Solo in Spain, Barcelona to Madrid

Barcelona Market

So, I checked out of Italy and took a 45-minute bus ride to the airport. A little unsure of myself as I am alone and not sure where I'm going, I decide to just go with my instincts. I listen to those around me and hear an English couple with suitcases: I am on the right bus.I make it safe to the airport and had to stand in a really long line. I was surrounded by so many different languages-no English. At this point I was a bit tired and just wanted to get on my plane and get to Spain!

I arrived in Spain a bit later than I had hoped. Leaving the airport ended up taking me a good 20minutes. Getting to my hostel was a much longer adventure. I took the train from the airport for about 30minutes. I had to switch from the train to the underground line and take that a few stops to switch lines to get to Nou de la Rambla, where my hostel was. I was so glad to finally find the building, after walking up the street the wrong direction a couple of times. It was a bit unnerving being alone at night in Barcelona. The streets were so alive and unfamiliar. I told myself to keep taking deep breaths and to walk and act like I knew exactly where I was, which is why I went the wrong direction-I didn't want to pull out my map. Which is worse? When you're in such a new city you feel as though all eyes are on you.

The relief I felt after finally finding my hostel was great! It was a really nice clean place with a friendly girl at the reception. I checked into my room and met a really nice couple from Australia. They invited me to join them out for the night with another guy from Quebec. It was a really great nice full of new people. We had a great time talking and then dancing later.

I checked out of my hostel the next morning and explored the city with my new friend from Quebec. We went to La Sagrada Familia by  Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi started building this tower in 1882 and stopped in 1926. The building is still not finished, but the city has commissioned architects to finish the building . Truly breathtaking to see in person. When you take the underground transportation there the stop itself is named after the tower. The exit spits you in the wrong direction and as soon as you can mutter, "where is the..." you've turned full circle and are astonished. Really, not picture can show how beautiful the tower is. 

I spent the rest of the day just enjoying the city. We went to the famous markets in the centre and what a treat it was to see all those candies, fruits, and vegetables. I bought a freshly made fruit smoothie. Delicious!! For lunch I had some seafood paella. Yum! Later in the day a group of us hopped on the bus and paid a quick visit to the beach. Once the sun set and the air began to cool people began to trickle into the streets. An evening swing dance class started in the middle of the square. So fun and alive. People of all ages were out dancing. The atmosphere was friendly and warm. The group of us then headed to see the Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona, Arc de Triomf. It was built to be an entrance for a festival in 1888. What is interesting is the red bricks and mixture of Spanish architecture with a Moorish style, a reflection of how diverse Spain's population was.

Unfortunately, that was all the time I got to spend in Barcelona. At midnight, I got on my bus and spent the night heading towards Madrid. Sleeping on the bus was really tough. It was only 35€ though, instead of 140€ to take the train. The bus arrived in Madrid at 7am. I arrived sleep deprived and hungry! Luckily my hostel wasn't too hard to get to and the Madrid Metro is pretty cheap. I went on a free walking tour of the city with a group of mostly students from my hostel. The tour was very insightful and educational, though the guide was from Florida and a bit desperate for a cheap laugh. 

Spain has kind of a funny history of ruler changes and territory exchanges. The king's palace is honestly not all that special. He was aware of this so forbid any of the buildings within sight of the palace to be anything but ordinary. Many of the streets in Madrid have pictures or symbols above the name. This was because much of the population was illiterate, and they needed to know how to get around the city. 

In the evening I went on a Tapas tour with mostly the same people from the hostel. Tapas are great! Especially for those of us who are backing at picking one thing to eat, you get to have small bites of several different things! We went to three restaurants and tried cider and sangria. Sangria is great when its so hot out. After the Tapas tour a smaller 4 of us went to a nice outside bar and ordered Sangria and called it a mellow night out in Madrid.

Travels!

*needs editing but I wanted to post it...or I may never post it..*

So, a little late but I'll finally write a little about my 2 week long journey to the most westerly part of Europe.

Off to the station

It really leans!!

