This past week was a little stressful because all of our final essays and projects were due, so I spent a lot of time hunkered down in different coffee shops grinding out my last essay and class blog. But once we were finished, we had to celebrate, so we went to one of our favorite beach-side day clubs, Forum Station, before walking over to the Feria de Abril festival happening right by our residence. There were many flamenco dancers, small shopping stands and traditional food and drinks. It was really special to take part in one of the very celebrated customs in Barcelona. Speaking of celebrated customs, April 23 happened to be Sant Jordi, the day honoring the famous patron saint of Catalonia. This holiday is a romantic celebration in Barcelona, celebrated through the exchange of a book and rose to your partner. Historically, the men were supposed to give the women a rose and the women give the men a book, but now the tradition has modernized to fit all types of relationships. It was really amazing witnessing this, seeing all of the rose and book stands that filled some of the busiest streets in Barcelona. When we went out to dinner the night before to Telefèric (my favorite tapas place ever), we got the Sant Jordi dessert which came out as a chocolate mousse with raspberry filling in the shape of a rose. It was beautiful on the inside and out. Lilly was also determined to get a rose, so a highlight of the night was finding this man preparing to sell his roses, and Ellie running him down to buy Lilly a rose. It was precious. 

As we came around to our last week, emotions were high. I started to really appreicate every little moment, whether it be the music on the metro that I always pretended was a personal serenade, or the lady who always gives me coffee asking what her "cariño" wants to order. The group took in many more Xior rooftop nights and sentimental meals. On Monday, several of us went to the beach-side Carnival to ride in the huge Ferris Wheel we had been eyeing the past few weeks. We listened to music and just looked out over the skyline, reflecting on our beautiful home that was not going to be our home for much longer. To continue reflecting but with a different skyline, most of the group hiked up to the Bunkers for one final moment where you are sitting on the dusty ground, drinking cava, listening to sad music while watching the sun set on the city and our time here. This was kind of a kumbaya moment.

The rest of the week, I caught up on some packing and did some more shopping (which did not help, but I had to take advantage of the Spanish clothing prices). On Wednesday, the group did one final dinner when everyone on our program could attend to toast to an amazing semester. It was wild looking around and realizing how close I have become to all of these people, most who were strangers just a few months ago. 

After our last class together on Thursday, we all went to Little Fern for brunch (the same place we went to debrief after our first class in January). This was our full-circle moment and we spent this time doing even more reflection (if that's possible) and talked about hypothetical futures in Barcelona. On Friday night, some of the group already left, but the rest of us got together for dinner by the beach and I enjoyed some delicious truffle gnocchi. It is funny but this last meal in Barcelona also happens to be the same last meal at the same place that I enjoyed when I last was visiting Barcelona when I studied in Oviedo, Spain in 2021. It was a very special wrap-up to my time there. We all went to get gelato after at a place that follows the closed-tin gelato rules and it was phenomenal. What better way to end the night than some incredible gelato? Back at Xior, we huddled up, tears were shed as we gave each other one final goodbye hug. I truly have so much love for these people. Barcelona bbys for life ♥️.

The rest of this blog is going to jump to the next day when Abby and I arrived in London for the final leg of the study abroad adventures! Abby and I first arrived in London and experienced the struggle of carrying two suitcases each through the Tube with no elevators. Luckily, the people there were so nice and helped us make it out. Once we arrived at our place, we were pleasantly surprised to find out our Airbnb host did not speak English, but her eyes lit up when she realized we could communicate with her in Spanish. It was such a sweet moment. Later, Abby and I went for some fish and chips and explored the Elephant & Castle neighborhood, which was beautiful, but we had a wake-up call about how expensive London is. Sheeh I was going to have to watch the budget. In order to save some money and also have a good time, we decided to bike to Big Ben. Now, I had not biked since high school, nevertheless in one of the biggest cities in the world where you drive on the left side of the road. But somehow we managed and had SO much fun. Luckily, Abby is a good biker and led the way. We ended up biking for almost two hours and made it all the way to Tower Bridge. Soon after our bike ride, Keelyn met us in London and we ended up getting McDonald's for dinner (classic). It was a great first night in London. 

On this first day in London, we did not have too much planned so it was a fairly chill day. We went to a very popular breakfast place and Keelyn and I split a traditional English breakfast— beans and all —and a delicious churro cookie. We then explored the below-river side of London which included Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, little boutique shops and the small beach along the river. We made our way across the Thames and went to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the surrounding neighborhood areas. Then, we went to the big event, afternoon tea at Ivy Asia! We made reservations for Ivy Asia a few weeks back and were highly anticipating the unique tea experience, and it surpassed expectations. The whole entire place transports you to a garden with glowing green floors and cherry blossom trees inside. With our afternoon tea reservation, we received our choice of tea with a platter of sushi, mochi, duck rolls and more! It was all amazing, except for the fact that I made the mistake of pouring soy sauce into my tea because I thought it was some sort of creamer. A very on-brand move for me. However, my salty tea did not damper the experience and I am so so glad we checked that off the bucket list!  

Post-tea, we wandered around and ended up at Buckingham Palace! It was really special to see because it was decorated with flags as they were setting up for the coronation which was only days away. One of our favorite activities was watching the guards remain so serious as they changed positions. I could never do that as there is always something cracking me up and I have no poker face. After walking outside the Palace, we ended up at a local pub where Abby and Keelyn both took their Hogwarts house quiz because when in London, right? They both are Ravenclaws in case you were wondering. After the pub, we went to dinner at a place closer to our Airbnb and I enjoyed some delicious curry. It turns out, the restaurant we picked was having a trivia night which was very entertaining to hear what makes up British trivia. We then wrapped up the night and went to bed early because Keelyn and I were leaving for Nottingham in the morning. 

 Keelyn and I took the bus to Nottingham to visit my high school friends Liam and Charlotte! Liam is currently studying there and Charlotte attends university there full-time. This trip visiting them was so special because I got to see a little bit into their lives and what it’s like to study in a smaller city in the U.K. We had the most lovely day filled with walks around the stunning campus, exploring the deer park and enjoying some peach tea while sitting on a hill beside a castle. It was something truly out of a movie. In the afternoon, we met Charlotte's roommates who are all from different parts of the U.K., and it was so fun conversing with them about all of our similarities and differences growing up living on opposite sides of the world. It was funny connecting with one of them over her love for country music. I did not realize there was such an audience for Zach Bryan outside of the U.S. Later, we all went out for tapas (of course) for dinner and then went to one of the local bars. It was such a fun night getting to meet so many new people and reconnecting with old friends. 

