Barcelona - a city that never sleeps

How nice is it that the city isn't dead even though it's Sunday? During the spring I had a serious problem with Sundays because there were nothing to do. But in Barcelona? There's too much to do even on Sunday! So, I can't say that yesterday would have been boring in any way :-)

First I took a metro from Clot station to Placa Catalunya. The weather was perfect, and now that I've been here in the springtime, in the fall time and in the summertime, I can definitely say that this city is at its best during the summer. Las Ramblas looked amazing. And it was filled with people (once again - even on Sunday!). There were a lot of little stands and tents that sold jewelry, bags, accessories, clothes.... everything. And there were also those artists who drew portraits of people. And of course street artists, including one that I remembered from my last time (March) :-) familiar!

I felt so good to be in Barcelona again that I just walked there on Las Ramblas with a stupid smile on my face. I also bought Kinder -flavor ice cream, that's something I can't get anymore in Finland :( I went to the port and I visited the Maremagnum shopping center as it is the only shopping center that is open on Sundays. When going back towards Placa Catalunya I also found myself on the nearby streets, for example I was at the Placa Reial where I hadn't been before. Always something new in Barcelona! Also, I hadn't realized that the (gothic) Cathedral is so close to Las Ramblas. I took a metro back to Clot station from Placa Catalunya.

It was already 6pm but I still wanted to test the hotel's pool. Unfortunately the sunshine didn't reach that area anymore because it's somehow between two buildings. But it was still warm and I wanted to test the pool (which was smaller than I had thought). The water was warm, but I wasn't there for long.

In the evening I still left the hotel to find a market. I knew from Valencia that OpenCors are open on Sunday and they have quite a large variety of everything so I decided to find one. I checked from Google Maps and there were one close to Sagrada Familia, so not far from my hotel. So, I also got to see Sagrada Familia once again. it was beautiful in the evening sun. I found the OpenCor, bought food, pepsi, ice tea, and candies, so I was happy. Later I watched the Portugal - Netherlands football match. Too bad that there are two matches coming at the same time these days! I would have wanted to see the Denmark - Germany match also... It was shown on another channel so I tried to watch them both but it was hard. Today there's the same problem, of course I'm gonna watch the Spanish match (against Croatia) but I would also like to see the other - Italy vs Ireland match. Hmh.

<3

Today I don't know what to start with. I think I'm gonna visit Mercadona first, then I'm gonna go to the pool for a while and then I'm gonna take an intense shopping tour (last chance to do the shopping in Spain!). I might also meet a friend for a coffee. Today's shopping destinations are Glories shopping center and Diagonal Mar shopping center (there's Primark!). So, I should get going. ¡Hasta luego!

mi último día en Valencia

...was yesterday.

I woke up before 9am, got ready, got finally make up stuff etc packed also, and then it was time to leave for the riding trip! The trip was called "ruta/excursión a caballo". We were about 50 persons participating. We left from Valencia at 10am by bus and it took about 40minutes to get to the stable. It was hot already then. We got to the stable - it was a biiig place with many buildings. Some horses were living in a big, cowshed-like building while others had their own, open-air boxes. There were also noisy roosters, hens and some weird birds. I guess we were all a bit confused when the stable staff people led some big, massive horses (that looked like draft horses) to the arena. I didn't believe we would ride those.

After all, we were so many persons that we had to go in three groups. For every group, there was a trail ride of approx. one hour. Sun was shining from the clear sky and there were more than 30 degrees, I guess many of us got a bit sunburned.. My friends went with the first group, I waited an hour and went with the second one. While the first group was riding, I went around the stable area (there were also cute donkeys!!) taking pictures, seeing places and hanging around with some other people. 

first group leaving

aww! how cute is that.

 It was boring to wait so I decided to be ready when the first group arrived so that I could get into the second group. Also, I didn't want to have a massive draft horse (because there were also "normal ones" haha) so I was one of the first ones in the line waiting for my turn. I chose one of the most beautiful ones from the horses. We went for a trail in a natural park, the landscapes were amazing. I enjoyed a lot. I could have stayed there longer! Btw, I almost forgot, I was surprised they didn't give us helmets at all. For the most of the people it was the first time riding, so I think it was a bit strange not to give helmets.. In Finland you wouldn't be allowed to get up in the saddle without a helmet.

After the trail we stayed there in the picnic area to eat while we waited for the third group. After the third group we left the place and we were back in Valencia at 4pm.

