Spain won. So drunk.

I had to title this blog as I did because, apparently, I posted that as a facebook status at some point in the middle of the celebration. Both statements were 100% true.

After my beach bum day yesterday (which I am repeating today) I showered, found food (A LOT of food since I hadn't eaten all day - I brought snacks today) and wandered through the "gothic" neighborhood of Barcelona. I think it's my favorite area so far. It's filled with cute shops, cafes and bars and it's a little quieter than some of the busier strips.

I was supposed to meet Steph and Jess from Boston at a German bar for the Spain v. Germany game (Steph wanted to cheer for Germany) but when I got there the place wasn't playing the game and the girls were no where to be found. I headed back to the strip of bars near where I'm staying but places were (obviously) packed. I finally found a tapas bar with a big glass window and a crowd of maybe 20 people outside watching through the glass. I stayed there for the 1st half and then ran down the street to get a couple cans of beer to drink during the 2nd half. By the end of the game there were about 30 of us all cheering and drinking together. It was great.

It also happened to be on the street where the "riots" started. Philly people, Spain can't riot like us. No cars were flipped, no windows broken, no fires started. There were crowds and fireworks and people on their balconies spraying water on the people partying in the street below. I chilled against a wall and just took it all in. Of course the people selling beer for €1 in the street were out and as I bought myself a can I met Craig from Missouri who was doing the same thing.

Craig had been traveling with his sisters and a friend but was on his first solo night. We made our way out to La Rambla to see how big the crowd was and Craig decided he needed face paint. It was the proper thing to do I think. We went to an Australian bar where we ran into Anthony and his girlfriend from Minnesota, 2 guys from Finland and Junta from Japan who lives in Brooklyn for 6 months. Junta was kind of a samurai, or thought he was. I led Craig to the gothic area for some more beers (and a shot somewhere along the way which led to my drunkenness and hangover this a.m.). The night ended with french fries and falafel. The lesson: I am not able to drink like I used to or keep up with a guy who owns 4 dueling piano bars. It was a blast though!

I don't know if I love Barcelona because it's Barcelona or if it's because I'm finally getting the hang of this traveling solo thing but either way, or both, I am a little sad tonight is my last night.

I love that the receptionist at my hostel is like the butler from Mr. Deeds and somehow appears behind the coffee bar every morning as I'm helping myself and says good morning. I even love the Asian women selling "massagees" on the beach and how they sit down and pretend they're your friend when the police come around.

I hope the guy with the strawberries comes around again today. That was the best €3.50 I ever spent I think.