TGFS

1. Attempt to post a blog entry at internet cafe. After 15 minutes of typing, realize that internet has shut down. Log off and lose post.
2. Get Dad's computer, go to Starbucks, and use free WiFi connection.
TGFS- Thank God For Starbucks.

Well, hello faithful Reader! I hope you've been enjoying this international adventure as much as I have. I am in Barcelona, Spain, and I arrived here last night, but more on that later. I have much to catch you up on!

On the last night of Granada, where I left off, after the Alhambra, we went to a nice dinner overlooking the whole castle and had quite a fun time. Anyways, we caught a taxi on the way home, and right before we arrived at our hotel, our driver decided that we needed to go see the festival for the celebration of Corpus Christy, which is a huge deal for Granada, so he took us to the fair grounds and we looked at all of the cool flamenco dancers and street performers. Interesting, but it would have been oodles more fun with friends.

So, the next morning, we headed off to Cuenca, which is an inland city with nothing really special about it, except these houses right on a cliff, which I didn't even see that well. On the car ride there, though, we stopped at various places that are mentioned in the uber-long book, Don Quixote. At around 8 we got into the Cuenca metro area, and before I explain what happened, please allow me to quote a popular advertising ploy:

Road map of Spain- 20 Euro
Gasoline per liter- 1.05 Euro
Cost per minute phone calls to hotel- 1 Euro
Getting to the hotel after 2 hours of going through Cuenca, taking the wrong highways, asking for directions every 5 minutes, and calling the hotel constantly- PRICELESS

not.

Ya, so at 10ish we arrive at our hotel, which happens to be in the middle of a valley, and barely get into the hotel in time for dinner. We were very very angry and we just needed to sleep, and we did... without AC. Needless to say, I will probably never go to Cuenca again. Ever.

Alright, so yesterday we woke up refreshed and ready for a new day, and left, glad to be out of that demon-town. We were off to Valencia, where an old friend of my dad lives. They met when they were both student teachers at a French university in Paris and hadn't seen each other in 25 years. So we meet them at the airport, and they (meaning he and his wife) are tiny people. very tiny. And also, he only speaks Spanish and French, she only speaks Spanish (as in not a single word of English). This, coupled with my mom's only language of English and me and my brothers only smattering of Spanish, was a recipe for disaster. It was a good thing that my dad knows all three languages quite well. It was quite funny to try and talk with the wife, though. Haha.

We all went out to see Valencia and go to lunch. Now, for lunch we had a Spanish specialty- Paella, which is a slow-cooked rice dish with various things in it. We got two- one with sea food and another with rabbit and snails. The snails were hard to eat, but still delicious. I like them more when they're soaked in garlic and butter, like in Paris. So, after that we went to this new complex of buildings called the Cuitat, which include and opera house and a couple museums. We visited the oceanographic one, which had seals and a dolphin show and stuff. Pretty sweet. Then it was time to leave, and we said our goodbyes and left for Barcelona.. at 8pm.

It took three hours to get to Barcelona, and my parents, as usual, took a wrong turn and got onto the wrong highway, putting us on the wrong side of the city. We had to get a policeman to let us follow him to close to the hotel. The key word of that sentence was "close", because it took another 30 minutes to get through the maze of people and one-way streets to get to our hotel.

Hotel.

Not. Welcome to the nightmare that was last night. We get into the hotel with all our luggage, get our keys, and go to the elevator. Or, "elevator", because this thing is ancient and I am afraid of dying in it. It's scary. So, we think "that's rustic" and look for our rooms. I think I shall bullet these points for you-

-No AC, and it is HOT and HUMID
-One electrical outlet- for the fan
-Serial Killer feeling

Now, you have to realize that we've been staying in 3 or 4 star hotel for the last week and a half. This is worse than a hostel, and we are staying here for 3 nights, longer than any other place. My mom was furious, and my dad was confused. It turns out, when we look on the sign, it's a one star hotel. One. I didn't even think they made those! So, it's really crappy and since it was booked by a travel agent, we've already paid for it. It's really creepy. Im sure I'll survive, though.

So, having not had dinner, my mom, dad and myself went out, got KFC for my little brother, and went out to have dinner at an outside cafe at 130AM. Let me tell you, there are some bizarre people who roam the Barcelona streets at those hours of the morning. Needless to say, I had a small amount of sleep last night, due to the African-like heat.

So, today we dropped off our laundry, and, as I just found out, we wont be getting it back until tomorrow, and I don't have any more shirts. I hate re-wearing clothes. Oh well, it's Spain, people smell even when they're wearing clean clothes! haha, burrn! Just kidding, I love the Spaniards!

We also walked around the city and looked at architecture, but that isn't interesting, so I wont bore you.

Well, that's all for now, the Spain game is on for the world cup! I'll be watching that, as will the whole country. But first, before I leave, here's a shoutout to SHANNON TIERNEY, my dear china-doll who is in Argentina, and undoubtedly doing a splendid job on her mission trip. Haller!

Adios, readers, thank you for your comments and loyalty.