Last weekend, my friend Sara came to Barcelona! She got in around lunch time so the first thing we did was meet up with McCauley and head down to the beach. It was a beautiful day and I actually got a little sunburned on my face! We ate lunch at a restaurant right by the beach and got a big jar of Sangria for the three of us to enjoy. We walked around a little bit more and then decided to head back, take a siesta, and get ready for the night. We found Sara's hostel which was actually very close to our homestay and went back to get ready. We met back up to go to the Magic Fountain Light Show that we went to a couple of weeks ago but this time the music wasn't quite as good so it was a little bit disappointing, but still cool to see all the pretty lights! Then we headed to a restaurant for dinner and went and found a couple of bottles of champagne to enjoy by the port before we went to a few bars down by the water.
The next afternoon we went to Milk, a restaurant that Molly recommended to us, which is like a typical American brunch restaurant. It was amazing- pancakes, omelets, eggs benedict... everything was so good! Then we decided to go show Sara Park Guell. I had been before, but if you remember, they were filming a music video there on our last trip so it was nice to be able to see it in a normal way! The park is so pretty- everything from Gaudi's bench and entrance to the path walking up to the top.
After Park Guell, we explored the Diagonal area....where we actually ended up spending a lot of time. Diagonal is a street that runs all the way through Barcelona, pretty much from one side to the other. We started off near Passieg de Gracia and walked until we found a Metro station to get back, thinking there would be plenty along the way since we were pretty exhausted. But it wasn't until 45 minutes later that we finally found one! So needless to say we had about had it with walking for the day and went back for Siestas and to get ready for the night.
We went to this really good restaurant called Tapa Tapa Saturday night and just ordered all sorts of Tapas for dinner. Then we went to one of our favorite bars, Dow Jones, for a while. We let the stock market crash a few times and took advantage of the cheap drinks when it did. We stayed there for a while and then went to find another bar, Chupitos, but when we got there it was closed. So we just decided to walk by the port for a bit until we decided it was bedtime :)
Sara had to leave the next morning so we said our goodbyes and headed our separate ways.
Monday night, I had my first bad experience in Barcelona. I really just wanted some quiet time for myself so I went to a cafe near where we live to do some studying. I found a table upstairs where there wasn't another person around and I knocked out a good two hours worth of studying. When I got up to leave, however, my purse was gone. I had it under my chair under my feet and there was nobody else upstairs! I guess, though, that I did have my back to the door and someone must have snuck up behind me and just grabbed it and run. It had my wallet (with no money though- I was going to the ATM after I left, thank goodness), my passport, my camera, and my Euro-phone. So I had to go to the police station, file a report, and pray that someone turns it in. Since I didn't have any money in my wallet there is a chance that the thief threw it in the bushes or something but that's definitely wishful thinking. So for now, all of my cards are cancelled so they cannot be used. I went to the US Consulate's office Tuesday morning and got an "emergency passport" so that I can still go to Rome this weekend but everything is so frustrating. And remember that I'm in Spain (!!) so I had to file the police report and figure out where the Consulate is all in Spanish. Honestly I have never been so happy to see an American flag as I was when I found the Consulate building. So I definitely learned a lesson through all of this. Even when you think you're being careful, be more careful. I did as I had been told and put my bag under my seat, not beside it and although it wasn't between my feet I thought it was pretty safe... But these pickpocketers are just too good here. So you better believe that I will never take my bag off of my body again, whether I'm eating at a restaurant or wherever I may be. This was one of the most frustrating experiences of my life and I hope nobody else has to deal with something like this!
Anyway, like I said I can still go to Rome this weekend and I am SO excited! I haven't seen Martha or Ellis since December and I finally get to see them again!!! Elizabeth, Claire, Virginia, and Sara will be there too so I am really excited to see everyone and of course to stuff my face with pizza and pasta for the entire weekend! I just won't have a camera to take pictures with :(
I hope everyone else has a great weekend and I can't wait to let you know about Rome!!
Adios!
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