On August 18th I left from the Wien Meidling train station. Onward West I go! Wish I had a picture at the train station but that there above will have to do.

I hopped on my train at something really in the morning a.m. From Vienna to the border town Villach, I took a 5 hour train. Once I reached Villach I had to transfer to a bus which went from Villach to Venice. From Venice switched to a train which took me to Florence where I met up with two Au Pairs, Jade and Lucy. I only spent a short time in Florence until the three of us hopped on yet another train to Pisa. We spent two nights in Pisa and a nice hostel not too far away from the centre. Pisa is a bit smaller than we thought but had a nice time there all the same.

After our two nights in Pisa we took a series of regional trains to Venice. It was about 40€ cheaper than taking a direct train...on an Au Pair salary, indirect is the way we go! We had a very short connection for the last train from I believe Prado to Venice. I tell the girls we have to get off the train ASAP and book it to the next platform (whereever that may be). Sure enough we arrive at the station book it out the door and dash off down the platform. As though from a scene out of a movie, our platform area was under contstruction and we had to run to the other side of the station in the most round about way one could imagine. Also, Italians are notorious for not properly labeling things and being unreliable...We were following the signs to "The Platforms" and came across a sign that said, <---Platforms---> After going crosseyed for a quick minute we decided to hang a left, and stay commited to the direction we were originally sprinting.

The slapping of the sandals against the cement ground echoed  through the tunnel connecting the platforms. The three of us girls running like mad to catch this train. Huge backpacks, dresses, and loud flapping sandals. The waves of people parted like the sea in fear of being taken down by a mad au pair girl. Like the end of a scene in a good movie, we dart through the doors of our train, take a seat and leave the station for Venice. Sweaty and satisfied we relax in our seats for the next three hours it takes to get to Venice.

After arriving in Venice we have to catch a bus out of the city to where our camping spot it. We stayed at Camp Jolly,  it sounded promising. On a hot summer day in Italy we walked from our bus stop about 10minutes to the actual camp site. We check in and found they have upgraded us for free to a bungalow in front of the pool! How lucky are we?! Since it was already pretty late in the afternoon we decided to relax at the campsite and have some drinks by the pool. After a looong day on trains, walking, and a few drinks by the pool I have no shame in saying, this was me by 5pm. It was a good nap...I didn't even believe I fell asleep. We had dinner at the camp site with complementary Tiramisu and Lemoncello from the restaurant. Called it an early night so we could wake up early and spend the day on the actualy island of Venice.

The next morning our campsite provided a coach that dropped us off at the start of the island. Once we got off the bus I must admit the whole thing was a bit overwhelming. Where to start in a city of mazes, alleyways, canal systems and incredible history? It truly was breathtaking and overwhelming in my excitement to be in a city that is truly unique from anywhere I've traveled. 

 We started by wandering into Venice and had a cappucino. Again, like something out of a movie, a young Venecian man opened up his wooden windows from across the canal and yelled "Ciao Bella!" out to us. We giggled and blushed and continued on with our day. Hours were spent wandering about. Left down this narrow alley now take a right. We were amazed at how long you could just walk and find yourself in new little areas of the city.




After the second night in Venice the girls had to head back to Vienna early in the morning. I was left to my own and spent the afternoon at the pool waiting until I had to head to the airport. About 14:00 I checked out of the campsite and walked to my bus and headed to board my plane on to the next leg of my journey: Solo in Spain.

Hmmm...

Dearest Blog,

I am writing to apologize for neglecting you for so long. I, like the others, have put you on the backburner of my life and would like to try again. I must also admit that I have various motives that have driven me to write to you.

As you know, I have been living in Austria for well over a year now. It is really an incredible thing to recognize the seasons changing and being able to remember it from last year. Different festivals and things going on are familiar and comfortable to me now, when they were new and exciting. I am amazed at how comfortable I am in this country. I love the unique smell of fall which makes me feel at home anywhere. Though I do miss the sunny warm days, I am at peace with my coffee, scarf, and book out on the patio. I embrace the cold by inviting in more warmth.
 

Cheers,

Ashley