Rina esta perdita

I mentioned not too long ago (or rather, a long time ago) that I was going to be doing some traveling over the break. I have begun! I spent four-plus days in Barcelona, and man alive, it was amazing.

I left on the 15th of March and arrived in Barcelona in the evening. I met an American in the airport (um, BA gives free wine. 'Nuff said) who had spent time in the city before and he was nice enough to show me around so I could get my bearings. The rest of the time, though, I was on my own. Each day was spent wandering a different area in the city, just watching people and listening to music and trying to get some good shots off. There was a lot of time spent in bars in the evenings meeting people and practicing my very poor Spanish. I gave up at one point and went to an Irish bar instead.

I got turned around once or twice trying to find my way back to my hostel at night, and that was pretty unnerving. Since the first day I spent a lot of time walking up and down Las Ramblas, this sort of Venice/3rd St. Promenade place, I didn't keep track of which direction was the hostel and which was the marina. Until I got to the marina. *sigh* Anyway, it was fine.

When I need help or directions, people were nice and I was pleased that I felt relatively safe in this strange city all on my own. There was a night or two walking back to my hostel in the dark (I avoided spending money on the Metro when I could) that I was a little nervous, and my first evening walking around on my own there was a creepy guy following me for a little while, but overall it was way cool.

Anyway, so I loved Barcelona and I hope I get to go back soon at some point. Coincidentally, a handful of people I know are going soon or have just gone, so I got to rave about it for a while. For further information: I got a color roll developed and have processed a B&W roll, but have yet to print shots of it. Anyway, the first few photos in this album are from there, but there's not much in the way of tourist-y-ness. (Also, some new B&W shots.)

I was supposed to go to Amsterdam last week, but I decided not to at the last minute (literally 15 minutes before I was going to leave the house for the airport). I think it turned out to be a very, very good idea. I got to catch up on sleep and work, tidy the flat up a bit, and spend time with new and old friends. I vote yes. However, I'm leaving for a week in Florence to-morrow (to-day, actually) and I'm really excited about that. Let's hope my Italian doesn't get me shot.

More upon my return, of course.