The breach of the end is near, and it all began when I visited my last travel stop in Europe (well at least for the moment)- Barcelona, Spain. While everyone at home in the US was roasting turkeys, gathering around the table with family, watching football, playing games (my family style), and on the verge of passing out from over-eating, I was in Barcelona!
So I would say my Thanksgiving was very untraditional, considering I traveled from 10am until 10pm. Yep, a whopping 12 hours from England to Spain, which are right next to each other. Well let me give you a small hint about Europe and travel, it’s cheap but only because these cheap airlines sometimes fly you out into the rural, outside towns of the major city, hence my airport in Spain was 2.5 hrs outside the city of Barcelona. Well after a long day of traveling and starving, I settled for the first thing available, a sandwich and ice cream. Happy Thanksgiving!
But I can’t sit here and rant about my long traveled Thanksgiving, because even on the 2-hour train to Barcelona from the airport, I felt truly blessed and thankful. Not only for being able to experience the beauty of Spain, but for every cultural experience and country I have been able to visit since studying abroad. I actually have never felt more thankful in my life since I have been traveling the world and living in London. God’s blessings are endless and for once, I actually can see and feel them everywhere.
Well Barcelona was quite a delight! I absolutely loved everything about it. The architecture is much different than other European cities, considering infamous and crazy, creative Gaudi! Ah, I absolutely fell in love with his buildings and architecture throughout Barcelona, especially Sagrada Familia. It’s distorted, curved, rigged, and at times a bit disoriented, but it’s all beautiful. Its difference distinguishes its beauty. I saw that on my first day, along with La Rambla, a famous shopping street, Plaza Reial, and all the other Gothic style architecture around the center. Later that evening, Sara and I embarked on our first cooking class in Spain and my favorite part of this trip! Being a lover of cooking shows and cooking (even if it's always an attempt), I learned and made my own sangria, tapas, and paella. So good and actually pretty easy to make, which I have decided to immediately test these new skills when I get home. I considered this night my Thanksgiving because I sat at a long, rich dark wood table with a huge family from the States and one of the greatest friends I have met during my abroad experience and my beautiful roomie, Sara. Later that evening, we did as the Spanish do- nightlife. A great, crazy night but what isn’t w/ me a Sara ;) I always say we make a great team.
Finishing out our trip, the next couple of days we roamed more of the city, taking in some great markets, meeting up w/ friends, trying out a great tapas buffet, shopping, and checking out Barcelona beaches. Overall, it was a great ending to my long list of destinations. Oh, and I actually got to put to use my 6 years of Spanish class…I need to start speaking Spanish more often. One of my realizations, I love languages, and I eventually want to first, become fluent in Spanish and then learn Italian and French. I know it’s a big goal, but I have never been afraid of going after what I want.
I can honestly say at this point that I am probably one of the only students in my program that has kept my blog alive throughout the entire 4 months. Sadly, my next entry will probably be my last L I leave this beautiful city and continent in the total of 4 days. The journey is at its very end, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
Adios!
xoxo
Jenna
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