Hey guys,
So I haven't written anything on here for quite some time, but a lot has happened in the last few months. I returned a few weeks ago, reluctantly, from my summer holiday in Barcelona, Paris, and London. Having spent a week in Barcelona and 3 days in both Paris and London.
Barcelona:
A small apartment situated right in the heart of Las Ramblas about 2 blocks away from the port of Barcelona. My feet found new and interesting ways to feel pain. We walked everywhere in this city. Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, the beach, payaya, tapas, fanta, and beautiful smiling faces. This city breathes in the summer, alive in a way that feels electric. I would sleep just enough to have energy for the next day, but not much. I was up till 4, 5, 6am most nights or mornings! Seeing many old friends along the way and making wonderful new ones.
The marketplaces have the best fruit in the world. Figs, grapes, saturn peaches....everything mouth-watering. Even the kisses tasted sweeter in Barcelona. The air was thick and ripe with adventure, ready for the taking. I could see myself living in a city like Barcelona, all I have to do is learn to speak Spanish...details. A beautiful Maltese man took an emotional hole-puncher to my heart while I was there. There are small dots of me scattered throughout the city in Las Ramblas, Barceloneta, Liceu, Casanova, El Maresme, my apartment. I came home feeling like I was missing something...like I had left something behind. My soul feeling enriched with the memories and experiences shared with my friends in Barcelona.
Paris:
Travis and I boarded an easyjet plane to Paris from Barcelona after a late night at an unreasonable hour in the morning. The plane was cramped and small, but a cheap flight none the less. I caught about and hour of sleep on the plane ride over, thank god. We arrived about noon and caught a bus to a train to the west bank and then walked a few blocks to our hotel, Villa Glamour. Both starving, we found the nearest bakery to procure crepes STAT! I had a ham and cheese crepe with an egg on top and a lemon tart to finish.
The pastries in Paris are seriously the best ever. Following a much needed nap, we went out on the town with some friends and made our way to the Champs Elysees for a stroll. The Catacombs and a local graffiti exhibit were on the agenda for the next day. Seriously creepy down in the depths of the earth where the catacombs lie, but morbidly beautiful in a strange way. The kind of place that makes you realize your mortality and appreciate life all in one fell swoop. A famous ossuary deep beneath ground level in Paris due to city growth and generations of dead that began to overwhelm the city in the late 17th century.
Something to lift our spirits was definitely in order following the catacombs. So we headed over to “Ne dans la rue – Born in the streets” graffit exhibit at Fondation Cartier. Being a huge fan of graffiti and street art myself, this exhibit really tickled me. Large installations inside, a history and tools of the trade section, and live graffiti being done outside on temporary walls posted up for the show.
Another nap and then we were up and out again. After dinner we had a slight desire to go dancing, but there was no good house music to be found in the city. We went to watch the Eiffel Tower light show and called it a night with an early morning at the Pompidou ahead of us.
We had only a few hours at the Pompidou Center before I caught a train through the Chunnel to London. I really wish I had more time in Paris, but I guess that just means I'll have to go back soon!
London:
The train pulled into St. Pancreas at about 4:30pm. Made my way to the Northern Line and up to Camden Highstreet where my hostel was located. Check into the hostel and dropped off my things before going to the 99pence store to grab an umbrella and some shampoo & conditioner. Then I met up with some friends for dinner in Hampstead, fish & chips w/ peas. I went to bed early that night having been exhausted from traveling and with the hope of a full day ahead. I woke up early, got ready for the day, and set out on foot. Took the train down to Piccadilly Circus and wondered around from there. Made my way over to Pall Mall and walked down to the Grand Jubilee Bridges and across the river Thames to Waterloo Pier.
Then I went back to the statue of Cupid in Piccadilly Circus to meet up with my friend Leigh. We grabbed lunch and ate in So Ho Square followed by some shopping. Top Shop in London is absolutely divine! We made our way over to St. James Park, Green Park, and Buckingham Palace after that. Later that night I met up with some friends at a wonderful Greek restaurant and then went out on the town. The next day I went shopping in Camden Locke half the day. It's a wonderful maze of undergorund tunnels turned into little independent retailers and food stalls. Just brilliant! After I peeled myself out of there and avoided a flash rainstorm, I hoped on the tube and made my way down to the Tate Modern museum. Modern art makes me want to ROCK OUT!!! They had a RAD manga exhibit featuring some animae from Ghost In The Shell. Met some friends at a BBQ joint near Tottenham Court Road and then we went out for coffee in So Ho. I went home somewhat early that night knowing that I would have to take the tube at 6am to the airport and I wanted to give myself ample time and enough rest.
I made it to the airport in the morning safely and started the process of slowly realizing my vacation was almost over. The flight home was comfortable, but I was very sad. Like I had ended a relationship with the 3 cities I visited and felt as if I would never see them the same way again. I became very attached, especially to Barcelona. And when would I see all of the deliciously beautiful people I had met on this trip again? Would I ever see them again? My heart and mind were raught with strange ideas and feelings of separation while I was headed...home? I am glad to be back now, but I do miss it terribly...especially Barcelona. I plan to go back, I don't know when, but I do know I will be back in Europe again.