On our last full day in London, Keelyn and I made our way over to Nottinghill to see the famous bookstore from the movie, as well as the array of colorful houses. There also happened to be a huge Portobello Street market, so we took the time to shop around and admire all of the vintage clothing and jewelry. We then got these huge German sausages for lunch because we were both craving a good hot dog. It was a delicious, yet messy lunch. Then we double-decker bussed it to Primrose Hill to meet up with Abby and Jack for some rosé on the hill while enjoying the sunshine. After, we had to make our way to Harrods where we shopped around- more looking than buying -but the whole store was immaculate. We got some food for dinner and I departed shortly to see Six! I have been wanting to see Six for years so it was a dream to see it in London of all places, and it exceeded my expectations with such a powerful and emotional performance. I know I will be talking about how incredible this show was for a while to come. 

Well, this is it. I am back home now readjusting to life in the U.S. and remembering Barcelona as an alternate reality dream life I just lived for the past 4 months. It is a weird feeling being back, but I am so thankful for all of the time I had in Barcelona. I learned so much about the world, myself and what I want in life. I made some of the best friends and laughed many times until I started crying.  Thank you for following along with me through the ups and downs of this blog. Now it is time to move on to the next chapter. Adios and Adéu!

After the tulips, we went back to the city and shopped around some more. We all were pretty hungry, so we stopped for the specialty of Manneken Pis, known for their huge servings of the best fries in Holland. Cynthia and I split some with the frite sauce which was delicious and so filling. After walking around for a bit after, I channeled spontaneous Maddie and went with a couple of my friends to get ear piercings. I had thought about getting another ear piercing for a while but never got around to it, so what better time than in Amsterdam?

For dinner, we met up with Blair's family friend who lives in Amsterdam and hosted us for a dinner and wine night. He gave us lots of traditional Dutch sweets and genever (the traditional Dutch gin) - Proost! It was really lovely talking to someone who has done the move from the U.S. to Europe and has had so much life experience. It was also so generous of him to invite us into his home. After dinner with them, we went on a nighttime canal boat tour. This was lots of fun because we got to see the city by water and learn a little more about the history of how Amsterdam got its name. In addition, we learned about the bike fishermen who have to scoop bikes out of the canals. Just Amsterdam things!

After the boat ride, we went to the Red Light District just to see it because you cannot be in Amsterdam and not visit. But we did not stay for long before heading to one of Blair's friend's favorite spots. We danced for a while before ending our night, once again, at McDonald's - because we cannot visit a country without a McDonald's visit. 

The next morning, we got up early and grabbed some bagels at the cutest cafe. I cannot remember the last time I had a bagel, so this was exactly what I needed. The cafe owner also had the most adorable dog who was so friendly which only added to the experience. After we grabbed our bagles, we walked to the Anne Frank House. Touring the house was indescribable. It was so emotional being in that space and physically immersing in this piece of history. I have always known Anne Frank's story, but it was a whole other experience being in her bedroom where she wrote the Anne Frank Diary, as well as seeing her physical words on paper. I truly believe everyone should tour the Anne Frank House if they can because it really was such a time to remember the past and reflect. 

We then grabbed some lunch at the Pancake Bakery, a famous Amsterdam spot known for its huge pancakes with a range of flavorful toppings. Cynthia and I wanted a bit of savory and sweet so we split a Caprese pancake and a Dutch pancake which featured cinnamon ice cream and stroopwafels. They both were phenomenal. With only about an hour left in Amsterdam, we really wanted to make the most of our time. So where did we go? Of course "The Fault In Our Stars" bench!!! My 5th-grade dreams were coming true. Ever since reading the book and watching the movie, I always wanted to visit Amsterdam since a good amount of the story takes place there. They even filmed in Amsterdam, with one of the famous locations being THE bench. So I fangirled and found it, along with some other fans who enjoyed the bench. On the back of the bench, you could see other couples who came to visit as well as quotes from the novel. Let's just say this was a highlight. After, we wrapped up our time in Amsterdam shopping around the cute boutiques. Sadly, we then had to say goodbye to Amsterdam, but I know I will be back. That is all for Amsterdam, but now the last two weeks in Barcelona are starting to hit. I will write more about that next week. Adios!

The rest of the week was fairly uneventful. On Wednesday, for El Nacional.cat, I went around Barcelona to different thrift shops for a video I made about the best places to thrift in Barcelona. It was fun to shop around myself, but I am definitely not a natural with thrifting like my dad. However, it was really interesting the selection they had since Barcelona is such an international city. I also was surprised to find so many American jerseys and cropped flannels. Those are things I take for granted in the U.S. but they are apparently a very special find here (click here to read my article).

After my thrifting expedition, I met up with Ellie to watch the FC Barcelona women’s team play Rome. Honestly, it was one of the highlights so far. I absolutely LOVED it! Aside from getting decked out in the red and blue scarves, I had so much fun just watching the women play. They are all so impressive with incredible kicks and speedy reflexes. It also wowed me that some of them were as young as 17!! I mean I was still struggling to drive when I was 17, I could not even imagine playing for one of the best professional women’s football (soccer) teams at that age. It is also amazing how everything is in Catalan. It was so cool watching the crowd chant in Catalan together, proudly supporting their team. Although I did not really understand the words, everyone was so positive and would cheer for their team even when someone would mess up. It was an incredible environment to be a part of. I wrote an article about my experience watching the game if you would like to read it, click here!

Not much went on the rest of the week aside from prepping for spring break in Italy. Unfortunately, on Friday, I started feeling really ill. I made sure I did not have anything serious, but I think my body was just shutting down from all of the go go go and I needed rest. Of course, the next morning I left for Milan, still not feeling great but I wanted to push through. We arrived in Milan, and I was doing so well until suddenly I was down for the count with chills - I am pretty sure I had a fever - so I decided to take the day to rest. Later, I took on the Milan Metro to meet up with my friends for dinner at Osteria Da Fortunata (seriously my favorite pasta of the whole trip!!!).  When we left, we saw the chef making the pasta through the window, and when she saw us she had the biggest smile that melted my heart. Post-dinner, we went to get drinks and play some games of Would You Rather. I did not drink for most of the week because I was sick, so I said instead of Semana Santa (Holy Week), I was celebrating Semana Sober. But it was a nice end to the first night in Milan!

The next day, we were heading to Rome, but still had a good amount of the day in Milan before our train, so we walked around a lot and explored the park, jewelry stands and some of the churches. It was Palm Sunday, so it was very special seeing all of the Italian churches decked out with palms. Cynthia and I went off to discover some of the best gelato I have ever had. It is from this place called Venchi, which, yes, is a chain in Italy, but it follows the rules of gelato. Ever since I saw this TikTok detailing how to determine if gelato is legit or not, I have been on a personal journey of finding gelato that follows the rules. What are the rules you may ask? I will give a quick rundown so you can also experience some of the best gelato of your life. 1) The best gelato should not even be visible. You know it's real if you cannot even see it because it is stored in a silver container to keep it fresh. 2) If you can see the gelato, it should not be a bright color. Most of the time the colorful gelato is less authentic and is just a tool to entice tourists. For example, pistachio should be more of a brown-green than bright green, and mint is closer to a white color. 3) There should be no toppings on the gelato. If you are going for a coffee and there are coffee beans on top, think again. This, again, is a tourist trap and makes for less authentic gelato. I tell you, follow these rules and you will not be disappointed. Anyway, back to the story. So, Cynthia and I enjoyed this incredible gelato with melted caramel lining the cup. This could remedy any illness I had. After, we had to go to the Duomo, which was a masterpiece. Of course, it was the busiest weekend being Holy Week, so there was no way to get inside, but that just means I will have to go back. Soon after, we packed up our things and boarded the train to Rome. 

