The weeks leading up to today were full of doubts. It only takes one friend to tell you that 'you're crazy' to make you question your decisions. I convinced everyone, and myself, that I was brave enough to do it.. but I will admit that I had second thoughts regarding my ability to journey across the world to places I haven't been before, not understanding the language or having a trusted companion.However, it no longer matters what I thought leading up to my arrival. The reality of the situation is that I am here!
I flew over the patchwork quilt of Holland's farms and landed at Schiphol Airport. With only 45 minutes until my next flight, I skated through the gates to customs, smiling at everyone, everything and nothing. It was grey and hazy in Amsterdam and I found a small garden terrace where I quickly popped outside and breathed the air. With the country in my lungs, I could now say I was in Amsterdam. On the short flight, I sat next to two dutch businessmen who highlighted my ignorance of geography by asking me if I knew which city is the capital of Holland. I got the answer right (it's Amsterdam of course!) but was extremely unconfident. I was only in another country for an hour and already I was getting set up to look like a stupid American! I need to learn language AND geography. Two hours until my destination. At least I know what the capital of Spain is.
Despite not having any Euros, I got a train ticket and found my way from El Prat (the airport) to the city Barcelona. The train was like any other that you would find on the LIRR, the Long Island Railroad that I took to NYC growing up. It was dirty, covered in graffiti and people were asking for money. The graffiti was in Spanish of course and the beggars came in the form of an accordion player and a woman trying to sell you souvenir lighters with a slip of paper recounting a sob story about how her husband left her. I kept my backpack clenched between my knees and my purse against my chest and avoided eye contact as the travel guides instructed. I found the hostel without any problem and even saw a famous Gaudi building while en route! I checked in at 3, I'm sorry - 15:00, and had a wonderful day treking to Gaudi's Parc Guell and exploring the streets along the way. It's fantastic not having a schedule!! Curious about the church steeple peeking out behind a building two blocks down an alley way? Why not go check it out! I don't have to tell any one I am going left or right- I just go!
The hostel upgraded my room from a 6 bedroom to a 3 bedroom with a private bathroom. My bed is next to a terrace over looking the calle. It's rather luxurious for $25 a night and if ever in Barcelona, I highly recommend it. I'm sharing the room with an English woman, Jo, who has lived in Australia for the past 10 years and an Italian girl, Marta, who speaks absolutely no English or Spanish. For 6 Euros, I attended the hostel's Tapas night. Over sangria and a plate of fried finger foods I made friends with four dutch girls who invited me to go out with them. Over hostel made cocktails, they taught me some dutch and we chatted about silly differences between our native lands. In dutch, dank u means thank you and when they need an ATM they say they "have to go pin" . We met two stupid Canadians who claimed they'd never even heard of Holland and this made me feel much better about not being sure of it's capital. The girls and I went and drank beers for 1 euro at Ryan's, a nearby Irish pub. I met two American's who are studying abroad and they invited me to an "American Party" at the same bar on Thursday. I spent the evening speaking Spanish and meeting new people. It was only the tip of the iceberg but it was perfect.
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