Then I had some time at home before leaving for the bus. I left at 5.30pm (my bus was about to leave at 6pm) and the goodbyes with my flatmates.. it wasn't easy. I just couldn't realize that I was leaving and not coming back any more. After all, it was my home for the last 5 months, and those were the people I was living (I think I still haven't completely understood that I'm not going back there..). We sat down for a moment and then I seriously had to rush. I had two suitcases to drag and one to carry. People were looking at me quite weirdly, because already the big, red suitcase is almost bigger than me! I went to a nearby taxi stop and there was NO taxes (usually there's always a line of them..) and I started to panic. It was already 17.35 and I was supposed to be at the bus station 10minutes before bus departure. I was waving there on the street for taxes but they all were occupied. I seriously got a bit panicked. But then, I was soooo relieved when one taxi drove around the circle and stopped in front of me. I said to the driver that we have to hurry and he drove quickly to the station - after all I was just on time. I got my suitcases in to the hold (without any complaints - each passenger was allowed to have one big piece/30kgs of stuff, I had a bit more.....). The bus was a "premium bus" (called supra economy), so we got free bottles of water, salty nuts, candies, headphones... there was also a wi-fi connection and small tv screens :-) nice! luxury bus!

last views from Valencia

The 4-hour trip went quite quickly. It felt sad to leave Valencia, and I started to realize the situation in the bus. It felt so.... weird. But as I said, I guess I still haven't totally realized that this is not just a vacation, I've actually started my journey back to Finland and I'm not going back to Valencia anymore. Maybe it hits me when I get to the airport on Tuesday morning.. I'm sure I will miss Valencia A LOT. I couldn't have chosen a better city for my exchange period. Valencia will always have a special meaning for me, as another home city. Even if I go there for a vacation, it will never be the same again, but still, it will always be in my heart. I <3 VLC.

VLC <3

So, now I'm in a hotel in Barcelona. This is called Hotel Catalonia Aragón and I have a very good impression already. I arrived here at 11pm (I can tell you it wasn't easy to get my stuff here by metro.... thank god there was a very helpful girl who helped me to get the other suitcase up the stairs from the metro station! btw, in those situations, I'm somehow able to speak Spanish, that's weird because otherwise I think I get nothing out of my mouth when I have to speak it..).

Barcelona, I'm here again <3

Today, I have quite a many things planned (as well as for tomorrow) so, I'm gonna go now! Have a great day, at least I'm gonna enjoy my last days in Spain, in my favorite city - Barcelona!

my last days in Valencia!

I'm sorry about not-posting again! My situation is just such that I have only a few days left in Valencia and thus I've had so many things going on and my thoughts are somewhere else so I haven't been able to concentrate on posting. Okay I've been working on one post but it's not ready yet to be published.

Soooo, what's going on? I don't know where to start. WELL. My favorite topic these days - football! Last Friday was a good day. It was finally time for UEFA Euro 2012 opening! I spent the day on the beach with my friends (it has been so hot in here that there's not much else you can do but go there) and after that, we went to a pub/bar which was reserved (by some Polish people) just for football. I seriously didn't know that there are so many Polish persons in Valencia! The place was mainly reserved for them, because as you may know, Poland (and Ukraine) is the host country of the tournament and the opening match was Poland - Greece. I went there with my Polish friends and I think there were only a few not-Polish persons (including me). The atmosphere was aaaaawesome!! Everyone was in a good mood and the noise that came out of the place, well.... haha! The ambiance was maintained even though the game ended 1 - 1. After the match, the night included Finnish drinks, wine, shots, chupitos, botellón, a nightclub..... I seriously had a lot of fun that night. I was happy. (Well, the next day, I wasn't that happy anymore...)

On Sunday it was finally time for Spain to play: Spain - Italy. Once again, we spent the day on the beach (although it was terrible, the temperature went over the top and I almost fainted because I didn't drink enough). After the beach, I took a shower, put the Spain-shirt on and headed to a pub with some friends! I felt like one of the Spanish people with that shirt because all the people on the streets were yelling "YEAAAAA VAMOS ESPAÑAAAA" or "TOORRREEEESSS!" (my shirt is nr 9 - Torres ;-)) when I passed them, haha! I think it was a good and interesting match even though it ended 1 - 1. Of course Spain could have scored a few more times but....

Poland - Russia

Okay the last things about football: On Tuesday I was watching the Poland - Russia Match again among the Polish people in the same bar as last Friday; the ambiance was again amazing and I think there were even more Polish people (if it's possible) this time than last time. Yesterday, in turn, I was with German people in a German pub, watching the Netherlands - German match. Of course people were cheering for Germany but the surprising part here is that they weren't as intense and cheerful as the Polish people cheering for Poland! Everyone was drinking beer (surprise surprise) but as I hate beer, I took wine (I wouldn't have guessed a few years ago that one day I would seriously be into red wine...) and I got maybe the biggest glass of wine I've ever had! It was the same size as my head :D After the game we still went to the 100 Montaditos. Today, it's time for Spanish match again! First, I need to go to the university to print a few papers, then to the beach with some friends and then to see the match! Too many things to do, when am I gonna pack the rest of my stuff?!

