Barcelona

I finally was able to tour the city of Barcelona. I have only been there twice. Once when i arrived at the airport (which doesn't count) and I have been the the beach.I was able to spend this past weekend int he city. I had so much fun. I went with Kristin and we couch surfed for the night. Kristin's family drove us down and then we had to take te metro to get their apartment. The metro in a foreign country gets some taking use to since everyting is in another language. Thankfully, we really didn't get lost. For those of you who don't know, couch surfing is where people offer up there couches for you to sleep on while you are in their city. The best part is that it's free. It a great way to meet people and see the city. The guys we stayed with were extremely friendly and were able to show us around the city. That night they let us hang out with their friends...who were all nice as well and many spoke English which is a plus. Saturday night we left for dinner at 10 and had tappas. Later we went to one of their friend's house for cake and drinks. Finally at 3am we left to go to the Disco, Side Car. I have never gone out that late especially since things close down around 2am in CA. It is definitely a different experience. I think we left the disco around 6am when the sun was coming out. That is definitely a first for me. I only got a few hours of sleep Sunday morning then had to catch a ride back home. I was so tired and my feet were killing me from the night before, but I had so much fun that I wouldn't change a thing. They guys we stayed with- Alvaro and Marco A Goudi Building Human Castle- the smaller kids are on top. I was afraid one of them would fall. The youngest looked to be about 5 years old. You can't see from my pic, but there are 8 levels of people. Las Ramblas Street- Up and down this street you will find people in costume as they pretend to be statues. They each have a bucket in front of them and if you give money they will then do something for you. I didn't wait anround to see what this guy would do. This is their job and you will see them everyday.

Tarragona

Tarragona is next to Reus. It is only a 10 min train ride away. I went on my mini day trip today with Kristin. We left early this morning. The day was beutiful...not a cloud in the sky. The ocean was right nextg to us as we exited the train. Tarragona is a much bigger town. There are also many, many stairs. to go anywhere you have to go up or down stairs. There were also lots of hills. I definitely got my exercise in today. We did lots of site-seeing and layed out by at the beach. It turned out to be a very hot day...but I really enjoyed my outing. It's nice to get away even if only for the day. Staying inside a house too long can really make a person antsy. We were able to have lunch and and Gelato ice cream. Of course we ate lunch like normal Americans at noon...no one in Spain eats this early so we were the only ones there. Most people do not eat until around 2. The ice cream here is so good. I don't know what they do differently, but it is awesome. The Roman Ruins of an Amphitheater. I didn't go inside becuase they charged money. I thought I got some good pictures from the outside without the cost.The cathedral is huge...this is only one side of it. This picture doesn't do it justice. There are gargoyles on the roof and many statues in the middle. There are many statues throughout the city. Here I am enjoying my ice cream with an old man. This statue or momument is huge. It is a human castle. It's funny that I saw this today because the mom in my family was telling em ablout the people that come into town an do exactly this. They will actuall be here in a couople of weeks so I will be able to see it live and in person. It should be fun. The water is so clear and clean here. It is definitely different then our beaches. I could actually see the ground in the water. There were many cargo ships and sail boats out today. Here we are on the Mediterranean Balcony. It is long and you are able to see most of the costline. Great view!

Team Barca

Well, I don't know if it hit the news in America, but the Barcelona Futbol (soccer for those of you who don't know ;) ) team won all 3 championships...King's Cup, Spanish Cup and last night they won the European Cup. This is a huge deal. Barca made history last night because no other team has won all 3 cups in one season. Let me tell you Spain takes this very seriously. I can't even begin to describe the following this sport has...People here are so intense about futbol. I have never seen anything like it in the States. People are very proud an loyal to their team. After any of the games Barca won people would be out on the streets celebrating and partying all throughout Catalunya. There are fireworks going off, car horns being honked and people are dancing and chanting in the streets and plazas. Last night was no difference. I was able to go to a bar last night to watch the game and experience it first hand. It was so interesting to see how excited people were and how much fun they were having. They were even were sing the Barca anthem.

Some person dyed their dogs fur the team colors (blue & red)

People starting to arrive to the plaze The chanting & Fireworks begin More of the crowd Kristin (new au pair), Brigitte, Chelsea & Me

This afternoon the team arrived back home...the game was in Rome. A huge crowd was waiting for them when they arrived. Then they were off to their home stadium. They were driven in a double decker bus with no roof on top. That way they could wave to their adoring fans. Believe me the crowd is in love. There were more than a million people in the streets to watch them pass by. Girls were crying, pictures were being taken and singing was occuring while these futbol players drove by. They were treated as if they were royalty. Again, I must say that I have never seen anything like it. Of course, it was broadcasted on tv and I was watching it with the family. Finally, 3 hours later the team arrives to the stadium. It is jammed packed with people inside awaiting their arrival. The palyers come out and circle the inside of the stadium a few times, make some speeches, more circling anf then it's finally finished. It would surprise me greatly if any of these players came out of this experience without a swelled head. They are given such a high status with the people that I think it would be hard for them to not think that they were the greatest thing since sliced bread!!!

