Hola Barcelona!!

Hi all!

It´s me again! Have not blogged for a long time for my travels so finally am glad to put my experiences down here online.

Am currently in Spain, Barcelona to be exact, after a 3 day course in Amsterdam. Well, what can I say? Given that there will not be much of a Dutch bank left after the RBS-AA merger, thought I will go hone my skills in Amsterdam while taking a much-needed breather after everything that has transpired in 2007. So much ups and downs but then again, that is another story. =)

Anyway, touched down in Barcelona yesterday and there were a few hiccups in the beginning with my luggage delays (my backpack was placed in the wrong conveyor belt despite what the baggage information screen said), the airport metro was not working (had to take a bus to another part of town which I was not familiar with). Oh well, this wasn´t pretty as I had to contend with these logistics which wasted unnecessary time which could have been used to cover more sights. Add to that severe lack of sleep (woke up at 4.30am in the morning so that I can leave at 5.30am for Schipol Airport to catch my flight). This contributed to a slightly miffed dude - combination of cold and rain in Amsterdam (5 degrees C), hunger (no breakfast) and fatigue is a lethal one indeed!

But in any case, made the most of it and after leaving my luggage at Residencia Campus del Mar - a university hostel cum hotel near the beach and the port with lots of swanky restaurants, casino and the like; hit town via the metro.

First stop was Merquat de la Boqueria - the biggest market in Barcelona. Saw this on Discovery Travel & Living and told myself I had to visit this place. Went around to snoop around the stalls selling all sorts of fresh produce like fruits (of all shapes, sizes and colours), chocolates (simply scrumptious!) and of course seafood!

But these were nothing compared to what came next - settling down at a small shop in the market whereby customers get to sit down at the bar counter, check out what they want to eat (made from fresh produce from the same market, and getting to enjoy soothing cold cerveza (beer)! Had some sardines and San Miguel and was so satisfied I could almost forgive Barcelona´s earlier sins. Haha!!

Anyway, paid up after that and immediately immersed myself in the sights and sounds of La Rambla - the main thoroughfare of downtown Barcelona. Here, you get to see buskers, stalls selling fresh flowers and birds in the middle; while on either side of it are branded shops selling various fashion. Yes, you guessed it Zara, Desigual, Massimo Dutti...

Hit this museum called Museu D´Historia De La Ciutat. Quite an interesting one as this museum was actually built on an archaelogical site containing the remains of its Roman and Visigothic past. But more interesting than all these is the fact that a nearby busker beside the museum was playing his Spanish guitar, so imagine, enjoying the sights to the accompaniment of guitar music simply raises the romantic quotient several notches! Guys: take note!

The day was long and it ended with a nice dinner of Spanish tapas near my hostel by the Olimpia Harbour and Port Vell. A slow stroll down the beachfront after dinner amidst the cool breeze and Jerry retired gastronomically satisfied for the night.