Our full day in Rome was jam-packed because we only really had that day there, so obviously we tried to do it all. It started off by visiting the Trevi Fountain to live out our Lizzie McGuire dreams. Sadly, the fountain was empty for cleaning, so we decided to save our coin wishes for later when they were finished. After the fountain, we made our way to the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps. We had to hit all of the classics. I was truly in awe of all of these historical monuments. The Romans set the standard for a lot of modern cities and inventions, so it was fascinating to observe all of these works of art. I am itching to go back when I have time to tour them and truly learn their history and significance. In the afternoon, we ended up at the Villa Borghese park which was absolutely beautiful!! We all just lay down in the grass for a few minutes, enjoying the sun. Post-park, we went to dinner at That’s Amore for dinner and I had some yummy pasta while playing top, bottom, dark horse (the game of the trip). Then we decided to go to some local bars, including this one that was candy themed and had little candies in the jars on the tables. I think we enjoyed the candy a little too much. We also made a very shocking discovery. Apparently, playing cards, specifically the French deck, is illegal in Italy while drinking because it is associated with gambling in the past. One waitress at the bar was very kind to give us a head’s up before getting arrested for playing cards haha. Anyway, it was a great day in Rome and so nice spending time with Liam there! 

The next morning we took a short train to Naples before catching a ferry to the island of Ischia. We were only in Naples for 20 minutes, but that was enough. It was so chaotic and the drivers were almost hitting each other, so we were very happy to get on our boat. Ischia is a small island about an hour's boat ride from Naples. It is more of a spot for Italians to visit, so we were excited to travel somewhere less touristy. A funny anecdote from the boat ride over is we did not realize there was another stop before Ischia, so some of the group got off the ferry when we realized that we were on a different island. An Italian man next to us goes (*read in Italian accent*) "This is not Ischia, this is PROCIDA." At this point, we are screaming for our friends to get back on the boat while the crew makes fun of us. It was honestly such a hilarious and memorable part of the trip. When we actually docked in Ischia, we made it to our hotel, and boy you should have seen our faces when we realized everyone staying at the hotel was 65+ and probably had AARP. For a second, I wondered if we were staying in a hotel or a retirement home. But, let me tell you, if it was a retirement home, it was the best retirement home I have ever been to. More to come on that later. 

Once we got settled in, we spent some time just enjoying our balcony views. The landscape is seriously unreal, and I could not stop looking out our window at the castle in the distance that sits upon a hill. Absolutely stunning. We then went out into town and found a place that kept bringing out an endless array of pastries for free. It was amazing. We walked around some shops before heading to the beach to watch the sunset. The vibes were immaculate and made me very appreciative of the opportunity to be here with these incredible people. After the beach, we made our way to dinner - of course more pizza and pasta. But on our way to dinner, we stopped by the cutest yellow church. It looked like there might have been a service going on, so we did not go inside, but to our surprise, the people welcomed us inside and encouraged us to take some of their holy bread to share. This act, to me, is religion down to its core. Even though we could not communicate with the people and they knew we were clearly not from there, they wanted to spread the love with these strangers. It was a special moment.

Speaking of special moments, when we got back to the hotel, we came across a DJ and glowing lights filling the lobby. Turns out the hotel was hosting a dance party that night. Although the lobby was filled with older guests, they were mostly sitting in a circle instead of dancing to the music. So what do we do? We start dancing. Once we filled the dancefloor, several of the ladies came over to dance with us. They were absolutely adorable. We, again, could not communicate, but we talked through hugs and congo lines. These women know how to dance. They were leading us in polkas and high kicks that were even too high for me. We wrapped up the night with one last dance to YMCA, feeling tired from all of the dancing, but oh so fulfilled.

The next day we decided to hike to the hot springs in Ischia. We heard they have healing properties, and I needed some healing so we were excited to check them out. We ventured out to this huge cliff - a way harder hike than I expected being sick still, but the views made up for it. It was a bit overcast, so we played "Cloudy Day" by Tones And I (song of the week) to help lift our spirits. When we got to the hot springs, they were either boiling hot or freezing cold from the ocean current. So we decided to just put our feet in, and we found a spot that was hot tub temperature, which felt amazing after being so cold walking around. It was so tranquil and beautiful to witness a natural wonder. After the hot springs, we stopped at a place near the top of the cliff for lunch. It was the most introspective lunch I have had in a long time. Seriously, it lasted three hours. We talked about everything from haunted horror stories to the supernatural to cringy birthdays. I think we all got so much closer just talking over pasta for hours. The magic of Italy. 

When we bused back into our side of the island, we shopped around some more before settling down for dinner right on the dock. While the ambiance was beautiful, the meal turned into a bit of a disaster. The reason we chose this restaurant was because the owner approached us that morning to give us directions since we were confused. He was so helpful and said if we wanted to come by for dinner, he would give us free champagne. So, of course, we end up back at his restaurant. While everything started great, he was so excited to see us and we got free champagne, everything took a turn fairly quickly. We were too indecisive about what we wanted, so the owner said he would take our menus and bring out several dishes to share. Well, turns out he brought out the most expensive dishes they sell for us to share. Not to mention, almost all of the dishes included seafood, and not everyone in the group is a big fan of seafood. In the end, our bill ended up being way more expensive than we expected, and we just had to suck it up and pay. While it was not our favorite meal, we learned a valuable lesson to be more decisive and not let ourselves get taken advantage of. Although it was not the end of the night we expected, we still had an incredible time in Ischia, and we were excited to head to the Amalfi Coast the next morning. 

When we arrived, we stopped at our B&B to drop off our things, and wow was it the cutest thing ever. We basically had the entire thing to ourselves, and there was a little lemon tree patio for us to eat our breakfast at every morning. It was definitely my favorite place we stayed. We then started exploring and walked over to the town of Amalfi for drinks and a snack. When I opened the menu, I knew immediately what I wanted - a Bellini. I had never had one before, but they are my mom’s (and Hemingway’s she would say) favorite drink. And I was not disappointed. It was fantastic and the perfect oceanside drink. From there, we shopped some more and just wandered around in awe of the beauty. 

