Getting Caught Up

This post actually starts about a month ago on New Year’s Eve.  Taylor and I were lucky enough to stay at her friend’s apartment, which was close to a Metro station and, therefore, close to the center of the city.  The first day we were there, December 30^th, we walked around the city.  We have both visited Barcelona before so it was nice this time to leisurely stroll instead of running around trying to see all the sites in such a short time.  We enjoyed La Rambla, an awesome Hindu restaurant called Maoz, La Boquería (a HUGE outdoor market selling everything you can imagine), and, of course, Starbucks.  One thing I had never visited was Parc Güell (pronounced Park Gway), designed by Antoni Gaudí.  We made the trek all the way to the top, where we encountered our first (of many) hurdles to jump:  Taylor’s camera wouldn’t work.  The rest of the day we scouted around for another camera that wasn’t insanely overpriced in the tourist district of Barcelona. 

On New Year’s Eve there is a tradition in Spain to eat 12 grapes, one at every stroke of the clock at midnight; and, of course, drink champagne.  Well, Taylor and I were prepared-we’d bought both products that day and were happily making the trek down to La Rambla in dresses and high heels (mistake number one).  Let me preface this by saying La Rambla, and I’ve heard Barcelona in general, is known for pick-pocketing; especially when it’s as packed as it was on New Year’s.  There were literally people everywhere.  Personal space was NOT an issue.  After the clock struck we decided just to sit in a bar for a quick drink and then head back to the apartment; a very early evening.  It took us about 15 minutes to get to the bar since there were so many people on the street.  We literally got pushed by the mob that was Barcelona on NYE; if one of us would’ve fallen, we would’ve been trampled to death-no joke.  We finally make it to this bar and are about ready to order a drink when I realize my right pocket of my coat is empty.  It used to contain my Blackberry and my camera.  Perfect.  Needless to say, we did not stay for a drink, we just went home and I was in shock about my stolen items.  Taylor tried to calm me down by saying I could get another camera tomorrow, someplace would be open, it’s Saturday. 

Well, the next day everything was closed because it was a holiday (January 1^st) so I was sans camera for the rest of Barcelona.  By the time we arrived in Rome, after sleeping in the Barcelona airport and being up for most of the night, I was ready just to head back home to Palma. 

We were on our way to St. Peter’s Square where I FINALLY found a shop that sold cameras!  My trip was looking up.  The first place we toured was St. Peter’s Basilica, which was gorgeous-so many paintings and beautiful marble, it was unbelievable. 

After our Basilica tour we stopped at a small restaurant to grab some authentic Italian food (we both ordered pizza) and split a bottle of wine.  We were so tired and hadn’t eaten forever, so the wine really had an effect on both of us, even though it was a small bottle.  From the restaurant we went back to our hostel for a quick nap (it was 5:00 pm) but then just went to bed at 9:00 with the promise that we’d wake up early the next morning and do more touring. 

Over the next few days, we walked around Rome for most of the day from morning ‘til night and ate our way through the city.  I tried a few different pastas, tiramisu, cannoli, and pizza.  Everything was delicious-the Italians really know how to cook.  

We had an excellent time in Rome but were definitely ready to be home and sleeping in our own beds in Palma.  Not to mention the weather in Italy was a lot chillier than in Mallorca.