First night

Airport -> bus to center of town -> aimlessly wandering in circles trying to get my whereabouts -> asked for directions -> found “Las Ramblas” -> started walking in the direction of my apartment -> encountered human statues and had to stop for a few snapshots…

… made it to my apartment -> freshened up and went out exploring.

This city is incredibly alive. I’m in “Barri Gòtic.” Lots of narrow cobblestone streets with little shops and restaurants – and so many people! I wandered through the open market, “Mercat Boqueria” and ate a “pitahaya.” It was fun to eat, nothing extraordinary except for how beautiful it was — but it wasn’t quite enough for dinner. So, I wandered around looking for a place to eat.

So many wonderful looking restaurants, but none that looked quite right for me as a solo traveler. Though I can’t tell you how much I prefer traveling alone than with a companion … last night felt like a night to be shared with someone. (If we skip ahead in the story, you’ll find me kicking myself about 20 hours later when I finally got to a message from a friend who was in Barcelona for the night inviting me out at the very same time I was wishing I had a friend to join me for dinner. Gah!)

I wandered around more, taking it all in. Grabbed a little snack, warded off unwanted advances, looked at the bunnies, birds, chinchillas, turtles, and “the world’s smallest hamster” for sale in the street.