostel and spent the evening with the owners and other travelers. The hostel provided free wine for everyone along with good music and lots of conversation.
Safe? No. Clean? No. Secure? No. Fun? YES.
The next day I woke up early (around 7am) to head out and see Parc Güell, Gaudís other masterpiece in Barcelona. To reach it, you have to take an escalator or climb several hundred stairs straight up. By the time I reached the top, I swore I would never again visit.
Photos: Parc Güell
That afternoon, I headed to Madrid.
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