The next morning, we had some breakfast together under the lemon trees on the patio. Our B&B host made us a breakfast of fresh coffee, fruit and pastries. It was a lovely start to the day before we headed off to a lemon farm for our lemon tour. At the farm, we learned about how lemons are grown and prepared. I never realized how strenuous it is to grow these lemons and the work that goes into keeping up with the farm. They are truly impacted by every change in climate, and have to worry about the Amalfi landslides that could destroy their lemon trees. Aside from touring the farm, we also got to try some raw lemons. Surprisingly, the peel was way tastier than I thought it would be. We also went to the farm kitchen to try fresh lemonade, lemon cake and limoncello. They really love their lemons in Amalfi. 

After our lemon tour, we took a ferry boat over to Positano, one of the most touristy towns on the Amalfi Coast. It is definitely touristy for a reason because the views are incredible. As much as I loved the sites in Positano, I missed the tranquility of Atrani. I enjoy not being surrounded by other tourists constantly. After heading back to Atrani, we got ready for our last dinner on the coast. Over my last Italian pasta of the trip, we discussed our highs and lows, as well as funny stories from the trip. It was a nice end to a wonderful spring break! The next morning, we took a train back to Milan for a final night before catching our plane back to Barcelona in the morning. At this point, we were so worn out from all of the pizza and pasta, so we ended up at a Mexican restaurant of all places because we were all craving some classic chips and guacamole. The night wrapped up with one final gelato at Venchi (the place Cynthia and I loved) and we had the best conversation with the worker. When he realized we were from the U.S., he asked us which Kardashian is our favorite. How perfect after we just discussed that at dinner two nights prior. After our last gelato, we went back to our hotel to get a good night's sleep before our early flight home. Wow, that was a lot so congrats if you are still reading. At this point, almost another week has passed, but I will update you in a few days on everything post-spring break. Adios and Arrivederci!!!

On Wednesday, once I was off work, we all met up for empanadas for lunch before our tour of the Palau de Música, the exquisite Catalan music hall. It was seriously one of the most beautiful music halls I have ever seen with incredible acoustics. It would be amazing to actually hear a concert there. From the stained glass ceiling forming a sun to the Sant Jordi and Catalan symbolism, it was an artistic masterpiece. There was also a stunning mosaic-column balcony that had me in awe. Truly a must-see!

Later, we had the most wonderful evening because my grandma generously invited my friends over to her hotel roof for drinks. The view was so spectacular, as you could see the entire city. It was also such a nice way for my friends to meet my family for a Barcelona crossover. We also enjoyed some of the best sangria I've ever had. This night was definitely a highlight of the week. Post-drinks, after my friends left, my family and I discovered the best Italian restaurant called Bella Italia. We just kind of randomly stumbled upon it, but people kept filing in the small space and there was a line and lots of awards on the door, so we figured it had to be good. And we were not disappointed. Although we waited almost an hour, our pizza and pasta were incredible. It was very much a hole-in-the-wall type of place, filled with locals and the cutest decor. I definitely will be returning, but I am definitely making a reservation first next time.

Thursday, I had class again in the morning, but it was really cool because we got to talk to a graphic designer who has worked all over the world from Brazil to Japan. He also has some incredible experience from working for the fashion brand Mango, working for some international Disney comics, as well as currently working for a medical health company. I really enjoyed hearing from him, and he had some great advice about working internationally and taking risks in your experience. 

After class, I met my family in Barceloneta because my mom was dying to see the beach. We went to a burger place right by the beach and then walked around a bit on the sand. My mom and grandma both touched the Mediterranean - was worried we lost grandma for a second - and we enjoyed the fresh air. We then walked over to El Born to shop some more and I bought a new print for my room next year that I’m excited for! After that, I went to work and wrote some more projects surrounding tourism such as Sagrada Família (read it here) and Park Güell, as well as a piece about Easter. Post-work, my dad and I went to La Whiskeria (the one place my dad requested we visit) and I actually found a milk punch whiskey I like! We were there for so long because dad made friends with the bartender and got us a private tour where we went behind the bar and to a secret room. As cool as it was, I was so tired because it was approaching 2 a.m. and I had work early in the morning, so I kind of had to drag dad out of there. But we had a nice night and walk back through the fairly empty streets of Barcelona.

Friday consisted of work again and then I met up with my family on Carrer Petritxol, AKA Chocolate Street, for some churros and chocolate. They were a hit with the whole group. We then did a bit of vintage shopping at Kilo Vintage, and my family helped me film a video for work. After, we had a tour of Casa Pedrera, another one of the Gaudí houses. The roof of this building was so epic with so many levels and steps leading to views of all different parts of the city. I am really starting to gain such an appreciation for architectural symbolism. We later got dinner at Gats and I had the best tuna and veggie plate. Like actually so fantastic I am dreaming about it right now. Gats even managed to make a salmon I liked, which is a miracle. The night wrapped up with a family tour of my residence so they could the place I have been calling home for the semester.

Saturday was a packed day, starting with another trip to the Montserrat monastery, but this time with my family. It was really nice seeing it a second time because I knew my way around and the history and importance behind the site and the Black Madonna. Of course, I had more fresh cheese from the cheese stands, and I bought a honey lollipop and more of my favorite nuts. We also did a Montserrat liquor tasting which was new for me, and very strong haha. They poured me five different shots of this traditional Montserrat alcohol, which was interesting to try, but also kind of overpowering for the middle of the day and I needed a chaser. When we returned from Montserrat, we all got tapas for the final family dinner at Vinitus (thank you Johanna) which was fabulous. Not only were the tapas incredible, especially the mushrooms and the octopus, but the bread pudding dessert was immaculate. If it wasn't enough, we also had to stop for a final gelato on our walk back. It was a sad night because I had to say goodbye to my family which was really hard. But I know I will see them again before I know it.

Wrapping up the week on Sunday, we had a day trip to Girona! It was only a 90-minute journey by train, and we went as a class field trip. It was honestly so incredible to walk along the wall of the historic city that has a Roman-Catholic, Muslim and Jewish influence. Not only did we get to enjoy the different types of ancient architecture, but we also toured the Girona Cathedral, which is the widest Cathedral in the world. It was indescribable the detail and intricacy of every interior facade. Girona is also famous for being the set of several scenes from "Game of Thrones" that take place at King's Landing. This was so cool to see as someone who loves the show. Who knew this calm city of 90 thousand could have so much history and so many amazing places to explore? It was a nice change of pace, and perfect to nap on the train with the time change and busy past week. One more week until spring break! This is the home stretch. See you next week!

