If ASU were a town....

Left Paris last wednesday morning. we barely made the train 5 mins before it was due to leave. once we got to montpilliar, our train ran late, so we missed the connecting train to Barcelona. Our large group mobbed the rail information people, and they put us on a train to Peripignon, a sleazy little border town. the nex train to barcelona was in the morning so they put us in the paris-barcelona hotlel. There was some confusion because we were travelign with three other backpacking US college students and they lumped us all together. It took a french-spanish and spanish-english translator to get our point across to the french speaking rail attendant. I am eternally grateful to those unknown people who in the name of kindness helped us all throughout our travels. For the most part, everyone we have met in europe has bent over backwards to aid us, from the bakery matron who flagged down customers who culd speak english to us. My language skills are just not adequate for travelling completely rough. Anyway, we got a little room in Peripigion but they had almost a shower that worked well. The next morning, we took the train that was an hour and a half late across the border, fnally pulling into barcelona around midday.

Barcelona is hot and tropical. Its part singapore and part pirate town. especially the area we´re in, really close to the beach and the gothic quarter. I goofed up on the reservations, so we didnt´have any for thursday night here. We got to the hostel Sea Point, and were turnd away. We went back to the littl ghetto hostel where i´d asked directions, Miramar hostel. to get inside, you have to walk though an electronics boutique. I kept looking down expecting to see chickens runnign around. At least they had two beds per room, even if the room was six feet wide and the last half of the original room, with the moulding cut in half. We ate well as the food here is great and cheap. Our best meal yet was at La Fonda. Seafood Paella we split was aobut 12 euros. We checked into the right hostel this morning. An interesting place to say the least. They organize activities including ¨Smashed¨a booze tour for a set price including, I´m not making this up, ¨special¨super soakers loaded with vodka. Woopeee!! Pass.
Today we saw Parc Guell, Casa Vicens, and La Pedegral, all works of Gaudi. What a far out guy. anway, back to the beach. We´re litterally on the beach.