Tourguiding all done :(

As I write this my parents hopefully are on the plane on their way back to England. I'm exhausted! But it was worth it, I had an amazing time! Yesterday we did the Barcelona Bus Turistic, it was a great way to rest our feet after two days of walking and see the the city from a completely different perspective. We started off at Parc Guell, which my parents loved, my mum wants to come back and explore it again for a longer period of time. We did all of the bus routes, up round Tibidabo, a monastery, Montjuic, the new redevelopment down near the beach - everything! If anyone is going to Barcelona I completely recommend it; I was sceptical at first but my mum had heard good things about the tour and wanted to do it, so I went too (especially as they were paying) and then I had an amazing day. Sometimes it is good to be a shameless tourist in Barcelona and not care, I learnt loads of interesting facts about different buildings and parts of the city too, so it was definitely worth the money. We also went for a coffee in Palau de Musica, a simply amazing Modernisme building:

Later on we went to the Columbus monument, where there is a viewing platform built inside at 52m and headed up to check out the views. My dad (who is petrified of heights) suggested it, and came up! I was shocked but so proud at the same time and the views were most definitely worth it, it was simply amazing you could see out to see, to the mountains, down la Rambla, definitely one of Barcelona's hidden gems.
We ate at Les Quinze Nits again in the evening, and had yet another fantastic meal before coffees and bed.
Today, after dropping the suitcases off at my house in the morning, buy some cheap umbrellas as it was chucking it down with rain and stopping for a croissant and coffee at one of the lovely little coffee shops near my house we headed to the Museum of Catalan History. This is an absolutely fantastic museum and it only cost us 2euros each to go in with our book of discount vouchers. It is really informative and really interactive, you get to click lots of buttons and play a lot as well as finding out some really interesting facts.
Then we had lunch, picked up the suitcases and headed to the airport.
A piece of advice - easyjet check in (although it says terminal 2 on the ticket) is actually a separate building which is quite a walk away, it was a good job we had left plenty of time to make the flight! I'll definitely be remembering that in June when I fly back to the UK. My parents flight was delayed, but at least it wasn't cancelled. I'm now really excited to go to Malaga for the end of Semana Santa tomorrow with Catania. So I'll write a blog about all of those adventures on Sunday evening.
Hasa Domingo!

Palm Sunday in Barcelona

Today was another amazing day showing my parents around Barcelona. We got an early start and headed to watch the Palm Sunday procession in the centre of the city which was lovely, a band, a float of Jesus on a donkey and people waving palms and burning incense. We popped into the church after the parade had left and I ended up talking to one of the women for quite some time, she was explaining the traditions and the saints and all sorts, it was really interesting.
We then wandered to the cathedral where we watched a crowd of people all getting their palms blessed whilst we sat with a drink. Then we got to watch some people dancing the Sardana (the Catalan national dance) outside the cathedral before we headed down through the Gothic quarter to Santa Maria del Mar, an absolutely gorgeous church. We looked at the nearby memorial which commemorates the siege of Barcelona in 1714. We then popped down a little back alley and found a tiny one room museum about the fore mentioned siege, but it was all in Catalan so we didn't stay long as my parents can't speak Catalan and I couldn't be bothered translating it all. Although the people at the door did seem a little shocked when I whipped out the Catalan on them. :p
We then headed down by the port and grabbed some tapas for lunch, I had to do all the translating and ordering as I took my parents to a local place where they don't speak any English. Then my mum popped back to the hotel for a bit of a rest whilst my dad and I wandered a little more around the centre and the Gothic quarter, bought the tourist bus tickets for tomorrow and sat and chilled with an ice cream and a coffee.
Then we all headed back out for dinner at Les Quinze Nits, amazing restaurant which I take everyone too, it's such good quality food in a lovely place at a good price. Then we headed back to near their hotel for a couple of drinks, and then parted ways to turn in for the night; up early tomorrow for the tourist bus route!
I love being a personal tour guide, its fun.
Hasta manana!
:)

The parents arrive...

