Barcelona

Barcelona, pronounced Barthelona by the locals, was certainly full of some surprises. After getting to the train station in Madrid, we discovered that our eurail pass and the train system are a bit more complicated then we thought. Well, we made it on the train, albeit four or five hours later than we anticipated. After arriving in downtown Barcelona and getting terribly and hopelessly lost, a kind old man (who didn't speak a lick of English) walked us a good 15 blocks to our BnB. It was past 9 when we arrived, hot, hungry,achy and sweaty from walking miles with our packs on. Our hostess suggested we eat at a little tapperia down the street. Mind you, we were definitely not in a tourist area. We went, expecting to eat and crash. While we were ordering, a couple next to us overheard and offered their help. A side note: many barcelonians speak catalunyan mixed with spanish, which is obviously why our
Waitress didn't understand our perfect spanish :). Anyway, we got to talking to the Spanish couple about many things... soccer, culture, politics, Bruce Springsteen... they eventually invited us to their table where we talked more and drank sangria (the best I have ever had...by far). Then they walked us to a little bar a couple of blocks away. It was mojito Friday so they bought our drinks and at midnight they sang me "happy birthday" in Catalunyan. What a wonderful treat. We had hoped to meet locals and get to know them, and whatya know? It happened on my birthday! God sent me some friends to spend my birthday with.
More to come on the sights.
-Kayla