So last time I checked you were waiting anxiously for Barcelona. Before you read this you should know that everyone in Barcelona has a lisp. Or at least it sounds like it. In the Catalan language, they pronounce an S like an ETH. Hence: BARTHELONA. Please just say that aloud right this instant so you can laugh at yourself. Grathiath (gracias for those who haven't caught on to this cool game). Trutht me, you'll be doing thith all day. Okay we're done.
If the lisp doesn't convince you to go to Barcelona, the fact that they have a man-made beach should. It was made for the Olympics in 1992, and we're not talking a little sandbox. It's an actual beach! And good news! No topless 80 year olds! Or at least none that i saw...
The best part about the city: Gaudi Architecture. Everywhere. If you haven't heard of him, please start a new tab and google him this instant. His work is like nothing you have ever seen, I can guarantee it.
The worst part: My knuckles in a constant state of white from holding my purse too tightly the entire time. If you're a pick pocketer, you probably live in Barthelona. If you're a tourist, you'll probably get pick pocketed. It's just that simple.
Overdramatic situation: I was in this hippie zen store that overkilled on the incense buying bangles. The store was probably the size of Carrie Bradshaw's closet (her closet from the show, not the movie closet. Oh i just got the chills at the thought of the closet in the movie. Sigh.. wait, how did i end up here? There goes the word vomit.) GETTING TO THE POINT: THE STORE WAS SMALL. I placed my camera on the counter 2 inches in front of me with my friend Jaclyn next to me, and the cashier gave me a shocked looked and immediately said "put that away. someone's going to take it." Ummm.. jaclyn and i were the only people in the store... besides the 5 weird girls in long skirts sitting with their legs crossed on the floor in a circle chanting something weird. Lesson Learned: Don't set your belongings down. anywhere. and don't trust girls in long skirts that chant. or just don't go into stores that have more incense than oxygen.
Needless to say, I ended my Spring Break on a great note. I was terribly worn out however, not only because of the previous week of travel, but also because "Barthelonians" don't believe in going out until 1 or 2 in the morning. That means as I was going to sleep, Starbucks was opening (yes they did have starbucks, and yes I had it twice while there. Although I didn't cry like i did in Amsterdam, reference an earlier post if you're lost.)
Moving on to the weekend of May 1st...
(I know, that seems like a big jump, but let's be honest: if i wrote about every detail, you'd be here for days at a time, and this blog is long enough. and I'm about to talk about Croatia, so calm yourself.)
CROATIA:
I'll be honest, i had NO idea what this place was going to be like. I admit, I even asked the question "what country is croatia in?" (for those of you who didn't notice anything wrong with that question, croatia IS a country. it's okay, now you know.)
Croatia is not only a country, it's a beaaaauuutifullll country. We stayed near Split, a large city/harbor, and spent the weekend laying out, sipping cocktails, laying out, annnnd sipping cocktails. Oh yeah, and we gambled. And guess who won 120 euros?! Yeaaahh me. Vegas anyone?!
So go to Croatia. Maybe even gamble. Spend some time near the sparkling blue water. And let your jaw drop at how TALL the croatians are. (no really though. they're giants.)
DUBLIN:
Skipping to this past weekend, my LAST weekend traveling... oh wow, i feel tears coming on...
If there's a place in the world where everyone is happy 24/7 (possibly because of alcohol consumption) it's dublin, ireland. Yes, they drink guinness at ALL times of the day. Yes, it rains a lot. And yes, it's spectacular. We spent one day touring the city itself: we saw Churches, Trinity College, and of course, The Guinness Factory. Then Gregg (the only boy on the trip, surrounded by 4 girls...) had this great idea of going on a ghost tour that night. If you know me AT ALL, you know that this ghost tour is probably NOT something i should go on. I'm not just afraid of typical "scary" things, I'm afraid of anything remotely scary, from the dark to the meat aisle in a grocery store (you might not be able to relate to that one as much...it's personal). So you can just imagine how hard I held Jaclyn's hand the entire time, how panicked i looked throughout the entire tour, and how much i regret going on it now. Thanks Gregg.
Besides the Ghost Tour, Ireland was flawless! The next day we took a tour of the countryside and took in all of the green that ireland has to offer. It was everything you imagine Ireland to be, but more. There were sheep in the road, rolling hills, streams, stone bridges, small villages... go. just go. and bring an umbrella.
Oh, and while you're there, make sure to listen to all the live music dublin has to offer. I swear, it's not a real pub unless there's a real singer. And there's nothing better than listening to irish folk music while drinking guinness and sitting next to a leprechaun. (just kidding about the last part, although we did look...)
So here i am now, with 3 days to go, and yes, i'm sad. Rome has been everything I've wanted it to be and more. ahhhh okay i cannot do this until my last post. My roommates have already had to deal with me crying everyday for 2 weeks, I can't start now.
To end on a happy/cool note:
I just saw "Angels and Demons" here in Rome, and as you know (or as you should know unless you've been living under a rock/refusing to read great dan brown books) it takes place IN rome. Little did i know, that the first "altar of science" (don't worry, i'm not going to give anything away) was literally 100 feet from the theater that i was in watching the movie. cool, right?! Yeah, i went to it after the movie, and I could still smell tom hanks.. oh how i love him. i mean, who can convincingly portray both forrest gump AND robert langdon? Ummm, him. Oooh, what if Forrest Gump, instead of Robert Langdon, had been summoned to figure out the Illuminati? Now that would have made for great cinema. I'll leave you to ponder that film...
Until next time, my last time... okay crying again.
Ciao from Rome
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