So after a pretty average week, Catalan class, school, oh and a massive general strike on Thursday! Barcelona was completely shut down by the protestors, the metro only ran between 6.30 and 9.30am as well as between 6 and 9pm – crazy! I avoided the centre, the riots, the anarchists and vandalism and instead spent my day on the beach. What a lovely way to spend the day, chilling in the sun with friends and fruit on the beach. Friday I mainly chilled and attempted to do a little more uni work as I know I won’t be getting anymore done this week.

Today my parents arrived, nice and early, I met them at the airport with a little sign with their names on and everything. Because I’m that silly. After dropping the bags off at my flat we wandered down Rambla Catalyuna where they have made some gorgeous crafts out of palm leaves for Palm Sunday tomorrow, they were gorgeous, everything from tiny little crosses to massive sticks with such intricate handmade flowers decorating them, truly lovely. (pictures to follow) Then I took them down la Rambla, into La Boqueria market and down to the port. We then headed back up and moved the suitcases from my flat and dumped them at the hotel which is lovely and very chic and modern, if anyone needs a good hotel in Barcelona you should stay at the Roommate Emma, its lovely.

We then headed up to Montjuic and watched the magic fountain show before going into Arena, an old bullring which had been converted into a shopping centre, where we sat and had a coffee. We then headed back into the centre and sat with cocktails, patatas bravas and Spanish omelette sandwiches in a gorgeous terrace bar listening to live jazz music.

The perfect end to their first day in Barcelona, I’m excited for the next few days with them.

Hasta manana guys!

X-x-x

A weekend in Granada

So I am just back from an absolutely amazing weekend in Granada where I stayed with Bex for a few days. I flew down at lunchtime on Thursday, I was delayed for about 15 minutes, but it wasn't too bad. The flight was good and I managed to arrive in Granada unharmed. After dropping my stuff off at Bex's flat we wandered around the city. Wow! It's simply beautiful, I haven't visited the south of Spain for a few years and it was lovely to see the Moorish architecture and white houses which I feel in love with long ago. It was as though a long lost love had been rekindled. In the evening we ate in a Moorish restaurant which was simply delicious, I had Arab flat bread, a kebab, chicken with plums and almonds and Moorish tea. So yummy!
Friday was when the adventures really started - we headed up to the Sierra Nevada, a ski resort about 45 minutes away from Granada, we managed to see the last of the snow, most of it had melted. The base level of the resort was pretty deserted and I can't imagine what it would be like in the winter when it is full of people and now a ghost town. We got the cable car up to around 8200feet and this was really worth it. The views were simply fantastic and it was alive with skiers and snowboarders! I loved the atmosphere up there and there were some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. Here you can see me and Bex at the top level, you couldn't get right up to the 3300m level without using a chairlift and being on skis/snowboard. It was surprisingly warm, we got all coated up and didn't even need our hats/scarves/gloves, it proves that it really was the end of the winter sports season.

After this we got the bus back to Granda and met up with some other Lancaster students at 7.30 for a variety of tapas. In Granada you get a tapas free when you order a drink. An absolutely brilliant idea and a nice change from having to pay in Barcelona! We had traditional Spanish tapas but we also went to a Chinese tapas bar where with your drink you can get a plate of noodles, spring rolls or something similar. It was bizarre, but a brilliant idea. We then headed home, via a chino shop to pick up some sweets and I may have said perdona to a dog.... But that's not important. We then had an earlish night as we knew we were off to the Alhambra the next day. 

Off to the Alhambra, what a brilliant day! We walked up the steep hill to get there and wandered around it for a good few hours; George (Jack's stuffed chimpanzee) came with us. He definitely made photo taking much more fun, even if we did get a few (or many) funny looks from other tourists. The Alhambra is gorgeous, if you are ever in Granada you should go, just be prepared to queue, and to queue to queue because it is so so busy.

