Madrid to Barcelona

If i had three wishes in the world, one of them would be used up on the ability to know every language on earth just like that. Honestly - it would be alot less frustrating, but then again, half the fun is trying to understand locals, signs, directions, menus etc.....

Madrid wasn't really my cup of tea. Perhaps this was because my hostel was quiet and there was very little to do, or perhaps Madrid is just not much of a young persons place, or perhaps it was çoz i was on my own. Regardless of these points, i spent three nights in Madrid - the capital of Spain only because its centrality in the country. It did have a great museum, the del prado; a couple of nice parks that i spent hours in reading and trying to get a tan; and some amazing buildings. I spent most of the three days simply walking around engaging in my favourite past time - people watching. The metro systems so far are so great and simple to use. David will remember our first couple of days in london and how i just couldnt grasp how to use it.

On the 6th, i caught yet another bus (they are usually about 1/3 the price of trains) to Barcelona. i had heard lots on the road from other travellers (it truly is the best source of info) about the city and i was looking forward to getting there and seeing it all in action for myself. I arrived at about 6pm after a lonnng bus ride.. i used the metro all by myslef and found the hostel - Yellow Nest, about 10mins ride from town. It was a great place with a huge common room and lots to do. I met my dorm buddies, two Germans, and i soon headed out with one of them to Las Ramblas. This place, las Ramblas, is a 2km stretch of path with copius amounts of shops and cafes hanging of the side. It is the true place to come if youre a tourist - infact i went there every day. Common to the strip are numerous people kitted out in bizarre dress taking photos with tourists and earning abit of money, lots of little pet shop/stalls, and florists. I also observed very closely one afternoon a scam that goes a bit like this...
there would be a ring leader who with three upside down matchbox sticks he would ask people around him to guess under what box the little marble was under. Every time he did this he would deliberately be clumsy and show everyone what one it was under...but...there were three other guys around him who would pick wrong (most of the time) so that the dearing tourist thought gee this is easy. The guy would ask for 50 euros, and if you guessed right you won an extra 50 - effectively doubling your money just like that. Now i had watched three different groups up and down this strip for about an hour and i knew that the folded up bills were fake (they had to of been). So you put in 50 and get 100 fake back. the other guys would be constantly looking around for copes who patrolled up and down and the officers came a couple of times and they all fleed in different directions, and another guy swooped in and picked up the mat in a newspaper. Wow it was great to watch and sorry that was drawn out - hope it makes sense. Anyway they knew i was watching them intensely and i got a look as if to say bugger off or else. So i fled to.
Anyway, i ended up going out that night with the German guy and two American girls and we didnt get home til 6am, and as a result ive been sick ever since. that will teach me i guess. The next day i went on a boat cruise around the port (which was pretty lovely), and i went up to the top of the tower at a cathedral right in the heart of Barri Gotic, a humble jumble old place with small alleyways running this way and that. You could easily get lost.