Sevilla and Carnaval

Wow, so much has happened since the last time. I guess its only fair to recount my adventures in Sevilla and at Carnaval. To be fair, this will probly be a two-five parter, so I can get in all the photos and such.
Last weekend, we got on the bus to go to the airport at 6am, which really sucked. After passing out in an uncomfortable position (on top of the tray table) I left the plane full of expectations.

HAHA!

Sevilla was so beautiful! The streets were lined with restaurants and costume shops and the like, and some of the architecture there blew my mind. First we visited Real Alcazar castle, which was cool because of the Arabic influence infused with Christian themes. I won't get into too much detail (I'll do that next blog) but the fountains and gardens were pretty amazing, with trees from around the world. Next we visited the Sevilla Catedral (once again, I'm leaving the details for the next blog) and climbed this huge tower to get a look at the entire city. After some sight-seeing and tapas, we finally got back to the hotel to relax and prepare for the night ahead, which is a story in itself, so wait for the next blog.

The next day we did some sightseeing on bicycles and then prepared for Carnaval. By the way, if you have seen my Carnaval costume, I'm not sure what I exactly was...some kind of Irish pirate with leis and a gun and a sword...Anyways, the train to Carnaval was a bit of an experience as well, and Carnaval rocked. Long story involved with Carnaval though, so that will have to be its own separate blog.

Anyways, I'm heading out to chill with some API friends, so hasta luego!

Sheesh, I havent done this in a while...

I think its been what, ten days since the last post? Sorry about that, I've had quite a time here learning more and more Spanish and having a few adventures as well. I've made a few friends around Barcelona, some Spaniards, some Italians, etc.

Its funny, most of the Italians I know hang out at the same bar Mike and I hang out at, YaYa. I generally go in there for a drink and end up conversing with half the bar about America, music, language, travel, politics, sports, etc. Sometimes the bartenders give me free meals or drinks, which kicks ass cause its great when you receive some nice gesture unexpectedly.

The Spaniards are definitely better to talk to about Barcelona and where you can find things and what things to watch out for. Many get so excited when I tell them a musician, but strangely enough, they generally think we Americans are a musician-oriented society (I guess that's accurate enough).

I can't wait to get my guitar, but due to communication problems between me and the credit card people, I am not cleared to use Mom and Dads card to book the trip to Paris. That means, that about 300 bucks left my bank account, 300 bucks that could have gone toward a guitar. Also, the Verizon people have been billing me, even though I contacted them NUMEROUS times before and clearly explained that I wanted my service suspended the day after I left. Somehow, they didnt get the memo, and just thinking about it make me want to direct my heel to their face so maybe they'll get the message...

Anyways, you can tell the subject makes me irate, so we'll change the subject. Hmmmm...last night was interesting. I was at YaYa talking to Mike when a black Frenchman apologized before commenting on Americans. We told him that we weren't generally offended by French people in general, just rude French people. He laughed and ended up buying me drinks (Mike had left to Skype his girlfriend at this time). Later, we made plans to go to this kick-ass Indian restaurant called "Kama," where the spicy lamb over rice was just spicy enough to satisfy, yet not send you to the bar begging for more water. Perfect.

It ends up that Sosthene (the French guy) has tons of connections, so Mike and I end up meeting tons of interesting people like musicians and artists and such. Later we wander around Las Ramblas before heading back, but when I get back, I realize that I dont have my keys with me (Mike had already gone home, Sosthene had just gone up into his apartment which is on the same street where I live, and Carol, our friend from YaYa had just left). I immediately panic, running back the way I came frantically searching for the keys. I had terrifying thoughts of some theif picking my pocket and running amok in my family's apartment while I went looking for the keys, so I decide to call Mike or Raquel to warn them about what happens. As it happens, Mike's phone is dead, and Raquel is asleep.

I get a call on my phone, hoping that Mike or Raquel finally saw my missed call, but its one of my other Spanish friends saying goodnight (we had talked earlier that evening). I immediately begin relating my situation to her in loud spouts of anger and fear, cursing myself for having gotten myself in this situation and also seeing if she could offer any help. As it happened, she couldn't, so she let me go and I returned dejected back to the house, planning how I would tell everyone that I had lost the apartment keys and we might have to get new locks and such and I would pay....you get the idea.

I buzz the door and Marina answers, letting me in. I walk into my room to set everything down, when I spy my keys sitting on my desk.

Talk about much ado about nothing. I was relieved and angry at myself for being so foolish. Anyways, everything worked out fine. Mike told me that I really needed to get a hold of myself, and he's right. I freak out and panic way too fast sometimes.