On Wednesday, Cynthia and I met up with Ellie and Courtenay on their lunch break in Gràcia. We had some yummy patatas bravas - I accidentally ordered our table way too many, but they were super good! It was so fun just enjoying the nice weather and exploring an area of the city I am less familiar with. Cynthia and I also saw more parrots in the cherry blossom trees which is so cool that you can just stumble upon a bunch of parrots randomly. After, we dropped Cynthia off at class and then Courtenay, Ellie and I went to 3 different Zaras and some other stores to shop for the warmer weather. We also had to stop for some gelato, of course! Later that night, Keelyn and I went over to Cynthia’s to enjoy what was supposed to be wine night, but ended up as a bad mojito desperado beer night haha. But we had fun and still made it back home in time before the metro closed!

Since Saint Patrick’s Day was Friday, we had to go all out! The holiday is not really as much of a thing in Barcelona, rather more Americans celebrate, but the Irish pubs were still packed! Decked out in green, we started out at Dunne’s, and I got beer for once, just for the holiday. There also was a live punk rock band which was fun, but the music made it very hard to hear, so we hopped to a new pub. We ended at Temple Bar, which was just as crowded but still had a good vibe with a more classic-style pub. After, we of course had to end at Ovella Negra, our weekly spot for some sangria. But the night didn’t end there. We went to McDonald’s after for a snack because this was one of the first times it was still open when we were out. Then we had a silly Metro ride back before several of us went up to the roof of our housing for a game of Old Maid and country music - hint "5 Leaf Clover" by Luke Combs. We then tried to get into the pool, but sadly security told us it was closed. However, it was still a very fun end to the night on the roof.

Saturday, we all went out for brunch at Billy’s Brunch, which is really popular on TikTok as a great brunch spot. And I will say it did not disappoint! I had a really yummy smoothie and omelet. They also did the cutest latte art on my friends’ coffees. It was the perfect recovery morning. After brunch, we walked around El Born and found the cutest little jewelry shops and this amazing art gallery. The lady working was so nice and was giving our group discounts on all of this authentic art. I definitely will be going back there soon! 

After, we went back to the Forum outdoor day club right off the beach which was nice, but we really wanted to go to Bus, another bar nearby. Unfortunately, the line was atrocious so after waiting for almost an hour, Cynthia, Courtenay and I went to Bobby’s Free, the barbershop speakeasy! It was so so cool. When we walked in, they asked if we wanted haircuts, but then said “wait you aren’t here for haircuts.” Then we gave the password and the barbershop opened up into a bar. Everyone was dressed up in "The Godfather" attire and there were themed cocktails after different cities. I got the Hollywood, which was basically a Brandy drink covered with chocolate-drizzled popcorn. It was delicious and the popcorn was a nice added bonus. 

Post Bobby’s Free, we went to get some dumplings, yakisoba and pad Thai at this ramen place that was so yummy. Cynthia’s friends from Germany met up with us and they were the coolest! It was really interesting hearing their perspective of Spain and the U.S. being from elsewhere. Such a great dinner!

Today’s the day!!! On Sunday I went to the airport to get my family. I honestly spent more of this day on the Metro than with them, but it didn’t matter because I was just so excited to see them. We did not do too much since it was their first night and I didn’t want to overdo it with the jet lag, but we did get some incredible paella at 7 Portes, a restaurant in Barceloneta. It had beautiful string lights leading up to the entrance, and classic black and white tile floors inside. They even had a piano player which was lovely, and I could tell my grandma really enjoyed it. It was cool because, with my family, I really got to use my Spanish and see how much I’ve improved since being here. After dinner, we roamed around the Gothic Quarter and enjoyed some gelato while listening to opera singers in front of the Cathedral. It was a beautiful night!

Yesterday, I had another strep scare, so I spent a good amount of the day at the hospital and missed some time with family. But, the good news is I am strep free!! Just still recovering from the original case. So after the hospital, I met up with my family at El Jardí for some vermut on the outdoor patio. It was a beautiful day so it was nice to enjoy the fresh air and share with them the traditional Catalonia drink. I then took them to Bar Lobo, my favorite place for tapas, and we enjoyed a tasty array of plates before calling it a night and going to bed because we were all tired from the long day. That is it for now, but I am looking forward to experiencing more of Barcelona this week with my family!

Later on Friday, we got our stuff together and headed to the airport to go to Lisbon! Unfortunately, our flight was a bit delayed because of the flight attendant strikes in France, but we got some tapas and cava at the airport so we made the best of it. When we arrived in Lisbon, it was pretty late so nothing was open for food except McDonald's. But, let me tell you, I had the best Maestro burger that had mushrooms and truffle mayonnaise. It was exciting trying McDonald's in a new country and seeing the differences. After McDonald's, we were too tired to do anything else so we went back to our Airbnb to get some sleep so we were well-rested for our big day on Saturday. Honestly, our Airbnb was one of the highlights of the trip. Even though we had to climb five stories with our luggage, we had the most incredible view of the city from our little balcony where you could see all of the colorful buildings, alleyways and the bay. It was the most quaint place, perfect for the weekend.

On Saturday, we got up early to grab some breakfast and explore before taking the hour-long train to Sintra. For breakfast, we ate at this little cafe outside the main strip and I tried some pastel de nata, a traditional Portuguese egg custard pastry. It was delicious and the perfect little sweet for breakfast. After exploring, we boarded our train to Sintra to see the beautiful Peña Palace. On the train we got a serenade of "Despacito" (accordion version) to pass the time. When we got to Sintra, we got on a tuk-tuk to go through the jungle-like forest and up the mountain to see the gorgeous red and yellow Peña Palace. It was a bumpy ride, but so fun with the air blowing through our hair as we made our way up. Once we reached the top, we learned the history of the palace dating back to Moorish times until Ferdinand II made it into living quarters. It was seriously one of the most unique and beautiful palaces I have ever seen and I highly recommend It. After exploring the palace, we walked down into the gardens to see the Valley of the Lakes. We saw some little fairy homes (as Ellie called them), a greenhouse and lots of swans. It was a beautiful end to the day in Sintra. 

When we got back to Lisbon, we decided to get some cheap wine to enjoy while listening to music on our balcony. Even though we did not have a wine opener and had to get creative, Justin became an engineer and figured out a straining process so no worries. It was a nice reset time to just sit together and take in the view. As it got later, we decided to go to a restaurant known for its traditional Portuguese food called Pateo 13. While some of my friends were more adventurous than me and got the fish, I really enjoyed my pork skewers since Portugal is also known for its pork. It was also just nice to sit outside and enjoy Lisbon at night. There are truly so many windy alleys and almost every street is cobblestone or mosaic. I have never experienced anything like it, but I loved it so much.

Post dinner, we got cocktails at a bar close to our Airbnb. We all tried the famous Portuguese sweet, cherry Ginjinha shot. I was actually pleasantly described by how sweet it was and the subtle cinnamon flavor. They are also commonly served in dark chocolate shot glasses you can eat after. Over drinks, we enjoyed some card games (my favorite) of Old Maid and B.S. It was the perfect way to end a perfect day. 

