Birthdays are the tops. Especially other peoples'. But for me anyway, it seems like every year, my birthday just never comes. Because I'm either gone or everyone else is.
BUT NOT THIS YEAR! Alas, my friends, my 19th birthday, was BY FAR, the best one yet:)
Having finished my gothic architecture final a mere 30 minutes before our taxi picked us up, we were off to Barcy before I knew it, and I LOVED it that way. We flew with RyanAir, which is basically lima beans mixed with pop quizzes and a dash of a hangnail. AKA--the worst. But we landed. So I can't complain too much! We breathed in the humidity and inhaled bliss.
As we walked into our hostel we were greeted by loud Spanish music, people running all over the place, the smell of seafood, BRIGHT VIBRANT colors, and a sweet guy bedecked with a sombrero, clown nose, Harry Potter glasses, and bubbles-- his name is Philipe and he was our hostel homie (he ran the place), navigator, recommendeer, and dear friend. He was actually the first person to wish me a happy birthday--
The girls and I then toasted to paella CRAWLING with all sorts of creatures that we all took bites of, and even named that giant shrimp "Floyd"-- thanks Brookie:)
The night ended atop the roof of the hostel, overlooking the Barcelona city, while the girls whispered sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I got chills, as I felt so, so loved. Chauntel, Jen, Giselle, Jenessa, and Brooke-- thank you ladies, for making me feel so darn worthwhile!
NOW MY ACTUAL BIRTHDAY was spent exploring, embracing, and enjoying the Barcelona streets! We hit up La Rambla, like every good tourist does! We went to the World's largest fresh market and had the best darn beverage I ever had partaken of! Freshly made coconut and papaya juice!
We had gelato TWICE, ate the yummiest, flavorest (word invention necessary) meals ever! EVERYTHING, absolutely EVERYTHING, in Barcelona screamed "VIBRANCY." The sounds, the colors, the accents, the street performers-- everything! Here are some quintessential Barcy pics:
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Our lovely companion for lunch:) |
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SOOO Barcelona-- just a great picture, right? |
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the beautiful walkway:) |
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had to:) |
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I LOVE THE BARCELONA PIER! (not edited one bit:) |
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The lovely women:) We decided. Our next reunion trip?? Greece. 2017. |
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Love me some Barcelona sunset. |
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NOWWWW. The best part of my entire day. We went to this magic "fontaine" show that everyone had been raving about. As we get there, we find the HOARDS of people that had the same idea we did! The music was loud, so rightfully so, I danced my best boogie, feelin' very Barcelona at heart. It was like midnight, we were gettin' soaked, the colors were changin' and gorgeous. Mercy, I can't even describe it. I just remember lookin' around at mah ladies, soakin' it all in (more than just the water:) |
So this is me. 19 and countin'. Lovin' the Barcy feeling. Feelin' blessed beyond imagination. Life is SOO good to us. We just have to be willing to try it:) Because remember, THIS IS THE YES TRIP. 
EXPLORE the many different gelato options. Yes, there's your fav, and of course they're going to have plain vanilla, but hey! You might just wanna give yourself a self-fist-bump when you discover a new favorite flavor! I mean I was fist-bumpin myself left and right when I found that coconut and nutella is like CHRISTMAS together!
EMBRACE the fact that if you're on a special trip, that you might not ever come back there again. So please, for your sake and my own, LIVE IT UP. Do the most that you can. That way you can walk away completely, entirely fulfilled. (I was really aided in this cause because my sweet Jenessa is the BEST TRAVEL BUDDY ever! She gets you from Point A to Point B soooo darn efficiently, while ensuring you hit up all of the good stuff, and still have time to stop and smell the flowers:)
ENJOY every, and I mean EVERY, opportunity you're granted to feel, simply but perfectly put, free. Even if it means getting soaked. ESPECIALLY if it means getting soaked.
I reached fulfillment in Barcelona, folks. I'm still thirsty and eager for more! To push myself further, to try new foods I can't pronounce, to say YES to new things, and to be thrown into a pot of boiling water (metaphorically speaking, of course) so I can just explore, embrace, and enjoy the culture!
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