That was the fastest seven days ever! It has been one whole week since our arrival in Barcelona and I can hardly believe it. It feels like we have been here for a whole month but it also feels like we just got here all at the same time. There has been so much going on, I can hardly remember all the excitement that we had this week.
We started off our week with a scavenger hunt around the city to begin to get familiar with our surroundings. It really helped me understand where everything was and also helped me get closer with some of my friends on this trip.
My roommates and I have now made it to the beach four times, and it gets better every single visit. I am used to Port Aransas and Galveston beaches, but these aren’t even comparable. The ocean is so clear and blue and the sun feels so nice. I am not sure I will ever get used to Texas beaches again now that I am so spoiled by Spain! So far our favorite beach has been at Barceloneta and I think I could spend all day laying out there.
Our next roommate outing was to the Bunkers de Carmel where we hiked about a mile up staircases and hills to reach an amazing view of the city. We brought bread, cheese, and meat from the local farmer’s market and had a small picnic at the lookout. We had a view of the entire city and could even pick out where our apartment was based on seeing Sagrada Familia. Though it was a bit of a workout, it was well worth it in the end and we hope to go back again before the end of this trip.
Montserrat had the most breathtaking views and the church there was so ornate and intricate. It amazes me that these buildings were created by hand so many years ago. However, we now have the technology to create these types of buildings with ease, but instead, we create buildings with sleek and simple designs, not holding much character.
Freixenet gave our group a wonderful company visit. It was so interesting to get to hear the backstory of a company from an industry I do not know much about. I have never had the opportunity to learn about the making of wine, let alone tour the place where it is made. And not only were we able to tour the location, but we also got to learn about how the company as a whole strives to remain eco-friendly while not losing out on sales.
Outside of our class visits, we have become well seasoned at navigating the metro and talking to locals. We have found some delicious restaurants around the city, trying new places every chance we get. The best part is, almost any place we go there seems to be a beautiful view and pleasant weather to come with it. Gelato is now a staple in my everyday meals so I hope I can find a good gelato place in College Station!
Overall, it is starting to set in that I am living in Spain for the next month and I am beginning to feel more and more at home here each day. I cannot wait to look back on everything we have done in just the next week!