The next morning, we left at the crack of dawn to catch our plane, but the sunrise was really spectacular. Once we landed back in Barcelona, Abby, Ellie and I went to a cute Netherlands coffee shop, Lekker, that had small mini pancakes called poffertjes. We all wanted to have some nice city ambiance while working on our class papers. I do not know exactly how productive we were, but the scenery was fabulous. After working, we went for some delicious tapas and I got a vermut. I am still having dreams about my burrata salad. Well, that is all for now. It was such a fun time in Lisbon, but I am excited to be back in Barcelona this week!

On Tuesday, we toured the Parliament of Catalonia which was so incredible for many reasons. 1) The Parliament building is absolutely stunning. All of the chandeliers, arched hallways, marble staircase –– wow! 2) We got to see the behind-the-scenes areas where the journalists report and get coverage during press conferences. These areas were really special to see also because they are newer and many Barcelona locals have never seen them. It is interesting because many locals have no desire to see where the journalists conduct their work because they just want to receive their news without knowing what goes on behind the screen. 3) I learned so much about how the Catalonia Parliament works, including how they have 8 political parties that elect officials to be part of the national Congress in Madrid. 

Wednesday was a fun day because Abby, Keelyn and I decided to switch it up a bit and all get curtain bangs. Our friend Lilly went a few weeks ago and her hair looked fabulous so we had to check it out. I have to say I love how all of our hair looks now -- specialized to our face shape but still very cute and fitting for us. I will definitely have to add 20 minutes to my morning routine now, but I am obsessed. After our haircuts, we stopped at the cutest restaurant called Sophie's for some wine. The vibes were immaculate. I loved the prints and the color-blocking walls. After some good wine and conversation, we met up with the rest of the group for some Mexican food for dinner. It was a wonderful day!  

Friday was such a chaotic day. My phone randomly stopped working so I was running around all day between the Apple store and Orange, my SIM card provider. My coworkers were so kind and tried to help me fix my phone for hours by updating my phone on their work computer or talking to the Apple support line in Spanish for me. Unfortunately, it looks like I am going to need to buy a new phone. But I did not let that ruin my day. 

Later, I met up with some friends at Ovella Negra for drinks before we went to the Sala Apolo Club. It was a fun night just hanging out with friends, debriefing our week and dancing! After, we went to Halal Fried Chicken (or what I like to call Half Fried Chicken because it was a bit pink - yikes) to wrap up the night. It was just a fun and silly night to start off the weekend. 

On Saturday, we had more of a chill day and went to this beachside day club called Forum Station Bar Club which had a beautiful patio we enjoyed under the sun listening to the DJ music. After, we headed to Poblenou for Palo Market Fest (for the second time --my favorite event of the month) where I shopped way too much but found some really cute matching Barcelona bracelets with Courtenay. I also got some really tasty lemon beer, yakisoba noodles and red beet hummus. Keelyn and I also both got Tarot readings which were super interesting. Apparently, I need to be bolder in my life and go for opportunities. The night wrapped up with some live music, and the vibes were absolutely amazing. The performers are so so talented and had such good energy. After Palo, Keelyn and I had a little TV night and drank some tea while watching "Daisy Jones and the Six."

Today, we went to the Moco Museum of contemporary art and I absolutely loved it. The art honestly spoke to me in so many ways and I can relate to many of the artists' messages. Some of the pieces had me contemplating life and my purpose. One that really stuck out to me was "Girl with Balloon" by Banksy. The whole question is whether the girl is reaching for the balloon or just released it. I will attach the full description below, but it really resonated with me in this stage of life where I am growing and changing, losing innocence while entering adulthood. Just an overall very fascinating concept. I also was mesmerized by the room of glowing diamonds and how it connects to the idea of strength and how you have to go through stress in life to eventually find your shine. Such a really incredible experience. 

Around sunset, we took the cable cars up to the fort of Montjüic for some spectacular views of the entire city and the Mediterranean. We just sat up there for a bit and enjoyed the sun which was a highlight of the evening. We then blasted some Barcelona tunes and "Despicable Me" (hence the song of the week) in the cable car on our way back down. It was such a fun night that wrapped up with some yummy tapas and paella. Here's to a great week! 

When I returned to Sitges again on Tuesday with some other friends, it was also such a fun time but in a different way. On Tuesday, a good amount of the people in Sitges were actually from the U.S. It was definitely a different experience, but it was cool celebrating Carnival again but with new people. At this point, I kind of knew my way around Sitges, so it was nice showing some of my other friends around. We also stocked up on some costume essentials and enjoyed a pre-parade pizza on the beach. I am so grateful I got to experience Carnival during my time here, not only once but twice!

If you know me, you know I love good food and a good game of We're Not Really Strangers (a card game based on creating connections). This week I want to give a shoutout to the amazing conversations we have had over some incredible food. I really appreicate how close our group has become here, and I love how we have all been able to show up for each other in different moments. I am so thankful for each of them, and also really yummy "gender night" sushi and tapas. 

On Saturday, we made a half-day trip to Montserrat to see the beautiful monastery in the mountains. We took the train for about 90 minutes outside Barcelona and then hopped on a cable car up to the top of the mountains. The views were incredible and it was so nice to see a place not far outside of Barcelona that has such a different landscape, as well as a rich history. We explored the grounds outside the monastery and toured the basilica, which included a special tour behind the altar to see the Black Madonna and child statue believed to be carved in Jerusalem at the start of the religion. It was amazing seeing something so historic right before you. Aside from touring the monastery, there are many hiking trails and other fresh cheese markets around Montserrat. We had to stop at the stands to sample some cheeses -- and wow -- I have never had a better cheese than the fresh mountain truffle cheese. I also tried a popular snack of cottage cheese and honey that was so filling and delicious. Montserrat was such an incredible place to visit and I am excited to go back again with my family. I will just need to make sure we get on the right train back instead of taking an extra two hours like we did this time (oops). 

To wrap up the weekend, we wanted to have a more chill day just enjoying the city. We got brunch this morning on the beach and I had some of the best matcha of my life (seriously, it had cinnamon in it). Then, we enjoyed our little bit of sun just relaxing on the beach in Barceloneta. As the day went on, it started to get really chilly so we decided to visit Casa Batllo, the famous house Antoni Gaudí designed. It was really fascinating seeing the impact nature and the sea had on his work and how it influenced the color, shape and design of the house. He tried to emulate a turtle shell shape in the form of the ceiling and used different blue tiles and wavy glass to create the effect of looking into the Mediterranean Sea when standing in the central patio. The rooftop also had the most amazing views and colorful tile decor. It was truly a beautiful work of art. Thank you for following along with my busy week in Barcelona. See you next week!

