From Where You'd Rather Be

Valencia, Spain

Valencia, Spain was my first stop- my friend from High School was there on exchange for his Architecture course. He had offered for me to stay with him for a week. Spain was always on my list of places to travel. Free accommodation-even better. A good looking tour-guide and room-mate; how could I say no!? I stayed for a week and my friend had to study alot so I took myself on sight-seeing tours of the city by day and became domestic at night. My friend and I cooked and sketched and got along really well. I felt so independent. I felt free. I loved the 30 degree celsius heat and knew I had to get as much beach as possible-  I was heading to London after all! We enjoyed a sunset cruise with his friends, followed by a picnic on the beach. I stayed an extra night (my friend's last night in Valencia) and enjoyed partying with all his friends at a big farewell party on the beach. My favourite part about the city was the relaxed hours....wake up when you want, eat lunch sometime before your siesta. Yes, the shops seriously closed from around 2 to 5 in the afternoon for siesta!!!! Then dinner is at about 9.30/10pm and an early bedtime would be around 2am! So different, and suited me so well, especially as my body's body-clock was still adjusting  from Australian time! Paella was yum and shots for 1 euro were a bargain! We went to an International food festival on one evening and chose to taste the Australian cuisine-kangaroo and Ostrich (um, not Australian) burgers-very tasty. Dessert was of course of the French variety-crepes made in front of you and smothered in nutella...YUM!

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, Spain was next. I went by bus with two German boys I had met at my friend's farewell party. They were really friendly and spoke German, Spanish and English. They taught me a bit of all of them! We stayed in a hostel together and they were my tour guides. The Goudi sights were breathtaking. The heat was full on and we had drinks on the beach one night followed by clubbing at Razza-Mattaz which didn't open until 1am. We danced the night away and were disappointed to wake up to rain on the one day dedicated to exploring the beaches up the coast! However this worked out well as the last day was my favourite-shopping should never be underestimated as a very vital sightseeing activity! The shops were amazing, so much variety and so much larger than those back in Sydney. Some had 3 levels! I bought a dress from H&M, as well as a bodysuit and leather jacket (my Dad's idea, leather is very well priced in Spain and i needed a souvenir after all...:)) from Bershka. Said goodbye to my newest friends and mentally prepared myself on the plane for my new job, new room-mates, new chapter...