I write to you from a computer lab full of students in denial that school continues beyond spring break. Phrases such as ´the paper is do WHEN?!´ and ´the coffee machine is back and running SCORE!´ echos the hallways of a very vacant campus. While homework load is plentiful and work accomplished scant, most of the student body boasts glowing tans that push them farther into the category of potential locals.
This past weekend I made the pilgrimage all the way to Barcelona ( it took me all of three John Mayer songs before the stewardess told me we were preparing for landing) to stay with Erika Gates a fellow Aphi and visit with Taylor O´Sullivan another phi bear abroad. Aside from the morning dose of emails I receive via cell regarding the need for additional Skit rehearsals or if anyone found the lost pair of Tory Burch sandals someone left at retreat I have been so removed from Alpha Phi that it was both surprising and astonishing how quickly I went back into ´the fraternity did WHAT at their formal?!´ alongside endless OMG accomanying squeels. My IQ likely dropped a few points but it was worth it to feel right at home in a very foreign country. Anyone who has ever made my acquaintence should be only to well aware of my affections for laying out and beach runs so when Erika promised the weather to be sunny and hot I all too quickly obliterated any previous schedule and directed us to the nearest beach. We spent the next two days tomabamos el sol and since my precious ghostly complexion had not be introduced to anything more than partly cloudy fine lines were drawn red against white. I looked like an american flag minus the blue. Each day after we faced hours of shameless vendors asking us if we would like 5 dollar massages, cerveca, or illegal substances we would make our way to the open market adjacent to Erika´s apartment. For one euro you could purchase a pineapple coconut smoothie that would change your life and if you didnt grope the fruit to see which ones were best ( i was scolded in many a foreign language) purchase a weeks groceries dirt cheap. This treasure along with the discovery of a raw nut vendor was etherial bliss in my book. We ended the day with a viewing of the Magic Fountain in front of the Royal Palace where time stood still as we waited for it to get dark enough to see the florescent colors cascading through the shooting water accompanied by an amusingly poor cut remix of songs from the 80s and early 90s including ¨I Gotta Get Through This¨ followed by ¨Bootylicious¨. Destiny´s Child is not dead in Spain.
On the second night I had the pleasure of accompanying Erika to one of her plethora of jobs as the shot girl at a local Irish Pub called George Paynes. Essentially I should receive compensation for that night because from the hours of 11 to 2 am i was Erika´s wingwoman in convincing barely english speaking customers that although they already had consumed numerous beers and had little idea what we were saying they should buy some unrecognizably labeled vodka. Erika did very well that night.
On my last day in the beautiful beach town we strolled around looking at the art of Gaudi in such locations as La Sagrada Familia. My only knowledge of the landscape and culture of the city came from a bad viewing of Woody Allen´s ´Vicky Cristina Barcelona´ in which both me and my friend Molly passed out leaving the ending a mystery and our highly acclaimed review two thumbs down. I´m sure if I saw it again I would pay attention this time because when youre not looking at the art through the eyes of Woody Allen and rather your own its quite breathtaking. The buildings resembled underground sand castles similar to those found in The Little Mermaid and scary Nightmare Before Christmaseque skeletal detailing that went up into the sky forever. We ended the night with a Rachael Ray impersonation of on my part, attempting a home cooked meal of veggies ( the only thing I can make) with barely any ingredients. Erika and the roommates devoured it but I think they were happy to see anything other than pasta on their plate. Even though I only had minimal time in the laid back culturally drenched city of art and music it wasn´t hard to see why people flip when they talk about visiting BarTHelona. Woody Allen didn´t do it justice.
The W Hotel
The Magic Fountain
La Sagrada Familia by Gaudi
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