Netherlands - Germany

Yep, packing. I started a few days go. I'm gonna leave some stuff behind because I know I'm not gonna need those anymore so what's the point in dragging them to Finland (as if they would fit into my suitcases anyway..). Here you can have a hint about the situation:

the red one is that full already and i still have A LOT of clothes to be packed....

those I'm gonna leave behind.... no room for them :(

Well, what else... Tomorrow I still have to visit the International Relations Head Office to get one signature. I also have to get the rest of my stuff packed, clean up my room (including washing the floors, windows, everything.... noooo) and there's one match I would like to see: Sweden - England. But let's see about it then. I would also like to go and say goodbyes to my friends as many of them are gathering to a nearby plaza for botellon again. But I can't go out and party anymore, because on Saturday morning, we are leaving at 9am etc for the riding trip! That's a good way to finish my stay in Valencia. We are gonna be there 'til the afternoon and I seriously hope we are gonna be back on time because I have a ticket for a bus that leaves at 6pm to Barcelona. So, I have to have all my stuff packed by Saturday morning, because there won't be much time between the return from the horse trip and the departure of the bus. I'm excited about the riding trip but at the same time I'm a bit stressed about the timetables. But I'm sure that will be a good day, forecasts show over 30 degrees and sunshine. In addition to the riding route, we will have a picnic there afterwards. The place is called "Parque Natural de Sierra Calderona" and I've heard that it's a biiiig area and perfect for spending time.

Aaaa I almost forgot - school stuff! Haha, no post without mentioning the university. I had my last exam on Monday (English for business). I've already got the results of two courses - French and Marketing and now I'm just nervously waiting for the Spanish economy results....! The grade for the French course was much much higher than I expected, seriously, the level must have been low if I got that good grade with my performance (I didn't even answer to all the questions). But I don't complain, I'm just more than happy that I don't have to think about French language anymore! And marketing, well I did quite a lot for the course during the spring and I got an excellent grade for that too! It was also better than I thought but I'm so content with it, because I did actually put quite a lot of effort on that course. So I've got two excellent grades now, and I'm actually quite positive about passing the Spanish economy course - I seriously hope so because I've never put so much effort on one course and I honestly did everything I could. We are supposed to get the results before next Tuesday..!

on Sunday, the beach was FULL of people

Okay, I will finish now, this post is already too long for anyone to read! Finally, I just have to say that I can't realize the fact that I'll be in Finland in less than a week. It just doesn't seem real! But first, I still have my little vacation in Barcelona. I promise I will enjoy those last days of my Spanish life, because when I return to Finland, I guess I can't afford traveling for a while... Well, that's all for now, I guess the next post will come from Barcelona!

BTW I finally changed the header/banner/heading-picture, I'm not sure if I like it or not but it stays there for a while now, until I'm active enough to work on it. What do you think about it?

think.

I take a sensible risk and I'm gonna write about something a bit private. Usually I write at a more general level, but this time I want to discuss something that has been keeping my mind occupied for a while.

It's about commenting on other people's private issues like preferences, tastes, and here - appearance. You don't comment on someone's overweight, right? You don't say to other people that they look ugly, right? You see that someone has skin problems but you don't comment on their bad skin, right? So, why do you think you are justified to comment on someone's underweight? After all, it all comes down to the fact that people just don't have the right to comment on others' appearance - it's everyone's private issue, at least if you don't know the whole situation. If you know that someone has been trying to loose some weight for a long time, of course it's okay then to comment on how he/she looks like having done it successfully. But if you don't know about the total situation, think about it before saying or commenting. Underweight can be a problem insofar as overweight. It can make someone feel as bad or as ugly as overweight. It can be as offensive and as sensitive issue as overweight to someone. People just don't see it that way, why?

weheartit.com

I wanted to write about this because this is a sensitive issue for me. I know I'm underweight and I seriously don't like people to comment on that fact. I already feel unattractive and I find my appearance ugly because of that, so I don't need anyone to comment or remind me of it because I'm aware of it and for me it's the same as if someone called me ugly to my face. You don't know how much I've been working on that issue, how much frustration, depression or work I've experienced by far. If I have finally achieved the right direction mentally, I don't need any drawbacks in form of insults from people who don't know about the things they're intervening in.

weheartit.com

So, please, I just want you to think about it for a while. If you don't know the whole situation (as you usually don't), keep those thoughts to yourself, because after all, are you justified to comment on people's private issues? Some things have different meanings to different people, and they can be much more sensitive to some people than to others. If you don't know how your comment will affect the other person, keep it to yourself. I've spoken.

weheartit.com

exams & goodbyes + random stuff

...and heat. But now I seriously don't wanna complain about that because in two weeks, I have to adjust to huge temperature difference. So, I need to seize the last times of this heat before going to Finland (= to freeze..).

