The Parents Came to Visit

So on Friday, my parents came to visit me! I was so excited, but very upset when their flight was really delayed and then they missed their connecting flight. It was actually kind of a nightmare because I had to go buy them a phone, meet some lady at their apartment to get the keys and then trek to the airport to wait for them. They arrived around 9ish. On the way to the apartment, Hannah and I stumbled upon an outdoor concert and then went back after we met the lady. It was a lot of fun. After I picked up my parents, they opted for the RENF/Metro route over a cab, so it was kind of an adventure in itself with all the luggage. When we finally arrived at the apartment, we didn't really do anything except spend some time together and go to sleep.

Saturday was a big more exciting. In the morning, we woke up around 8:30 and went to find breakfast. My dad was happy because they have real fresh squeezed orange juice here, but not so happy that breakfast was a crossoint. My mother enjoyed her first cafe con leche though. Afterwards, we went the cathedral, which was about a ten minute walk from their apartment. We payed to go up to roof and took some really nice scenic pictures. After the cathedral, we walked to the Rambla so they could see what all the hype is about. They got to see all the animals and the market and all the valentine's day stuff that was out. (They don't really celebrate Valentine's day though, its more April 23rd). Then we walked to the Pedrera to meet up with Katie and Hannah. We took the audio tour and actually got to the roof this time. It was so pretty, and so worth the second visit. Afterwards, we went to lunch (around 4pm) and I introduced to my parents to some tapas. They enjoyed them, and my father actually really liked one (pan con tomate). Then it was nap time! We ended up sleeping for like close to 3 hours I think and then headed out for a night in Barcelona. We started off the night at the Harlem Jazz Club, which was also super close to their apartment. The band that was playing was an Afro-Jazz band. It was pretty cool. Katie and Hannah got closer to take pictures and stuff, but me and my parents stayed farther back and just talked. Then we headed to the Oveja Negra, one of my favorite places. My dad bought us quite a bit of Sangria, and I think we were all pretty happy by that point. After, we headed to a club (around 2:30). We got free passes to City Hall, but when we asked the bouncer what kind of music it was, he told us it was house, so we voted against it. We eneded up walking home, hanging out at my parent's apartment for a while and then passing out around 5am. O and on the way home, some drug dealer /stoner huge black guy offered my dad a place to get some "nice pussy" and showed him some weed. My mother proceeded to get in the guys face and tell him that my dad was not interested.. you kind of had to be there, but I would've backed away too, as did this guy.



Another thing that happened, was the breaking of the shower. On Saturday morning, my dad got up first to take a shower and then someone knocked on the apartment door. It was our downstairs neighbor whose apartment had pretty much been flooded by the shower. The bathroom had just been completed and apparently, they forgot that pipes should not dump all the water out indoors. We had to call the owners and all that stuff, and we without a shower for the rest of the day and most of the next.

On Sunday, we went to the zoo, which made me really happy. Of course it isn't exactly the first thing people choose to do when they get to Barcelona, but I had never been, and my parents just wanted to spend time with me. I had a blast because I love the zoo. I turn into a little kid. Every animal turned their butt to me, which is why I have a facebook album completely dedicated to that. By the time we were done with the zoo, it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner (5:30-6), so we found a vegetarian place that would serve us. We had some pretty interesting food, and delicious vegetarian pizza. We then proceeded to take another siesta. Afterwards, Katie and Hannah came over to study, but we pretty much just ended up watching episodes of Two and Half Men before they had to catch the last metro. My parents and I then watched Gran Torino, we I thought was so good. We went to bed around 1.

On Monday, I had school for most of the day, so we were only able to meet up at lunch. We met my parents at the chocolate museum, which was really cute. It was a pretty quick tour, but it was fun to see all the sculptures and artwork created from the chocolate. After, we completely the chocolatey lunch hour by introducing my mom to the chocolate crossoints they have at school, which are the best things in existance, I'm pretty sure. Then they went off the beach and the Sagrada Familia, and I went to class. We met up after my classes ended at 7pm to find the Champagnery, which is a famous place that serves tapas with glasses of cava to go with them. When we got there, it was ridicously crouded. While standing still I was spooning with one guy, was pretty much on the phone with another, and could take a bite out of the sandwich of the girl in front of me. We decided not to stay and went to a small restaurant instead. The food wasn't that great, but what can ya do.

On Tuesday was the last full day my parents had. I didn't see them during the day because they went to Park Guell. After school, which ended at about 5pm, I walked to their apartment and me and my mom went shopping. I got my sister a birthday gift, but came up with nothing for my brother's. I have to buy him something online instead. Then we went to dinner at a place by the water, where we had really good paella. I had a Spanish exam the next day, so I wasn't able to take them to Chupitos, which was kind of disappointing, but I didn't have much of a choice. We went to bed not too late, because we had to get up at 6am for them to get to airport.