Later we went out for drinks at an Irish bar, I had a lethal Japanese iced tea, although I don't think that it was that lethal.... We stayed up until the clocks changed, it's the first time I've seen my watch go from 1.59am to 3.00am, very strange! This morning Bex and I chilled and watched John Bishop's week of hell for sports relief before I flew back to Barcelona, uploaded all my photos and blogged.
A fantastic weekend, I can't wait to go to Cordoba with Bex and Jack in 3 weeks!
Hasta Manana!
x

Las Fallas means bangy in Spanish.

So at the weekend I went to Valencia for las fallas. It was insane! The ninots which they burn after being showed and awarded prizes were simply amazing. This is one of the simpliest:

And this is one of the more extravegant, as well as my favourite:

There were children throwing fireworks in the street, which initially scared me to death but then after a while I got used to it and when I returned to Barcelona it was surprising calm and quiet in comaprison! We saw an amazing parade with everybody in traditional dress and the Virgin who dress is entirely made from fresh flowers, it takes the workers the entire weekend to make it before they burnt her, along with the other ninots on the Monday evening at midnight.

I really want to go back next year and see the burning as I couldn't stay for it this year as I had to work. We watched a free concert too, and an amazing firework show from the bridge. However after the four hour bus journey home I was shattered for school the next day.
School this week has been a little hetic, but at least it is the weekend now. Also yesterday I met up with a girl to do a tandem exchange for an hour, for the first time and we ended up staying for almost three hours, we really got on, she's from Lleida, a place I would love to visit for the snail festival in May.
I went to pick up my catalan results too this evening, I passed with 91/100 and now am a level B1 :) Very pleasedm I start the next level on Monday :) After class all my class and my teacher went out for copas and bravas. Very nice end to the day. 
Tomorrow I am off to Granada for the weekend, for which I am very excited! I'ma lso hoping that afterwards I will have some motivation to do my DELC310 essay next week.
Adios Chicos!
x-x-x

Examenes de Catalan

So after a great weekend at home for my brother's 18th (and my fair share of English food) I arrived back in Spain on Sunday night. This week has been pretty boring, hence the lack of posts. Monday I had school and then a written Catalan exam, I think it went ok, but who knows! Tuesday I spent the afternoon on the beach with Tabetha, which was lovely :) In case you want a bit of trivia Tuesday the 13th is the unlucky day in Spain, not Friday the 13th like back in England. Although why, nobody seems to know. Today I had a full day at school, then the oral part of my Catalan exam. I just have to wait until next Wednesday for the results now! So nervous, I really hope I pass as then I will be a B1 level! Tomorrow I have one hour of classes and then the gym (to burn off all that English food) then I will find something to do for the evening I am sure.
Off to Valencia on Friday until Sunday for las fallas, I'm very excited. :)
Adios guapos!
x-x-x

Last post from Spain until next week

So monday was pretty normal, school, a little bit of shopping where I bought a dress, t-shirt and scarf, then Catalan class. Yesterday I worked and then met up with Tabetha for a little while before going to teach my private class. Which as usual is going very well.
Today I´m at work all day, but currently on my lunch, I´ve been uploading things to the school blog. Here are some videos where my year 4 describe their pictures, take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umr_OboUlfU&context=C30747a4ADOEgsToPDskJQkszDVZN4S4nb_gpuPA0L

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p30TaO279N0&feature=context&context=C30747a4ADOEgsToPDskJQkszDVZN4S4nb_gpuPA0L

Later I plan to do a bit more essay work, go to my Catalan class, revise for my exams next week and pack for tomorrow as I will be spending the weekend in England for my brother´s 18th. I´m excited to see family and friends (and also open my birthday cards from January. haha)
Quite a short and boring post, sorry, it will be more exciting next week.
Adios
x-x-x