Ken and Susie in Barcelona, volcanoes and more!

Oy. I am sitting here in my apartment in Barcelona with my roommate Lindsay and all I can think about is that I should be on the beach in Nice right now! Unfortunately, my travel plans, along with so many others, were screwed up this weekend because of the volcano in Iceland. So far Spain is still safe and fine, but no one knows what is going to happen or when the volcano will stop erupting. I really hate this feeling of uncertainty, the feeling of being trapped.I know it could be worse. I am so grateful I am safe in Barcelona. I feel terrible for all the people stranded, all the people alone. Still, I am praying my plans to go to Berlin on Thursday don't get messed up, but it isn't looking too good. As long as I can get home to the U.S. okay I'll be fine...

Anyways, I will write about my last week here, which was really great. It started on Thursday when I met Ken and Susie for dinner. They had spent a few days in Madrid (and loved it!) before coming to Barcelona, where they stayed for the next six days. It was lovely seeing them. They are really like a second mom and dad to me and I feel all warm inside whenever I'm with them. On Friday, I went to the Dali Museum and to the city of Girona with CEA. The Dali Museum was unlike any museum I have ever been to! Let's just say that the entire top of the building was covered in giant eggs sculptures! It was so bizarre, but totally cool and worth it. That night, I met up with Sabrina and Denisse and we went to the big L'Ovella Negra and had a great time.

On Saturday, I met back up with Ken and Susie. It was Susie's birthday! I was so touched to be included in the celebrations. Of course, I had to show them the Boqueria, where we began our day before renting bikes. It was the nicest day here since I've been in Barcelona and so refreshing to be outside. We then went to the Cituadella Park, where I listened to music and took a peaceful nap. For dinner, we did it up big at the Majestic Hotel for Susie's birthday. It was the fanciest dinner I have ever been to!

It was another gorgeous day on Sunday, so we decided to spend it at Sitges. It was probably only about 70 degrees, but that didn't stop hundreds of people from sunbathing in their bathing suits (or topless) on the beaches. I was pretty surprised, because while it was incredibly nice, I didn't think it was beach weather. I think everyone was just so thrilled that it was sunny and warm after such a long and rainy winter. We had a great paella lunch and then headed back to Barcelona where we ate some cake on the roof of the hotel for Susie's birthday. What a great backdrop! After that, we did some exploring. It's funny that although I feel I walk and see so much here, I guess I usually walk the same few paths. With Ken and Susie, we walked in different directions and on all these new streets that I've never been on. This city is so big. I swear you could find something new every single day. We ended up going inside and up top of La Perdera, another one of Gaudi's fabulous works. They never cease to amaze me.

On Monday night, Lindsay and I went to the opera. It was both of our first experiences at the opera. Her dad had gotten her two tickets for her birthday and she chose me to go with her! I was very flattered. Thank you! It was a German opera and was four hours long. We had incredible box seats. The opera was divided into three acts. The first act we just watched and listened to in German, before Lindsay discovered during the first intermission that there were little screens in front of us that provided us with the English subtitles! Oh how the subtitles helped. It was quite long, but I ended up really, really enjoying it. I loved the message of two wrongs don't make a right. Otherwise, a bad cycle will just continue on forever. I hope this will not be my last experience at the opera.

Tuesday I met up with Ken and Susie for one last dinner. I was sad to see them go, but so happy and honored that they came. Wednesday, Sabrina and I went to the Champagneria which was a ton of fun, and full of Spanish people. A very authentic experience! On Thursday, I got coffee with Melissa and dinner with Barrie. I was supposed to leave early Friday for Nice, but seeing as how that didn't happen, Lindsay and I had an enjoyable day that consisted of going to a Labyrinth Park and exploring gardens that reminded me a lot of the Alcazar Gardens in Seville that I loved. Who woulda known? No one ever talks about this park. It is a hidden gem. Haha. I did get a little lost in the labyrinth though. We then went to the movies to see Up in the Air, which I very much liked. Today, I met Barrie for brunch at Milk and had some blueberry pancakes. I didn't realize how much I missed pancakes. Tomorrow will be a lazy day full of work and rest and possibly the Cituadella park.

Please everyone pray that this volcano mess passes and that everyone's plans can continue on!