The last two days have been quite an adventure. On Thursday after our orientation class we were assigned to do a scavenger hunt around the area of our school. The prize for winning is a free trip to La Garrotxa, the volcanic zone. It is a 50 Euro trip that I was planning on doing anyway because it is cheap and only one day, so I was trying to win. Since I was the only guy in my group I pretty much took charge and navigated our group around the city while some of the girls took the pictures that we needed. I think we have a good chance of winning and I will be stoked if we do.
Thursday night is the first night my roommate and I really experienced the nightlife of Barcelona. We both have signed up for a lot of Facebook groups where promoters send us deals and other information about going out and Thursday night their was a free pub crawl. We went to three bars and got a free drink at each one so it was an opportunity that we could not pass up. We met up with some people at our school and then headed down to the first bar. The first bar we went to was like an English pub and had two floors. It also had a bunch of TV's and I would bet that it gets pretty crowded when a game is on. The second place was a lot smaller and since the group was so large it wasn't that great and you couldn't really move. The third was a bit bigger and the free drink was a shot that tasted like apple juice, so I doubt there was too much alcohol in it. By that point I was pretty tired and only had a few drinks but we decided to go to the disco (dance club) called Opium Mar by the beach. This place was very nice and we got in free because of the pub crawl. The music was pretty fun and we danced for a few hours before getting a cab back home. I had a great time and it was just as I expected it to be.
Friday was our first day of Spanish class and waking up at 11 was harder than I had anticipated. I also decided to ride by bike to class and ended up being a little late and getting a little lost, but my teacher understood. Class was pretty easy and it was more of an introduction and a getting to know each other class.
After class, a lot of people were going shopping and I had my bike so I decided to bike around the city and explore the beach area. I went down to the Marina where there is a beautiful boardwalk. I had my camera and I took about 20 pictures. I got the feeling that every road I went on had a beautiful picture that could be taken and there were so many buildings that just blew my mind. This city has so much history and so many old buildings that you really can't explain it in words...so I have pictures. I ended up biking about 12 miles during the day and was so exhausted afterwords that I took a 2 hour nap when I got home.
Friday night we went out again. This time near a street called Las Ramblas. This is a area near the Gothic district with literally hundreds of bars, clubs, and restaurants. I was told that the restaurants are a bit nicer and to take my parents there when they come visit. We looked on the map and found a bar called the London Bar where we had a beer and then went to a club promoters birthday party at a place called The Guru a block down. On the way to the first bar we had a first in our lifetime experience. We happened to run into some prostitutes who heckled us for a few minutes. It was pretty annoying but we just walked fast and kept our hands on our wallets. After we left the club around 2:30 we went to catch the NitBus home. While we were walking there were a lot of people on the streets trying to sell us things. The men were trying to sell us beer and the women were trying to sell us sex. Very interesting experience but we just kept walking. Then we accidentally took the bus the wrong way so we decided to get off and wait for it going in the other direction. Sadly, when it came going the right way for us, it just drove right past us. We tried to run after it and it stopped to let some people off but then drove away when we were right behind it...and then ran a red light so we couldn't get it. We ended up getting a cab which was only 10 euros and finally got back around 4 in the morning and went to sleep. I had a great time and we learned from our mistakes, so next time it will be easier to get back home.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
1st day of school and Futbol game
Hello everyone,
Yesterday was our first day of orientation. Our groups are organized by Spanish level and I placed into the Advanced I level. I was debating switching down because I only need the intermediate to get credit but I think I will challenge myself and stay in the harder one. There were about 10 other people in my class but surprisingly, I was the only guy. Orientation was pretty basic and I understood most of what the teacher said. After that I went to a sports store called Decathlon to buy a bike. I spent about 130 euros but now I won't get the 3 month pass for 90 euros and I will sell the bike back when I leave, so I think it was a pretty good investment. I then went back to the school to meet up with my roomate. While I was waiting I met some students who go to Ithaca College. They picked me out because I was wearing my Ithaca shirt. I was shocked that there were some students who go there and I hear there are also a few who go to Cornell. Somehow I manage to find Ithaca everywhere I go. For lunch we went to a place called Obama British Africa. It is a little place right by our school and I feel like we had to check it out. I have some pictures that I will post a little later but there was an obama statue right behind us. The food was good and pretty cheap but it was fun.
Later that night our home stay mom told us that tickets to the Futbol game were only 10 euros and we jumped on the opportunity to go. We planned to go with two of Juordan's (my roommate) friends from school and I invited a friend from my class. When we got there the 10 euro tickets were sold out so we bought some better seats for 27 euros. Unfortunately we could not get in touch with Juordans friends at the stadium so they sat somewhere else and the three of us sat together. The game was incredible. The stadium was almost full and I had never been in a louder stadium. People started to whistle and the stadium erupted to almost hurting my ears, it was awesome. We had some pretty good seats on the second tear in the corner. Barcelona ended up wining 5-0 and Messi scored a hat trick. After the game we were pretty tired so we just went back home. We took the Metro, which was just about as full as it could get. The train was pretty awful but it went quick. The game was definitely worth the money and we are planning on going again soon.
