Friday April 22nd : Day of Departure
Phase One: WALKING So like I stated in the blog prior that I my train was at 4:12 in the morning, meaning the buses do not run that early- meaning I have to walk. Well I started my trek, I want to say I set out at about 3:40 just to make sure I made it in time. But as I was rounding the first corner, a taxi whips by in the other direction, clearly I just ignored it and kept on trekkin away. But then like 2 min later the taxi whips back up besides me this time coming from behind and honks his horn, rolls down the window and says Hallloooo... lol so I said hallo back.. Then the conversation proceeded like this:
Are you walking to Sudbahnhof?
Yes
Do you want a ride?
How much is it?
Free Free
so I gladly got in and then the convo continued-
Are you traveling for Easter
Yes - I am going to Barcelona
Oh you are spanish? You have family there?
No- just visiting. thank you so much for the ride
Not a problem- Have a good /safe travel
Thanks happy Easter
Thank you - same to you.
Mind you it was all in German after having like no sleep... lol and it was perfect & the guy was extremely nice it saved me walking in the dark streets to Sudbahnhof at 3:50 in the morning. It was a good way to start my trip :)
Phase two: TRAIN
Anywho- I then waited for the train, Karen the girl I was traveling with was getting on at the main station so we said we would meet up in Frankfurt. So I got on and found a seat and tried to fall asleep sadly- that did not work and I just ended up staring out the window in the black abyss. We then arrived in Frankfurt and I found Karen as we were leaving the train. Then we were off to the next phase!
Phase Three: RYAN AIR BUS
For those of you who don't know much abut the cheap airfare over here in Europe - there is an airline called Ryan air. I have used it maybe once before this time- b/c it can kind of be a pain. But anyway I think I may have mentioned it before that the Ryan air airport claims that it is in Frankfurt.. well Frankfurt Hahn - so naturally we have to take a 2 hour bus to get to the airport from the main train station. Which now costs 13 Euros per way. (it used to be 12) so we climb aboard - grab some seats way in the back and basically just chill out and talk - getting excited about our trip!! Cuz it was finally here. [I still can't believe it has come and gone already]
Well we waited patiently for our flight and then when it was called upon we rushed to get some seats. The flight was pretty full - oh also with Ryan air the seats are not a signed so it is a free for all. So you literally take the seat you want- which is pretty cool but also makes for a hectic boarding line - b/c everyone wants to be first!! Well the flight went well, I grabbed a seat next to the window and was able to capture some cool pictures while we were landing. So I guess I will share them with you :) Btw - we landed in Valencia! Phase Five: Metro/Train
Now that we had made it to Valencia - traveling is over right.. WRONG - we were on our way to Barcelona, Valencia was merely a stop on the way. So we had to jump on a metro and head to the main station in Valencia. We then bought a ticket to Barcelona. Not cheap I may add and it was a 3 hour train ride. Which all the traveling was starting to add up and all we wanted to do was get there and relax and mb grab some food. My stomach was rumbling by now. Even with the PB & Banana sandwich I packed & the Oranges. Well anywho.. we got on the train and made it to Barcelona.
Phase Six: Metro/Walking/Checking in
From there we had to go on another metro to a stop nearby our hostel - supposedly. Which I mean in the long run it was only like a 10 min walk but when you are exhausted and just want to sit down and rest - it can feel like forever. But eventually we found the street that our hostel was on.... but we just could not find our hostel. so we wandered and wandered until we ran into some German Ladies who were looking for the same hostel. Together we found it- only bad part was that - NO ONE was there to check us in!!!!! & there was a sign on the door that said call if Emergency - so we did but the phone rang behind the door - so tell me how good that does us. Later we discovered a note that said we will be back at 9:00. That was it, we did not know if that meant am/pm. But we took our chances and decided to get something to eat while we were waiting seeing as it was 7 o'clock and we were hungry and exhausted. So we found a place to eat, enjoyed it and found out that you don't have to tip in Spain- Yes!! lol I was a bit excited about that and Tap water was free... and they don't make a fuss about you ordering it. Around 9 we made it back to the "hostel" but the person was still not there. By this time we were joined by the 2 German ladies, 2 people form Spain, and 2 others. It was quite a crowd waiting to be checked in. Finally around 9:30 he arrived. We checked in.. and we even had difficulties with that. On the website it said towels were free so we didn't bring any - the guy tried to tell me that it was only for private rooms.. but me being me persisted and said that's not what the website said so we got our towels - Point me! Then we went up to our room - [we reserved a 4 person room] We were in a 6 person room....so Karen and I went down and asked.. well Karen did the talking I was off looking at things to do. But we got a total of 12 euros back 6 each. Score us! Thank goodness. Then seeing as we had been up and traveling since around 3:00 we decided it would be best to call it a night. So we hit the showers and then relaxed - awaiting an early morning to start exploring!
DAY TWO - BARCELONA <3
First thing on our to do list - was eat breakfast. It was not a bad breakfast- toast, cereal, jam. All good things. When we were satisfied we were off to hit the road. The main goal of the day - well for me at least see the the Sagrada Familia that my sister oh so loves so much! <3 We did a lot of walking this day - well mainly b/c we walked EVERYWHERE - not complaining but my feet were not to big of fans lol. 
Anyways we made our way to the famous church where we came upon a HUGE line!!!! I tried to grasp a picture of it but - it did not work out to well. We also found out that the tours were going to be closed until 3 - so we figured we would head to the park first and then hit the church on the way back. So we were off again - walk walk walk! We made it to the park - I like to call it Gaudi's park - but I am pretty sure there is a different name but I like my name lol :) Anyways the architecture was just awesome! I loved it the tiling and the colors = :D
Yes I am a sucker for arts and I think my sister said it best when she said it felt like you were in Candy land. and to be honest If i had to picture candy Land - It would be quite similar to what I experienced. So while in Candy land we came across some musicians - a one man band and a Hand drum - Both are way cool my friend Karen bought the Cd's so I will be borrowing them from here to get the music - again way cool!
Enjoy the Videos & I will post pictures of Candy land :)
Well anyways once finished with the park we started heading back to the church - hitting up the souvenir shops on the way and also looking for something to eat. We did find a place to eat and we both tried the Spanish Tortilla. Quite interesting - I liked it, couldn't eat it everyday but I liked it anyways :) Oh we also had tomato bread - it was a Tapa or appetizer - interesting again but way to much tomato for me lol
Finally we are at the church the line has dwindled to mainly nothing - but then we are informed that the towers are not open :( bummer but we decided we should still go in and see it - and man was it worth it. The inside reminded me of a forest - just like they predicted/hoped it would. so much detail into one building no wonder why its not finished in all its gorgeousness. When I was there I was just thinking how awesome it would be - when it is finally done to have a church ceremony there or a wedding or a baptism. It just would be an awesome experience to be engulfed in this awesomeness to experience such an event! I will show some pictures I hope it can do it justice!
The next day we were off to Valencia- I think I will dedicate that to a new blog - this one is far to long to continue :)
Looks and sounds like you had a great adventure! Very glad you were able to go. :)
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