The IES center is located right at the Plaça Catalunya, a super busy and well-known square in Barcelona. There are always tons of people out and about because there is so much to do! Shopping, eating, drinking, people watching, feeding the pigeons... there are so many pigeons. Probably more pigeons than people, and that's saying something because there are A LOT of people.
The Plaça is really super easily accesible--All roads lead to this plaza, despite what anyone might say about Rome! (; From my home stay, I can walk to the metro station, and 4 stops later I am there. There are some GORGEOUS fountains surrounded by gorgeous flowers and some really cool statues. The architecture is so cool because it varies so much-- one building is an old gothic or roman type building and right next to it you have a much more modern one. I can already tell that this city is one full of rich history and culture and I get the chills just thinking about how old it is. The contrast is just incredible. After my orientation session with IES, I spent some time walking around the smaller streets with some friends and bobbing in and out of the shops. It's so nice!! (wow, Marcela, learn some new adjectives..).
We then had to go to our welcome ceremony at the University of Barcelona, such a beautiful beautiful school located a short walk away. It has existed for several centuries and the room we were in was covered in Renaissance era paintings and tapestries, stain-glass windows, gold leaf, and so many intricate details. The American Consulate came and talked to us, as well as a Mosso (what they call the local police). Afterward, my friends and I stepped into an outdoor bar for a quick refreshing drink. Gabby and Katie ordered Rose wine, while Julia and I ordered something called a Clara which I think is typical and popular here. It is a mixed drink-- equal parts beer and lemon Fresca.
A bit later in the evening our RA Klea took us out for tapas and to explore the city a little more. Spaniards eat dinner very late- starting at 9 or 10 pm-- and afterwards go to a bar for drinks, and generally spend time still just hanging out on the streets and bars. Afterward, anyone who is willing (and not tired) goes to the clubs, which typically start getting full around 1:30 or 2 am, whereas in the US clubs typically close at around 2 am. The party goes all night! Crazy! Anywho, back to the tapas... They are delicious. I had heard them mentioned so many times but did not know what they were until I got to the designated place. A tiny room, probably the size of a bedroom if not a bit larger, filled with people. Limited seating space so most people stand. The food bar, where there are lots of plates on 2 shelves with different types of tapas-- so much variety! Tapas are basically stacks of food held together by toothpicks, and this place charges 1 euro per tapa so you count the toothpicks at the end and then pay. Usually it's a piece of bread (not sandwich bread but more like a baguette style), topped with anything from serrano ham and cheese, to salmon, to avocado and shrimp, to fish, to cream cheese and nuts... you name it and they probably got it. Alternately, there are also little fried balls with different fillings such as potato, ham and cheese, meat, mushrooms.... delicious. Everything delicious, and it's so funny that we eat standing up, and with no cutlery!
After the tapas, we walked around with Klea and stopped at a little ice cream and "granizado" shop. Granizado is basically an iced beverage and comes in a a couple of flavors, including lemon and horchata (note-- spanish horchata is NOT the same as mexican horchata, but still very very good. Spanish horchata is made out of a nut base, whereas Mexican horchata is made with rice). It is also common to mix them and I got horchata and lemon mixed, which tasted surprisingly good! It reminded me of the mexican dessert "pastel de limon" which is made with lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and Maria cookies. We walked around some more and hung out at the MACBA, the modern art museum. A lot of skaters come here with their boards, and some people just hang out on the steps. Its all really cool, and I plan on coming back during museum operating hours to explore the art.
The Plaça is really super easily accesible--All roads lead to this plaza, despite what anyone might say about Rome! (; From my home stay, I can walk to the metro station, and 4 stops later I am there. There are some GORGEOUS fountains surrounded by gorgeous flowers and some really cool statues. The architecture is so cool because it varies so much-- one building is an old gothic or roman type building and right next to it you have a much more modern one. I can already tell that this city is one full of rich history and culture and I get the chills just thinking about how old it is. The contrast is just incredible. After my orientation session with IES, I spent some time walking around the smaller streets with some friends and bobbing in and out of the shops. It's so nice!! (wow, Marcela, learn some new adjectives..).
We then had to go to our welcome ceremony at the University of Barcelona, such a beautiful beautiful school located a short walk away. It has existed for several centuries and the room we were in was covered in Renaissance era paintings and tapestries, stain-glass windows, gold leaf, and so many intricate details. The American Consulate came and talked to us, as well as a Mosso (what they call the local police). Afterward, my friends and I stepped into an outdoor bar for a quick refreshing drink. Gabby and Katie ordered Rose wine, while Julia and I ordered something called a Clara which I think is typical and popular here. It is a mixed drink-- equal parts beer and lemon Fresca.
A bit later in the evening our RA Klea took us out for tapas and to explore the city a little more. Spaniards eat dinner very late- starting at 9 or 10 pm-- and afterwards go to a bar for drinks, and generally spend time still just hanging out on the streets and bars. Afterward, anyone who is willing (and not tired) goes to the clubs, which typically start getting full around 1:30 or 2 am, whereas in the US clubs typically close at around 2 am. The party goes all night! Crazy! Anywho, back to the tapas... They are delicious. I had heard them mentioned so many times but did not know what they were until I got to the designated place. A tiny room, probably the size of a bedroom if not a bit larger, filled with people. Limited seating space so most people stand. The food bar, where there are lots of plates on 2 shelves with different types of tapas-- so much variety! Tapas are basically stacks of food held together by toothpicks, and this place charges 1 euro per tapa so you count the toothpicks at the end and then pay. Usually it's a piece of bread (not sandwich bread but more like a baguette style), topped with anything from serrano ham and cheese, to salmon, to avocado and shrimp, to fish, to cream cheese and nuts... you name it and they probably got it. Alternately, there are also little fried balls with different fillings such as potato, ham and cheese, meat, mushrooms.... delicious. Everything delicious, and it's so funny that we eat standing up, and with no cutlery!
After the tapas, we walked around with Klea and stopped at a little ice cream and "granizado" shop. Granizado is basically an iced beverage and comes in a a couple of flavors, including lemon and horchata (note-- spanish horchata is NOT the same as mexican horchata, but still very very good. Spanish horchata is made out of a nut base, whereas Mexican horchata is made with rice). It is also common to mix them and I got horchata and lemon mixed, which tasted surprisingly good! It reminded me of the mexican dessert "pastel de limon" which is made with lime juice, sweetened condensed milk, and Maria cookies. We walked around some more and hung out at the MACBA, the modern art museum. A lot of skaters come here with their boards, and some people just hang out on the steps. Its all really cool, and I plan on coming back during museum operating hours to explore the art.
So glad you're having an amazing time! The school looks beautiful! I'm so jealous! It's insane how late everything starts; I was at a bar last weekend and last call was at 1:30 am. Your pictures are once again incredible and I can't wait to see more! Miss you oodles and noodles!
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