I mentioned this last blog, but the week started off with the Super Bowl. It was really exciting to watch the Super Bowl here, not just because my home team, the Kansas City Chiefs, won, but because I got to experience the Super Bowl in Barcelona with other Americans and people from all over the world who love American football. Originally, I went to The George Payne Irish bar on assignment for my internship to interview other Americans about their experience watching the Super Bowl in Barcelona, but in the end, I met so many people through these interviews. Of course, I stood out with the big yellow microphone, so people were very curious about what I was doing and were excited to be interviewed. It's no surprise that many of the other Americans were super enthusiastic with their opinions about the teams --- a little too enthusiastic that I cannot use their interview clips for the newspaper --- but it was really nice to connect with other Americans, as well as people from Germany, The Netherlands, Venezuela and Ireland. I did not realize so many people around the world cared about American football so it was special hearing about their love and support for the Chiefs, even oceans away. 

As the week went on, not much happened. I had a Catalán class on Tuesday which was super interesting because I learned some of the basics of the language, which will be nice in terms of communicating with my co-workers. Not that saying my age or where I am from will help that much, but I did learn their fun happy birthday song, also known as "Anys i Anys." 

Unfortunately, on the day of the Catalán class, I woke up with the worst sore throat so I decided to the hospital right after class. It is interesting because in Barcelona it is better to just go to the hospital because, even though you may be waiting for four hours like me, the hospital visit is fully covered by insurance and it will take longer to get an appointment with a local doctor. Sure enough, they told me I have strep and prescribed me several different medications. Thank goodness for the power of medicine because just a couple of days later I felt like a new person. I worked from home for a day and took it easy by mostly staying consolidated in my room so it was a very mellow week. It actually was a nice mental reset. I did start to get stir-crazy at one point so it was really nice meeting up with Cynthia for a walk through the Gràcia area and a gelato stop. It was a good time for reflection on our time here and we bonded over missing home. It was a nice bit of home away from home. 

On Thursday, we had the most interesting J-Seminar class. Two brothers whose siblings were stolen in the 60s came to talk to our class about their family's experience with the government taking away the child, and their journey trying to find their missing siblings who would now be around 60 years old. It is one thing to learn about these cases of stolen children, but it is a whole other to meet these victims of the Franco regime and hear their stories and see the falsified birth documents. One of the men who came to speak, his mother is the oldest mother in Spain still looking for her child at age 98. It is heartbreaking to hear what these families have gone through and the lack of general knowledge or government support. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to these men, and I want to do everything I can to share their stories and spread awareness so they aren't forgotten or silenced. 

This morning I decided to take my breakfast to the beach which was the best decision ever. I have been trying to take advantage of these sunny days and the close proximity of the ocean. I sat there for a bit to read and talk to my family some more. Later, I met up with my friend Sara who also stayed in Barcelona this weekend. We were material girls today and did a bit of shopping and explored El Raval neighborhood, admiring the city at dusk. We stopped for some gelato, visited a cute bookstore and ended the night at Conesa, a restaurant in Gothic Quarter known for having the best sandwiches in Barcelona. I got the traditional Catalán sandwich that consisted of sausage, peppers, onions and cheese. Let's just say I am a fan and Conesa has not seen the last of me.

I am now just winding down for the night before I head to Sitges tomorrow. Sitges is a city less than an hour away from Barcelona and it is known for its Carnival parades, so I cannot wait to experience Carnival to the fullest extent. I am also going to gather content for work, so keep your eyes out for a new story and video! Speaking of work, I have a few new pieces if you are interested! In past blogs, I talked about my projects with botifarra d'ou (click here) and vermut (click here), but those stories and videos are live now if you want to check them out! I hope you all had a beautiful week and I will be back next week with more stories from Carnival!

On Friday, our culture class consisted of this large hike climbing Mount Tibidabo on the outskirts of the city. When I say large, it was a five-hour hike mostly uphill on uneven paths. At one point, we were literally on the edge of the mountain. But the views were spectacular! It was about an hour before sundown and the city was glowing golden. Along the hike, we learned about the different Barcelona botany including the Carob tree that contains seeds (some stones) that were used for measuring carats in jewelry. You could feel our tour guide's passion for plants and the nature of Barcelona by how he explained the purpose and meaning behind each of the trees. He is definitely a tree huger -- and this somewhat 60-year-old man showed us all up when he marched way ahead of us on the hike. Along the mountain, we also found several natural water fountains where the water is safe and refreshing to drink! This was truly such an immersive class where I learned a lot while exploring so much of Barcelona's natural beauty. 

This week wrapped up with a day bus trip to the hidden gem of Andorra! Andorra is a small country nestled between Spain and France that is known for its skiing in the Pyrenees Mountains. Although we are not skiers, we absolutely loved exploring the snowy villages around the slopes. It is still wild to me that in just three hours from Barcelona, you can be in another country with a totally different landscape. When we first arrived, we stopped at a small crepe cafe. It took us all by surprise when the woman who worked the cafe spoke to us in French. While Catalan is the main language in Andorra, French and Spanish are also spoken. While we were at the cafe, we got to not only enjoy some of the best crepe-style pancakes I've ever had but also got to spend time with Georgia, the cafe owner's French bulldog. She was so friendly, cuddling up to us for some ear scratches from Ellie. 

Post-cafe, we just wandered around the snow-topped buildings and alleyways. There were so many cute little ski village homes and so many natural drinking fountains! It was beautiful. We ended up at a ski-lodge-style restaurant and got the best chocolate fondue. It fit in with the wintertime aesthetic and was the perfect afternoon snack. After our snack, we got back on the bus and went to the main city center of Andorra. The drive was so beautiful through the twists and turns of the mountains, but I am not going to lie, my motion sickness combined with altitude sickness was pretty bad for a bit. But the views and memories made up for it. There were so many shops in the city center! And in Andorra, there is no sales tax and the VAT is the lowest in all of Europe, so we had to take advantage. We ended the day in Andorra with a good old glass of sangria and bused back to Barcelona!

Today, I wanted more of a chill day after Andorra, so Cynthia and I attended a church service together here in Catalán! It was so interesting because even though I did not understand the words, I still knew the general idea behind what was happening, and so many church customs were similar to how they are in the U.S. The music was also so magical with the light glowing in from the stained glass windows. Post-church, we got some churros con chocolate and cafe, and then met up with Abby at one of the large flea markets here. They had so many unique items and I got a couple of accessories I am excited about. We ended the outing with some vermut (since I am now a huge fan) and now it is time to prep for the Super Bowl. See you next week! 

Speaking of work, I am really enjoying all of the projects I am working on because they all involve lifestyle and culture. I just published an article about Carnival (click here to read), a large festival similar to Mardi Gras that takes place all over the world, but especially in Spain. People get dressed up in costume and parade down the streets to celebrate a week of indulgence before Ash Wednesday. There are so many incredible traditions like La Taronjada which involves an explosion of orange balloons in the street mimicking an orange fight. They also have Burial of the Sardine which is a satirical funeral marking the end of Carnival. I am so excited to experience all of these events later this month!