These two weeks have been more or less confusing and mixed. I have been quite stressed... okay, stressed as h*ll. that's why it's so weird now that I don't actually have almost anything to stress about. The situation is unfamiliar :D Well I still have one exam left, English for business, but there's not much to study for it. Of course I'm also a bit nervous about passing my exams or not - waiting for the results - but there's nothing I can do but wait. So let's wait.

the last day of studying for Spanish economy... well, no-one can say that i haven't tried!

Tuesday was a weird day. I've told you about the Spanish economy course, the one that was far too difficult for me because I don't have the basic economic knowledge for that. I've been afraid of that exam for this whole spring and Tuesday was the day. Seriously, on Monday evening and Tuesday morning before the exam, i was so nervous. so so so nervous.. but I did my best in the exam and if it's not enough, at least I can honestly say that I tried my best and I did everything I could. But the feeling after the exam? Empty. I didn't know how to feel, what to do or what to think. The thing I had been nervous about for many many weeks was over. that was so weird! I came home and I didn't know what to do because I didn't have anything to study or write notes about. I just sit in my room, staring at my computer and thinking "what should i do?". Then, I packed my stuff, put on some sun spray and took a bike to the beach. Ahh how relaxing is was, just to lie on the beach and not stressing about any exams. The water was warm and the waves were high. That's what I call freedom.

And Tuesday evening was about the second word in the heading - goodbyes. It was the last night in Valencia for one of my friends. At 10pm I met some friends and we headed towards the beach with drinks and some snacks. It was a bit windy on the beach but it didn't matter - we had so much fun. I was tired (because I hadn't been able to sleep well the previous night due to the exam) but I still just wanted to stay there, to seize the last moments with some of the best persons I've got to know during the spring. Well I still have time to see most of them - but those were the last moments I could spend with the one who was leaving. She was actually the first person I got to know better at the beginning of the spring. She was the first foreign person in Valencia that I could call "a friend". Along the spring she has been in the Spanish economy classes with me, witnessing my frustration and helping me. That night I tried not to think about the fact that I seriously don't know when I'm gonna see her again. But when we were walking home after 3am and it was the time to say goodbyes, it was hard to avoid thinking about that. I honestly hate goodbyes, especially if the situation is such that you can't be sure about the next time you see each other. Thank god we have all the facebooks and systems nowadays so we're able to keep in touch... And I will definitely go to Poland one day, it's not so far away from Finland!

hahah the most exciting swing ive ever tried!

as you can see, formulas are coming to the town!

After Tuesday, these two days have been more or less the same. I've been lying (= almost sleeping) on the beach, swimming in the warm sea, enjoying the sun, not-enjoying a young boy who - well - "harassed" me and well. just relaxing!

Yesterday I sent a job application and today they called me to set up an interview, for the next week after I go back to Finland. I'm quite happy! So, if they're content with me, I will most likely get some working shifts already in July. And the firm is a "labor-renting-firm" that delivers workers to their customer companies. And for workers that means that they offer them shifts in various firms (my field would be hotels, restaurants and events - mainly catering and waitressing) and then the workers can either accept to do the shift or turn down the offer. I decided to send an application to that firm because of the flexibility and variability of the shifts and the fact that I'm able to decide myself how much I want to work and which kind of shifts I want to take. And that kind of job is also quite easy to combine with the studies. So, I hope that the interview goes well!

University campus

Tomorrow is a big day as it's finally time for UEFA EURO 2012 TOURNAMENT! I've bee waiting for it for a long time so I'm excited about the fact that the day is finally here!

VAMOS ESPAÑA!

from weheartit.com

YUCK

I can tell you; the idea of coming back to Finland doesn't sound bad at all at the moment when you go to the kitchen and run into one of these:

it was like the one in the left............ (from weheartit.com)

After seeing a cockroach (a few times during this spring), I can honestly say that their existence may be one of the most disgusting things about living in Spain. And now I'm paranoid - I feel like one of them can pop up into my room at any moment.....