Journal 29 Saturday: Today was a hell of a lot more relaxing. I had pretty seen just about everything, so there wasn't any rush to get stuff done that day. I woke up around 7 and went upstairs to check email and use the computers. I tried hooking up my laptop but even though it recognized the network it wouldn't connect to the web. So I basically just checked my mail and then went to eat. I set my computer to defrag since it had shut off early the night before when I tried to shut it down; now Dreamweaver wasn't starting and I was really irritated. I packed up my stuff after I figured out that I pretty much needed to check out asap the day I'm scheduled to leave. They have a huge luggage room (that used to be a bathroom) for you to store your stuff in. So I packed up my things, checked and got my id back, and left to walk around for the day. I walked through a bunch of the little streets again trying to find a liquor store I had passed two nights before; I told my friends I would pick stuff up for them. I ended up just walking to Las Ramblas instead. I walked around the market and bought a little smoothie to drink. I then walked around looking at the street vendors and street performers. I gave a couple of them 50cents to take their picture since I thought they were pretty funny. I walked all around the stores looking the different shoes and clothes; I almost bought something but then couldn't find any that I really really liked. I kept checking my watch because at some point I had to get back to the hostel and then walk back up town to meet with my family for lunch. I walked back to the hostel and sat and had a Coke before again leaving to walk the mile or two to Paquita's place. On the way to her place I kept an eye for that same liquor store, and found one of the two I passed before. I ended up stopping there and also as a grocery store to pick stuff up. I picked up flowers from a flower vendor to bring to lunch. I looked at my map considering the possibility of taking the Metro up town. I ended up deciding that it would just be easier to walk since I didn't want to get lost on the trains. I hauled ass to walk there as fast as I could, and I was only about 10min late when I finally arrived. That's not too bad when I ended up walking about halfway across the map I have. I met mireia's dad, he was home for lunch since it was Saturday. For lunch today we were having Paella because yesterday they were shocked to hear I'd never had it. So they made a mix of both seafood and meat paella. It was really good, and like yesterday I was given seconds and thirds on all food. For the meat course today we had pork again. And for desert was strawberries and whipped cream. After lunch we sat and talked for a while again. mireia's dad had questions for me, most of which mireia had to translate. There were a couple points when they all would start talking in Catalonian and really get going; it was hilarious because I didn't understand a word. mireia and her dad took me to my hostel to pick up my bag, and then were going to drive me to the airport so I wouldn't have to take the train. After I picked up my bag we headed to the airport. We had to drive through the whole industrial area of Barcelona, which was interesting because it was something I wouldn't have seen otherwise. Once at the airport we had to try and figure out which terminal I was in. So mireia's dad dropped us in B, right in the middle, to check. We walked in and it seemed to be the right place, plus the security guard we asked said that this was the international terminal. So I said bye to mireia and thanked her for all her help. I then wandered around for about 10 minutes trying to find the counter for Easy Jet. I ended up walking outside to read the signs. They have about 20 airlines in this one terminal alone, so this "what's in this terminal" sign is difficult to read even from close up. Turned out that I needed to be in Terminal A, so I walked over to that one. I had a lot of time before my flight so I sat and read for class. When I finally got to check in I got my ticket, still with a really high boarding number for some reason, and then went to my gate to wait. I bought a soda to use up almost all the remaining Euros I had and then, again, sat, read, and waited. I boarded the flight spent most of it either reading or listening to music. When I got off the plane in London I hurried to get to immigration as fast as possible and catch the train to central London. Well even though we landed half an hour early I still had a half an hour wait in line, so it was good we got in really fast. I rushed to the train station, had to wait four minutes for it to arrive, and had to sit on board for about ten before it left. It was then at least a thirty minute ride to the Liverpool Street Station. All the while I kept checking my watch hoping that I would make it before the Tube shut down for the night; taking a night bus home was the last thing I wanted to have to do. Well, I made the very last Tube home, thank god. I then had to walk a mile or so home, as usual, from the Hanger Lane station. When I finally got here I spent another thirty minutes unpacking since I knew I wouldn't want to do it in the morning. After all that was done, I finally crashed for the night. |