This week, we also made friends with some girls, one from Spain and one from Costa Rica, who are both so amazing! We all clicked so well and I am excited to connect with more people outside of our American circle. They showed us some of their favorite places to experience the nightlife, and I am excited to have more fun times with them! 

Later in the day we reconvened and went to the Palo Market Fest which only happens on the first Sunday of the month. Let me tell you, I will be back every month. The market had everything from vintage clothing boutiques to the a lifetime supply of aperol spritz. They also had a stage of live musicians and a DJ playing music under the disco lights and palm trees. There were also fresh food stands for any genre of food you may want. This was perfect for me and Liam as we are indecisive and ended up splitting this delicious pan bao, yakisoba and gyoza. It was so good it had us going back for more. I also had this lemon beer which might have converted me to a beer girl. It was seriously such a fun crowd and I enjoyed just listening to the music while enjoying incredible food under the strings lights and stars.

Wrapping up the weekend, Liam, some friends and I went to get some tapas so Liam could experience authentic Spanish food including croquetas and pan con tomate! After tapas, we made our way to the beach for another gorgeous sunset. The sky faded from a light blue to the most beautiful shade of pink. It was so nice watching the moon start to appear behind the clouds in the rosy haze of sky. We then had the perfect end to a perfect day, which can only mean gelato! It was sad saying goodbye to Liam, but I was so thankful he could come to visit and I am hoping to see him in the coming months while he is studying in England! Nos vemos!

As the week went on, I started to get more stressed at work. I think everything was just beginning to catch up to me and I was worried I was going to do something wrong due to misunderstanding with the language barrier. But everyone at work was so supportive, and I am really grateful I get to work with such an incredible group. Post-work, my roommate Abby and I decided to treat ourselves by reading on the apartment roof, enjoying some gelato in the Gothic Quarter and having a chill wine night with some friends. We also got some late-night Burger King. Let me tell you, there is nothing like eating a Whopper in front of Sagrada Familia.

The next day, I started to fall more into a routine, and I am happy to say I can get to and from work without navigation! My work is a little bit of a commute, but honestly, I love reading on the Metro and enjoying the musicians in the tunnels who I like to imagine are serenading me while I switch lines. Everything was going so well at work this day because I had my first assignment and was so excited to get started - that was until the most disastrous thing happened. When I was packing up to head home, I unplugged my converter for my laptop charger, and all of a sudden there was a huge spark and the power went out for the entire office. Yes, the lights, the computers and the AC. My American converter single-handedly shut down the entire news office. I felt so terrible because it was literally only day four in the office and I shut down the electricity for over 30 minutes. Luckily, many of my co-workers started joking with me saying I was not as bad as Emily In Paris and that I should write a story about how Spain is not ready for the American lifestyle. It was nice that we were able to laugh it off and I actually bonded with a few of my co-workers because of it. 

Aside from me short-circuiting the office, I am truly loving my time at El Nacional. My first assignment basically consisted of me trying what my coworkers suggested as their favorite tapa places for an English article about where to get authentic tapas as a tourist. Try authentic Spanish food for work - yeah, sign me up! I believe the article will be published this week so I will leave the link for anyone who may be interested. 

This week, we also attended our first culture class! No joke, our class is through the University of Barcelona at a campus in the mountains. The view from our classroom looks over the entire city. It Is very interesting because that campus has a lot of history from the Franco regime. The building we are studying in is actually an old orphanage where kids were sent who were taken from their families while Franco was in power.  It sort of has an eerie feeling. But speaking of history, I am very excited to learn more about the background and cultural customs of Barcelona. We are going to have classes ranging from trying Spanish food, learning Catálan, hiking the surrounding mountains and dancing traditional Spanish dance. Honestly a dream class. 

On Saturday, the girls of the group took a train trip to Valencia! The city is so easy to get to and has the beautiful charm of a European coastal city. Most of the buildings have fun pastel colors and many streets are cobblestone. As a group, we really enjoyed just wandering around. We got to explore the large market, climb one of the old town towers from the 14th century and also see the incredible architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences. Valencia had so much to offer from fresh orange juice to seaside paella. We also stayed in a hostel for the first time which was such a fun experience. The hostel workers really tried to initiate group bonding by hosting a free sangria party and always being so willing to give us recommendations. One of our rooms also had the coolest balcony that opened up to a stone church. It was such a fun weekend and the perfect first trip! Looking forward to this next week of work - let's hope I do not shut down the power this time. Adios!

On the topic of food, the tapas here are incredible. Tapas are smaller plates of food meant for sharing, usually paired with wine and good conversation. It is my favorite thing to carry around cards and sit for hours enjoying Tapas and a good game of BS or Go Fish. 

There are a few places I have especially enjoyed. One is the Italian restaurant Al Passatore. I actually have been there a few years ago, but I loved it even more this time around. I had some red-sauce gnocchi which was incredible, and the waiter even brought out free cheesy bread and drinks for the group – so amazing. Another repeat location is Brunch and Cake. They have the cutest breakfast meals from confetti pancakes to the Brekkie Burrito (what I got). Definitely very photogenic food - especially when the pigeons try to photobomb. Another place I have really loved is Mariposa Negra. It is a bar filled with mood lighting glowing off the mosaic tile along the walls. They had very fun drinks, some of which even had ice cream in them. I also have to give a shoutout to CocoVail, a bar hall decorated with U.S. college pennants. We even found a Mizzou one! They also have incredible wings and many wing deals. 

Aside from wining and dining, we have been filling our time with exploring the city, visiting little boutiques in the alleys and seeing the facade of the famous Sagrada Familia and Arc de Triomf (Barcelona version). It is always fun spotting cultural differences when exploring. For example, while shopping, we stopped at a small grocery store that has an orange juice machine that literally squeezed the oranges freshly before your eyes - the U.S. needs to step up its game! Also, knowing me we had to stop at a bookstore and it was so funny because there were many English books but Spanish versions. I ended up getting one to read on my commute to work. 

When I am not exploring, I have been attending classes. The classes have mostly been orientation and Spanish classes for this week since our internships do not start until Monday. Next week, we also begin our culture classes and journalism seminar. Orientation has been super helpful! Our professor has been teaching us about cultural differences and current political issues important in Spain and Cataluyna (the region Barcelona is in). There has been lots of news centered around the Spanish-French summit since it will impact the independence of Cataluyna. I am curious to learn more during my time here. 

I am eager to start my internship tomorrow at El Nacional.Cat, but I am also very nervous. I practiced my commute and have been working on my Spanish so I am really looking forward to getting to work and becoming part of the office!  That is all for now. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for updates. Adios!