Anyways, right now I am listening to my Itunes playlist, which, thanks to Mike's awesome collection of music, is now full of Chili Peppers, QOTSA, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin and Coltrane. Tonight we are going out with Marina's boyfriend Chavi, his friends, and the friends of another of Marina's friends, Lali, to celebrate their birthdays karaoke style! Raquel is cooking dinner, and it smells delicious. Gonna see if there's any help needed in the kitchen, although I'm of very little substancial help when it comes to food. I've burned soup before. I should be banned from cooking again. Anyways, this was really long and I'm outta here!

The Futbol Game

This story happened this past Friday. Mike and I and several other API people signed up for a closed-court futbol game. I get excited as this is the first time in ten years that I have played soccer, so I have high expectations for how bad I'm gonna be.

Anyways, I stick to defense because I can't control the ball very well, but after 10 minutes I realize how badly out of shape I am when the asthma kicks in and I start drawing everyone's attention by how loudly I am gasping for air. It gets so bad the directors call a half-time break and I convince Mike to trade positions so I can be goalie (portero en espanol). I actually do pretty well, except for attempts made far to one side and low. I actually pulled a muscle in my hip or something trying to stop all the goals. Anyways, we lost 6-1, but our team had more heart.

The rest of this week I have walked around like a gimp and have jokingly referred to myself as un viejo (old man). My legs, back, and sides were excruciatingly sore from all those hours of watching TV and sitting on Katie's couches. Anyhow, I made a resolution before I came to get back in shape, so far so good eh?

Anyways, I hope to play more futbol at least weekly, pero a ver, no? (but we'll see, yeah?) That's it for this post. Sorry there are no pics or vids, but I didn't think it a very good idea to bring a camera. Maybe we'll see some live action shots of my awesome goalie skills in action later. Anyways, hasta luego!

Barca Game

Here's a picture of Camp Nou


So the other Thursday, Mike and I get tickets through Marina's boyfriend (Chavi) to the Barca game. Basically we saved about 20 Euros, so having a connection like Chavi (who used to play for Barca until he got injured) is pretty sweet. I asked the family whether or not I could buy a Barca jersey, but they shook their heads and told me I would have to pay an arm and a leg at one of the merchandise booths. I might pick one up later, but maybe getting that Spanish guitar is a little more important...

Anyways, we take a bus to the stadium (called Camp Nau) and when we get off we start to ask someone where we're going, until we notice the massive migration of people. This is no UGA game, more like a GA-FLA game, with thousands of people (mostly Barca fans) flocking in by the second. So we get in and find out that our seats are right next to the Espanyol fans, and the rivalry between these two teams is so intense that riot police line this netted off section for the Espanyol fans. I find out why, because the entire game, even when they are down 3-0, they are shouting invective after invective about Barca. Their jeers arent even that good, they just sing a few songs with some or all of the following words about Barca: putamadre, mierda, joder, and maricon (motherfucker, shit, fuck, and faggot). None of the songs have anything especially thoughful or insightful or clever, their just cursewords. And you thought the GA-FLA game was bad.

Anyways, Espanyol (which isnt even that great of a team) comes back and makes the game 3-2, but Barca ends up winning and maintains its lead in the league as number one (GO BARCA!!!). I didn't actually watch the end because I went to meet up with a girl I had met, but thats another story in itself. Anyways, here are some photos and videos.



Here's me and Mike at the game

The Apartment

Okay, so I've been slacking on the posts. Here's a quick one about the living situation. We live in Calle Paris which is about 10 minutes North of Plaza de Catalunya. We live on the fourth floor and the apartment is spacious! We have Wifi (but not very much in my room) and a TV. I live with Raquel Luzarraga, who has three daughters: Adriana, Virginia, and Marina. Virginia is married to a Mexican and lives in Barcelona, Adriana is studying in ?Rome? right now, and Marina is taking classes at UB, like Micheal and I, and lives at the apartment.

Notice that I accidentally call Marina "Mariana"

Its nice that I have a room to myself, and Raquel cooks very well, but her boyfriend Vicente is a DAMN good cook. Today he made us probably the best paella I will ever have. He made it with crayfish and shrimp and mussels and some other meat that was also delicious. Anyways, here's some pictures of the apartment from the street.

And that about does it for this one. Oh, by the way, Micheal and I have a favorite bar called YaYa or something that has cool people working and cheap drinks and its just down the block. I love this city.