Circus Week

The Circus came to Reus this week. Well, not just one company, but many different shows were throughout the town. There are 3 main plazas and each had a couple of different performers. It was easy to tell the circus people from everyone else. First and foremost they look different. Most men and women had the very long dread locks and their clothes have a well-worn look to them. They also have this air of wanderlust like the gypsies. You can tell they have been to many places. They travel from town to town to put on their show. These pictures I took while in Plaza de Prim. This is not the actual show, but the performers practicing. They don't actually perform until around 7 or 8. This girl is really flexible. You can't see it, but at the other end is a balloon. She picks up a bow and arrow with her feet and pops the balloon. This girl got so much air. They threw her up from the right side, she did some flips and then landed in the armsof the people on the left. This guy is walking the tightrope. On Saturday night I was able to see one show. Unfortunately, I was not able to get any pictures. It was so incredible crowded. It was really hard to see. The plazas were packed. It made it difficult to walk anywhere. It didn't help that it was a Saturday when all the shops are busy as well.

Night on the Town

Yesterday morning I met 2 other au pairs, Brigitte and Chelsea, for coffee in Almoster. Brigitte is 23 and from Canada adnd Chelsea is 22 from North Carolina. They are both really nice, super friendly and down to earth. I am extremely grateful that we met. It helps to know people outside the family...it makes me feel less isolated. These are also people that I can hang out with when I am not with the family. They can also be my traveling buddies. I really didn't want to have to travel to other countries by myself. It will be much more fun to be with someone else. Tonight we all met up at a local bar in Reus called Portia...my first night out in Reus. It small and not loud. We were actually able to talk to one another. It was also not crowded. I found out tonight that things don't really start happening uptil about midnight. It is because people have late dinners, then meet up for drinks and around 2am do to the Disco Tech (or as we like to say clubs). These thing stay open until about 5am.

Me getting ready

I also met Julie, another au pair, for the first time. However, tomorrow she will be leaving . Her stay is Spain is now over. My part of Spain has a great little network for the au pairs. As soon as someone arrives you get to meet all the current au pairs. Then once someone leaves a new person will arrive to take their place. For me they will help me a great deal. First, because they can speak English fluently (major plus). Second, because these are people who already know the lay of the land and can be a tremondous help.

Me, Brigitte, Chelsea leaving Portia

Around the Town

Over the weekend I went sightseeing with the family. Thursday and Friday were a holiday for students and workers. Don't ask me what the holiday was for because I have no idea. I asked the Mom and she just said it was a holiday...so there you have it. Friday we went to the Sea (not the ocean, but the Mediterranean Sea) and walked the boardwalk. Everyone was out because it was a nice, sunny day plus a holiday. There was no parking whatsoever. It reminded me of our beaches. It took a good 15min to find a spot. However, on the sand they have lounge chairs set-up for people. It's like Cancun all over again. We definitely need to add this to our beaches. Saturday I went to downtown Reus. There are shops up and down the streets. Apparently, Saturday is the day to see and be seen. Everyone was out and the shops were very crowded. Sunday everything is closed. i also found out that during the week the shops close mid-day for 3 hours. Plus things seem to close down around 7pm. What a life!! Too bad we don't do this in Americia. No wonder people are less stress here. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. It was like everything I imagined when I thought of Europe. The town is small and everything is very close together...from the shops to the church. Above all the shops are apartments. Some are very old looking with some great architecture.

I'm Here

Well, I arrived safe and sound to Spain on Wednesday. There were a few bumps along the way, but I survived. For instance, I almost missed my connecting flight in London. I had to take a 10min shuttle to my terminal. Heathrow airport is gigantic. Plus people there drive on the wrong side of the road. Very strange!! When I arrived in Barcelona my luggage was no where to be found. Apparently, it was all in London. :( Thankfully, the airport was able to ship it to the house the very next day. I must say I was a little worried it wouldn't arrive...then I would be without all my clothes and toilettries. Not something I wanted to happen. The family is amazing. They are all very nice and friendly. They treat me as if I am part of the family. The house is beautiful. I have my own room with a great view. Below is a picture of what I get to wake-up to everyday. The beach is very close. Today we went to to a close town that is by the water. We took a leisurely walk along the boardwalk. Everyone was out because there is a holiday today.

My Room

My View