Viva España !

I arrived in Barcelona on the 7th of October, just in case you're getting a little lost with time tracking here. Surprisingly, I managed to find my way to the hostel very easily and checked in expecting to find Red Mel, who was flying in from London to meet me.

Yet again, our amazing ability to plan and communicate details between eachother and left us both not knowing where the other was in a foreign country at 10 o'clock at night. Internet connection was lousy and our iphones weren't working so we both headed to our favourite fast food joint and hoped that we would find eachother whilst downing a burger and fries. Unforunately, Mel and I have a difference of opinion of the best place to get greasy food. Mine being McDonalds, Mels being Burger King. Both these places are situated right beside eachother on the main road 'La Rambla' in Spain. That's right. For a good hour or so, Red Mel and I were sitting less than 100m away from eachother hoping that some miracle would lead us to find eachother in Spain.

In the words of Myra - Miracles happen and we were eventually reunited at the bar (haha where else) at our hostel. The first night in Spain was spent catching up on four weeks worth of sarcasm and gossip and drinking the ridiculously cheap alocohol that Spain has to offer.

Waking up in Spain the next morning was like a dream. We lazily got up and had our shitty buffet breakfast before making the long walk down La Ramba to the main beach - Barceloneta. After setting up our spot on the sand with some deckchairs and an umbrella we very quickly decided that this was the life for us.

I could get used to this

 However, not too long after we had started to feel the weight of the world being lifted off our shoulders (because we were sooooo stressed after all) and the sun had started to warm our freakishly pale skin, we realized that this may not be the sort of beach we'd want to spend the majority of our time at whilst in Barcelona.

Not unless we were into nakedness and old people sunbathing topless.

Yeah.. all the beaches in Barcelona are optional nudist ones. And whilst I have no problem with people doing what ever they like in their spare time, I prefer to keep my bathers firmly tied on and not to see lots and lots (read - too much wrinkly skin) whilst at the beach.




Nevertheless, we managed to find some spots on the sand that weren't inundated with topless women and bottomless men and enjoyed the rest of our day lazing about in the sun drinking and eating.

the first of many

The next three days in Barcelona were spent in a very similar fashion. Essentially my time in the famous city was spent eating, sleeping, relaxing on the sand, drinking and clubbing at the amazing 6 level 'discos' they have.







After spending a toturous nine hours waiting overnight at the airport, we flew into Madrid on Friday morning. I really want to emphasis that I love the relazed attitude towards smuggling items onto planes in Spain as it meant that I was able to get my Swiss Army knife in my hand bag through security because I had forgot to put it in my luggage. Red Mel on the otherhand had her hand luggage searched because she was carrying a purse full of very dangerous and illicit change on board hahah

making milk intensly more fun

Madrid was a much more lazy city (if that' even possible!) than Barcelona so there isn't much to do during the day. Red Mel and spent a fair time at McDonalds (I have to say Spain, your nuggets and fries are actually in the running to overtake Italy!) and even more perfecting our skills at Spanish tradition of siestas.


We also spent a few hours grocery shopping in Madrid because they legit have everything. Including 3kg boxes of Nequik, just in case you run out.








 Night time is the time to be awake in Madrid and we saw much of the city by moonlight.
We went to a flamenco show, where we were wowed by their incredibly fast movements and lively music.
We went on a pub crawl of the best pubs and clubs around Madrid where for a hefty price of 12 euros you can get 1L of sangria and 3 shots of tequila (aka heaven).
And we went to the FIFA World Cup qualifiers where we watched Spain and France smash it out, only to see in the last minute France score a goal bringing it to a draw (much to Spain's disgust).
 

France Vs Spain

Sadly, after ten days in the warm Spanish sun it was time to return to reality and say goodbye to the beaches, sangria and relaxing way of life.










I am back in London now, settling into my new house and new job. I will be sure to update you on everything as soon as I stop reminiscing of the smell of the salty air and the warm breeze as I slept on the beach out of my head and start enjoying the sound of the pitter-patter of English rain on my window huge bedroom windows.