what do you like about Barthelona?

LeN, thank you for asking. Everything. It is so beautiful here, and the food is amazing. Gorgeous gothic and modernist architecture coexisting with open air markets and a beach culture--it’s like someone designed a city with all my favorite things in mind. The people have generally been very friendly despite my pathetically broken Spanish/Catalan, and I love the tiny little economy hotel I’m staying in (in the less seedy area of El Raval). Today I saw the outside of La Sagrada Familia (I plan to take a tour tomorrow), took a guided tour of Palau Musica Catalana (breathtaking), walked the entire length of the Barceloneta and Icaria beaches (gorgeous), met friends for dinner on the top of the most popular gay hotel in the city, and had an amazing dinner at 11pm on a terraced street in L’Eixample.

It’s pure magic. It’s everything I wanted Europe to be. I’ve been waiting my whole life for a chance to do this kind of travel, and this taste is definitely going to leave me hungry for more. I know I’m all Spain! Whee!, and I’m really trying not to be annoying about it. I’m just so giddy about finally getting a chance to do this. For those who recommended Barcelona over Madrid for me to spend these two gift days, thank you with all my heart.

ETA: I’ve been having link issues a lot lately. I just went through and removed all of them here, but I don’t think it is just me. It may be a bug; it seems to happen when I have an html coding that breaks over two lines when I’m typing it. Huh.

Sounds like you're really getting the Barcelona experience!

I’ve been waiting my whole life for a chance to do this kind of travel, and this taste is definitely going to leave me hungry for more.

I absolutely know the feeling. Visiting Budapest and Barcelona last year was also my first real taste of European travel, and then I went to England and Scotland, and I'm already trying to decide where I want to go next.

I'm glad you guys are getting to travel the way you want to. More vicarious tours, please!

I know I’m all Spain! Whee!, and I’m really trying not to be annoying about it. I’m just so giddy about finally getting a chance to do this.

Silly! Not being annoying AT ALL. I'm having fun reading about your experiences.

What Nora said. Glad you're loving Barcelona.

I only slept four hours last night, so I took a nap this afternoon, and had a stress dream about being unemployed and smoking in front of my mom, and then woke up with a headache. I think I did it wrong.

I felt much the same way about Barcelona. It reminded me of NM visually and the spanish felt familiar, but with ocean! And extra music everywhere!

Tried to take my uncle to Mari Luna last night but it was mobbed. So we ended up at this Uzbek place where for the longest time, we were the only ones speaking english. Interesting food. Neither of us was terribly hungry, so we just got a few plates, though it really is the sorta thing where you order tons and tons of them. So I'm withholding judgement until I get to sample more. It was good, just probably not a very broad representation of the offerings. There was a large family party and they had no room on the table at all, with all the items. And naturally, bottles of vodka being heavily consumed. It's a byob sort of place.

Did everyone hear that they "worked out" the debt ceiling issue?

The deal still has to pass the Senate and the House.

Did Boehner get over whatever his latest thing was, or did they put him in a box and let Reid sit on the lid?

Catching up from Thursday

Am I too late to be outraged at Kat's UCLA parking experience? Because I am.

For those of you worried about relatives getting older, I can tell you that, from the inside, it's scary. My body doesn't work the way it used to, I have pains that I didn't have before. I can't move as well or as fast as I used to.

AMEN. Also, on a very shallow note--can't do Vegas (or drink) as well as I used to.

And I just got back from the eye doctor; I've faced reality and I'm moving on scheduling cataract surgery.

Fingers crossed for you! This is one of my fears for my upcoming eye doctor appointment.

I'm really not happy with his constant willingness to let the Republicans be shitbags who are damaging this country severely.

Again, amen. The country was so screwed up when he came into office, I didn't expect much, but I was hoping he would attempt more.

Oh, Maria, I am so sorry the universe has been so shitty to you and yours. Health and Fuck Cancer-ma.

I am so sorry about the diabetes diagnosis, Le N. I hope you get it under control as quickly and easily as possible.

I counted "doing laundry" and "folding laundry" as separate to-do items. That may be cheating.

Yeah, not so much, as several people pointed out.

Sounds like an awesome trip, shrift! Yay! Now we plan for Hawaii?

I like to eat lunch at my desk. The internet isn't going to read itself!

Exactly!

Barcelona is definitely one of the places I want to visit.

Had an AWESOME time in Vegas, apart from one Friday morning, which was spent recovering from drinking way more than I should these days the night before. Luckily I had Plei with me, and she ran out and bought coffee and gatorade and advil and other stuff. Also loved seeing Cashmere and had a great time with both of them especially last night, when we went back to the great sushi restaurant Plei and I went to on Friday (the taxi stand guy at the hotel told us about it), and then excellent chocolate martinis.

Now home, and am catching up on my reality TV.