Barcelona is the biggest destination in Spain for travelers and tourists alike. There's got to be something it's doing right! I had a great time here with Victor (who I met in Madrid), and 4 new friends I made while in Barcelona. The only thing I can say against Barcelona is that I've heard that while it's a great place to visit, it's a rotten place to live. That's second hand of course...

I met up with Victor by chance and we headed to Barcelona.  We showed up and quickly met some Canadian girls who we followed to a hostel.  The hostel was right on La Ramblas and had a cool nightclub feel on the first floor, so I didn't mind that I had to barter for my room rates.  However, this was the most infuriating hostel I've stayed at.  They charged for everything from sheets, to blankets, to a plastic cup.  I suspect the employees were not paid, and were told to make their money by surcharging guests for everything.  This may sound unlikely to Americans, but things are just different there.  I was spared the sewage smell emanating from the bathroom, but those sleeping anywhere near, found it unbearable.  Upstairs in our unlocked room (permanently broken door) we discovered about 30 British blokes celebrating a stag party (bachelor party).  These guys were very well trashed, and livened things up by throwing bottles around and breaking a window.  Victor and I passed on their invite to a strip club, and went in search of another hostel for the following nights.

Another Canadian, Kristin, was staying at a great hostel, so we went to say hi and check the place out.  It was settled that we'd switch hostels the next day.  Back at the crap hostel we met some Oregon college students who'd been studying in Germany for the semester.  They were cool, and when we bumped into them twice on the streets of Barcelona the next day, we knew it was a sign.  They also switched hostels, and though we got bounced around to a completely different hostel, there were the Oregonians!  So obviously we had to start hanging out.  Molly, Kelly, Nick, and Matt appreciated the same kind of cheap travel, and good times that Victor and I do, so our first priority was anything FREE.  Consequently, there was much walking, beach lounging, and park visiting.  We made an exception on Kelly's birthday where we found an excellent, but incredibly cheap, restaurant in the main square.  After 3 or 4 courses, and plenty of beer and wine, we made the somewhat drunk decision to get a bottle of wine EACH, and wander the back streets of the gothic area.  Well, as it goes, one drink turned into 3 or 4, and the last we saw of Victor, he was wandering past the eternal flame yelling something (or was that one of the crazy Italians?).  At any rate, we made it back to the hostel that night, and went to bed after misguidedly thinking it was a good idea to throw all our empties onto an apartment balcony across from ours.  The inhabitant was kind enough to correct this "cultural" misunderstanding.  Victor finally made it home 3 hours later (did I mention his poor sense of direction) swearing he'd never do that again.