So week four was an interesting one, like I said in my last post this week marked our trip to Barcelona. I was really looking forward to this trip and the whole week was pretty much just a buildup to going. Our internships were cut to only 3 days because we were flying out on Thursday night, so it went by quite fast this week. while the extra time was great to have especially when traveling to another part of Spain I wish we have more time with our internships working with the amazing people we do work with on a daily basis. The kids we work with every day are fantastic and I will miss working with them. Every day is a chance to try and teach each other something new that will last when this internship is over, and we are home. When I think of the opportunity we have had here I go back to the first blog, the connections that you make with people are what is going to last. Yes the culture and the food and buildings are amazing but it is people that makes those things what they are, that one of the reasons why this last week here I Spain is going to one of mixed emotions. On one hand I’m going to miss this place and the people here like crazy but on the other hand I am looking forward to being home for the first time in a long time and just enjoy being in a place I know better than anywhere else in the world. It feels like only yesterday that we were arriving in Granada, now in the blink of an eye were a month in and we now know people from the community and how to get from place to place without a second thought. It will be amazing to be home but I will never forget Granada. That also includes Barcelona which was an experience I will probably never forget, while it was amazing to be in a new place the differences between Barcelona and Granada were noticeable from the minute we stepped off the plane to the minute we left, it is a much bigger city than Granada and with that many more people. The people of Barcelona move with more pace than Granada, there is more going on and more to see. Obviously only being there for three days is not enough time to really get to know a city that large. If we were to be doing our internship in Barcelona instead of Granada and we had visited Granada I am sure that I would have a difference in opinion over which I preferred more just like I do with Barcelona. it is a wonderful city don’t get me wrong but after so much time in Granada it is obvious that Granada is almost like a second home now.
In Barcelona we had the chance to see the famous Sagrada Familia church that even after over a 100 year of construction is still not finished. Antoli Gaudi was tasked with the design and creation of this enormous structure that would at completion dwarf almost any other building in Barcelona. to stand by it really is breathtaking I would have never guessed something that large would have such intricate detail to almost every square inch. Every part of the outside is covered with carvings and designs meant to depict the bible and the life of Jesus Christ and it is amazing to say the least. We also had the chance to go to park guell and see a little more of Gaudis work. Again It was amazing, his style is so unique and unusual in a way, there are no straight edges everything is a curve or twist and yet it all somehow comes together to create a structure that holds together. The views from park Guell were pretty amazing as well.
Other things we saw in Barcelona were the beach and the downtown area, thousands of people going about their daily business. The beach was fantastic especially at night when temperature was just right and the view down the coast was perfect. For everything good though there was a little bad about my experience in Barcelona, for one I got pick pocketed getting on the metro, luckily enough someone noticed and intervened so I got my wallet back but still the whole experience made me realize I need to be more careful, not the Barcelona is a dangerous place or anything like that because pickpockets are everywhere I’m sure there are some in my small hometown. It just showed me that you really can never be to carful and that just being conscious of your surroundings is so important. I was one of the lucky ones to get my wallet back however and for that I am thankful. Overall this week was a reminder that travel comes with consequences and to just be aware of them and be prepared. I cannot believe we only have a week left here, it’s going to fly by I know so I’m just going to try and enjoy every minute of it.
