Next, I ventured to the city center. Festes de la Mercè is happening this month (September), which is Barcelona's festival horning their patron saint (sorry that I didn't find out who that was, but I'm feeling too lazy to Google completely), so there a ton of things going on. I had a quick tapas dinner (see photo and also become my friend on Instagram for more like it) and then went to go check out the carrefoc (fire run). The carefoc was madness! It's this huuuuuuge parade and there are all of these pyrotechnics and fireworks and people dressed like devils and drumming, among other things. I got hopelessly lost trying to find it, but when I eventually did, it was super cool! Because I got there so late I couldn't see a lot (being 5'3.75" doesn't elevate you that much), but I could definitely hear. It was fun experience, but after a little I called it quits and went back to the hostel because I couldn't see much (and that's what YouTube is for thanks to the people up front!) and because I wanted to lie down after attempts at sleeping in cramped seated positions.
So the next day (that day being today) I woke up refreshed for a change! Funny how lying down and being able to stretch out can actually allow you to sleep. For some strange reason, jet lag rarely affects me, so I woke up good to go. I took my time getting ready/physically out of bed because I didn't have too much that I really needed to accomplish. I made a to-do list and accomplished 2 of 3 things. My To-Do List: 1) Go to Barclays to withdraw money. Accomplished! Most countries are not like the US where you can use your card for most things (true life: I've used my card to purchase things that are under 50cents before). Cash is the preferred option. I bank with Bank of America and Schwab. Schwab is awesome and they don't take out ATM fees, but I'm still waiting on a check to clear so I don't currently have any money to take out. I have money in my BoA account, but if I use any ATM that I see, I may get charged additional fees. When I initially contacted BoA and told them I was going to Spain, they told me that they didn't have any Spanish sister banks. Buuuuuut luckily I also asked them what all of their sister banks around the world are. Turns out, they are aligned with Barclays. Barclays is a British bank, but there are a TON in Spain that I've found, so yay!!! Long story short: I got cash without paying additional bank fees! Also, my advice to you is to ask what all of your bank's sister banks are. 2) Get a SIM card/phone plan. Yep! As I wrote before, I was traveling overseas with an already unlocked smartphone. In this day and age, I don't think I can go back to using a "dumb" phone in such a technologically forward country. The phone was a gift from my dad (thanks, padre!!) and is an iPhone 3GS. It runs on the GSM network, which means that I can put any SIM card in that uses that network and have service. I was initially trying to find a Vodaphone, but didn't end up finding one, which was no big deal. Instead, I went to Orange. I have an official Spanish phone number with a data plan for €8,95/month. I get 1GB of data, which should be more than enough for me. I'm not quite sure what the phone call/text part of the deal was (ask someone more tech savvy how it works), but that's quite alright because I plan to use WhatsApp to "text" for free via data and not a whole lot else on my phone besides maybe Instagram/Snapchat. Also, I plan on taking advantage of WiFi (say it like the Spanish! Say "Wee Fee"!) when I can. 3) Map out directions/route to the university where my orientation will be. Nope, didn't do this. It was raining and I had had enough wandering for the day. Possibly if it wasn't raining/I didn't have all my stuff from my adventures earlier. Probably should do this tomorrow. Throughout the day I also had lunch (at this make-your-own noodle wok combo place), wandered for a little near Plaça de Sants, and bought some granola bars, wine, and a corkscrew. All of that and this is the conclusion I've come to: it's really lonely not having friends. I'm sure I will make them eventually, but so far I've just been spending time all by lonesome. Refreshing at times, but also difficult to do forever. The internet also rarely helps because you get online and you look at everyone else having the time of their lives, which is all I currently want to be doing. So with all that, I am signing off to read my book. I may not be making friends just yet (I mean, I've been here for slightly over 24hours...), but it will come. Instead of aimlessly searching and learning about every single thing every single person I've ever met in life is currently doing, I'm disengaging for a little and delving into a good book (full disclosure: the book I'm currently reading is actually not that good and hopefully gets better, but I always make it a point to finish every book I start with the only exception being 50 Shades of Grey because that was actually HORRENDOUS). I'm also having a glass or few of wine because this is wine country and who am I if I don't delve into local culture?? Adios and hasta pasta! TTYL Oh, and I might update with another post on what/how I packed sometime later!
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