This week I went to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany for the weekend! It was an amazing experience and I definitely want to go back again someday. I ate a lot of good food and it was nice to have something other than traditional spanish food can’t lie. Barcelona doesn’t have a huge variety of foods in my opinion. I miss the food options back home! I also visited a huge indoor market in the city center of Barcelona, they had EVERYTHING! I even found my favorite american hot sauce, I was very pleased about that. School is going well, it’s harder to focus on my classes and homework while being in Barcelona and traveling! But i’m still doing well, just have to keep my priorities straight.

Munich, Germany at Oktoberfest

This week I did A LOT. It was a holiday called La Merce and there were free concerts at the beach and parades all around the city. I visited Labyrinth Park which was so cool, different then anything i’ve seen in the states. The coolest and most exciting thing that happened was participating in the “dragon run”. Which is when people masked and dressed in all black have sticks with firework works shooting out will run through the crowds and people even go towards them and go into the fireworks! There were sparks flying everywhere, I wasn’t exactly prepared for it. I got a few burns on my arm but nothing too serious. Overall, it was so fun and something that I am so glad that I got to be apart of. 

Maze at Labyrinth park in Barcelona  

Dragon run during La Merce

I pretty much have the metro down now, a group of girls and myself took a train Sitges and its BEAUTIFUL! Train was easy to figure out thank God. Sitges was one of the most beautiful beaches i have ever been to. The weather is so nice here compared to back home. I have become obsessed with tapas, which are basically appetizers. I love patatas braves, aka fries with a mayo/hot sauce. Classes are going well, it’s weird that no one at home would be starting school yet. Also visited plaza Catalunya and got a good look around the gothic quarter!

eo-Gothic facade of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, Spain

This week was filled with trying all kinds of spanish food that Barcelona has to offer. I tried Paella which is AMAZING. It’s a rice dish with chicken and vegetables! I was shocked to find out that Barcelona doesn’t have anything similar to mexican food or anything spicy; or it’s hard to find. I also went to Park Guell and it was breath taking! A bit of a hike but well worth it to see a view of all of Barcelona. It’s incredibly hot here! It will be like 80 degrees but feels like 90! Slowly getting used to it though. Learning how to ride the Metro system was surprisingly easy, its not hard to navigate so i’m getting the hang of it. Classes also started this week, I like them and they don’t seem terribly hard. Spanish is going to be a challenge though, one of my instructors doesn’t speak any english!

Park Guell

Paella

Park Guell, city view of Barcelona!

Park Guell

Well, I completely forgot I had to do this! I’ve already been in Barcelona 7 weeks, oops. I remember the first day like it was yesterday. Being thrown into a taxi by myself by my mentor and not having any idea what to expect or what my roommates would be like; a little nerve racking. Week one was filled with meeting so many open and welcoming people! We had orientation, hiked up a mountain, ate a catalan meal, and took a day trip to Tarragona.