Yesterday was our first day of orientation. Our groups are organized by Spanish level and I placed into the Advanced I level. I was debating switching down because I only need the intermediate to get credit but I think I will challenge myself and stay in the harder one. There were about 10 other people in my class but surprisingly, I was the only guy. Orientation was pretty basic and I understood most of what the teacher said. After that I went to a sports store called Decathlon to buy a bike. I spent about 130 euros but now I won't get the 3 month pass for 90 euros and I will sell the bike back when I leave, so I think it was a pretty good investment. I then went back to the school to meet up with my roomate. While I was waiting I met some students who go to Ithaca College. They picked me out because I was wearing my Ithaca shirt. I was shocked that there were some students who go there and I hear there are also a few who go to Cornell. Somehow I manage to find Ithaca everywhere I go. For lunch we went to a place called Obama British Africa. It is a little place right by our school and I feel like we had to check it out. I have some pictures that I will post a little later but there was an obama statue right behind us. The food was good and pretty cheap but it was fun.
Later that night our home stay mom told us that tickets to the Futbol game were only 10 euros and we jumped on the opportunity to go. We planned to go with two of Juordan's (my roommate) friends from school and I invited a friend from my class. When we got there the 10 euro tickets were sold out so we bought some better seats for 27 euros. Unfortunately we could not get in touch with Juordans friends at the stadium so they sat somewhere else and the three of us sat together. The game was incredible. The stadium was almost full and I had never been in a louder stadium. People started to whistle and the stadium erupted to almost hurting my ears, it was awesome. We had some pretty good seats on the second tear in the corner. Barcelona ended up wining 5-0 and Messi scored a hat trick. After the game we were pretty tired so we just went back home. We took the Metro, which was just about as full as it could get. The train was pretty awful but it went quick. The game was definitely worth the money and we are planning on going again soon.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
1st day in the city
Hello everyone. I have been here for just about 24 hours and I am getting more excited every hour. The plane ride was long and boring but I couldn't really expect too much. For my long flight I just had a few drinks, put on a movie, and passed out. I went from Ithaca to Newark, took a cab to JFK, and then to Frankfurt Germany and finally to Barcelona where I took a cab to my homestay. Even though I got a lot of sleep on the flights, the jet lag took a toll on my body and I took a nice long nap when I got here. The rest of the day I just relaxed, wrote some emails and waited for Dinner. I don't really know anyone yet of have any way of contacting anyone so I just stayed in and got a good night sleep.
I got a good sleep from 11 to 8 in the morning and was ready to head into the city. I had to go to the IES office to get some paperwork so I took the Metro downtown. I was surprised how cheap it was. 8.50 Euros for 10 rides. This is way cheaper than NYC or Boston. I had some trouble finding the office and when I went in, they sent my paperwork with the person who went to the Airport, so I have to return at 5:30 when they get back. But I had some things to do. I needed a cell phone and I have been told that a bike in the city is key. So I went to Vodaphone and got a cheap prepaid phone and went to a sports store to look at bikes. I did not buy one but found a good bike for just 80 Euros. I will probably get that one in the next few days.
Anyway, I am looking forward to orientation so I can meet some other people and start roaming the streets with fellow Americans and English speakers haha. My Spanish sounds good though and I have not had too much trouble communicating
I got a good sleep from 11 to 8 in the morning and was ready to head into the city. I had to go to the IES office to get some paperwork so I took the Metro downtown. I was surprised how cheap it was. 8.50 Euros for 10 rides. This is way cheaper than NYC or Boston. I had some trouble finding the office and when I went in, they sent my paperwork with the person who went to the Airport, so I have to return at 5:30 when they get back. But I had some things to do. I needed a cell phone and I have been told that a bike in the city is key. So I went to Vodaphone and got a cheap prepaid phone and went to a sports store to look at bikes. I did not buy one but found a good bike for just 80 Euros. I will probably get that one in the next few days.
Anyway, I am looking forward to orientation so I can meet some other people and start roaming the streets with fellow Americans and English speakers haha. My Spanish sounds good though and I have not had too much trouble communicating
Friday, December 17, 2010
Hola!
Well, I wanted to blog for my study abroad program but the didn't give me the job and they missed out on what could have been a great blog. So instead I am going to do a blog myself.
Right now it is Friday, December 17th around 2:30 and I am packing up at school. I am very excited to get home so I can start preparing for my trip. I leave on January 10th on a 17 hour plane trip which will suck but it is all worth it to have the time of my life in Barcelona.
Thank you all for reading and I hope this turns out well...its my first time doing an online blog
Right now it is Friday, December 17th around 2:30 and I am packing up at school. I am very excited to get home so I can start preparing for my trip. I leave on January 10th on a 17 hour plane trip which will suck but it is all worth it to have the time of my life in Barcelona.
Thank you all for reading and I hope this turns out well...its my first time doing an online blog
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