Until our plane landed in Barcelona was when the realization of being away from home settled in. It was a mixture of excitement and nervousness that I had never felt. Our tour guide and mentor throughout the trip, Cristina, greeted us with so much joy. Even through our jetlag, she got us excited and prepared us with what to expect that is unfamiliar to us. For instance, she explained to us the importance of carrying a copy of our passports and vaccination cards. Mostly all restaurants in Barcelona require proof of vaccination to enter the facility. She also emphasized keeping a close watch to our belongings as pickpockets are very common and always on the lookout. Our excitement to have arrived did not fade, and we were ready to explore our apartment.
Looking around the apartments was evidence of locals having a different way of life compared to us. Our apartments are located in the middle of the city. Down the block are many supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, and clothing stores! We are also located a block away from a metro, which is the main mode of transportation. The apartments themselves are a comfortable living space, even though dryers are uncommon. Walking around the block Monday morning and seeing locals enjoying their coffee outside was pleasing.
After familiarizing ourselves with the Metro system, we were able to go to the main street of Barcelona where we found plenty of street vendors close to our classroom. The next day we visited Sitges where we walked around the downtown area and looked out over the Mediterranean sea. We also had the pleasure to meet Miguel and Rachel, the owners of Miguel Diaz winery. They showed us how they make their famous Vermut de Sitges which tasted delicious! Barcelona has been an extraordinary trip and I cannot wait to see what else we learn! Vale!