MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2001
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e n n i es a a
fit.l.
At the Barcelona train station, I met
an Aussie who was traveling through
Barcelona on his way to Bilbao. After a
four-year stint in the Australian army, he
was backpacking around the world and
had already been in India, Pakistan, South
America and Morocco. The globe-trotting
Aussie hay
him was
t h e
clothes
he was
wearing
and a lit-
tle fanny
pack.
M y
n e w
acquain-
t an c e
told me
of a hostel in the old part of Barcelona
called "New York." The cab ride from the
station to the hostel was quick, but the hos
tel was full. They gave me the name of
another cheap hostel and, on the way
there, I stopped ii
cerveseria called
Cid for so
Catalonian cuisine
hadn't eaten a ne
mal meal in t ,
days, so the me
was especially sal
fying. The
owner was a thirt,
something guy,
his wife worked
register while
young daught(
clamored and pla;
on the bar. I coral
mented the bear
of Barcelona to
restaurant ow'
and got a free Cervesa out of it (compli
ment the bartenders and people you meet
on their cities - Europeans are very provin
cial and take great pride in their cities. If
you are low on cash, this tactic never
seems to fail.)
I found the hostel near the Squair of
Jaume and my decision to stay there
turned out to be a mistake. The room's
ceiling couldn't have been over 5-1/2' high
and I am 5' 7" tall. The sheets on the bed
hadn't been changed from the previous
guest and there were cockroaches running
the
CAPITAL TIMES
around. I didn't mind the fact that there
was a group bathroom and shower; what I
minded was that I hadn't brought my san
dals. I bit the bullet and used the group
shower with no sandals, then went out for
a night on the town.
Barcelona is much more aesthetically
[d. The women are gen
erally a littler taller
and are always smil
ing. The city is liveli
er, and the people are
even friendlier than
those in Madrid. I
found myself in a bar
owned by an Estonian
native. She'd worked
as a translator and
saved her pesetas to
'Open her own bar. The
decor of the bar was
great. All over the walls were pictures:
movies, historical events, triumphs and
tragedies and everyday life. The music
was across the board. At the bar, I met a
couple from London enjoying a romantic
weekend in Barcelona and a bunch of
local students. The discussions that result
ed were off-the-wall and covered just
about every topic.
The next day, I was off to Gaudi's
unfinished cathedral and to the Placa del
Rei, a museum of Roman ruins under a
small cathedral in Barcelona. After the
Gaudi cathedral, I walked around town. I
made my way to the Gaudi Museum and
noticed a few of his buildings along the way.
The next day, eager to leave the hostel
where I was staying, I gathered my things
and left the cockroaches behind me. I
walked around the old center of
Barcelona, snapped a few final pictures
and then took a cab to the Picasso
Museum, which was
absolutely spectacular. I
then stopped in a few
Barcelona cafes and
walked around the town
before I departed the city
on an overnight sleeper
train headed for Paris.
I arrived in Paris
early the next morning
after enjoying the best
night's sleep I'd had
since my arrival in
Europe. From the train
station, I hopped on the
Metro and got off at San
Martin for no particular
reason. I found a hotel
room and after dropping
off my things, headed
back out again to the Metro, which makes
getting around Paris simple.
My first stop was the
Louvre. To see and actually
enjoy everything in the
Louvre, you really need at
least a week; I had three
hours. I spent my time in
the Greek and Roman sec
tions, then went to the Le
Invalides (the Military
Museum), which houses
Napoleon's tomb. The sec
tion was closing, but I
pleaded with the guard and
was allowed to wander
around for a half hour.
My next stop was the
Eiffel Tower, which was
much higher than I'd
thought and provided a
staggering view of Paris. I did not realize
that Paris was so huge. As the sun set, I
had dinner in the new restaurant in the
Eiffel Tower. The wine was good, and the
view was even better. I walked to the
Champs Elysees and stopped in a few
cafes.
I must say Paris is beautiful. The cui
sine was much better than described, the
architecture was mesmerizing, the people
weren't that pompous and the culture was
overwhelming.
My train ride the next day into
Germany was great. I saw much of north
ern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and
Germany. In Hamburg I boarded a train to
Luneburg.
Luneburg is the
type of picturesque city you see depicted
on Christmas decorations. The city streets
are cleaned twice a day with soap.
Every single brick seems to have a pur
pose, everything is orderly. While walking
around I was tempted to call cadence to
myself because the order was inspiring.
Eric and I traveled to Hamburg, but,
unfortunately, I was still too sick from the
smorgasbord to enjoy the city. I got a hotel
room near the train station, and the next
morning, took a bus to the airport and
reluctantly bid Europe farewell - for now.
There is too much to see and do in any
city, town or village in Europe. I took a
tiny sip of what Europe has to offer, and I
still thirst for more. The next time I go, it
will definitely be for an extended period of
time. Next spring break, tell your friends
to have a good time at a tourist trap in
Mexico or Florida while you head some
where new and exotic with a pack on your
back and no plans other than general des
tinations. You learn a lot and have a lot
more fun that way. Keep your money in
the socks you're wearing, your passport in
your front pocket, and your camera in
hand.
The world is here to be explored.
Unfortunately, too many Americans get
stuck on their couches watching television
instead of experiencing the world. There is
so much to see, learn, and do. Get off your
couch and go see the world.
FEATURE • 7
A friend had given
me the name of a class-
mate of his in
Luneburg, so for the
next two days, Eric
showed me around the
area. In Germany, it's
good to remember that
the food is served in
typical epic German
proportions. Eric and I
went to a smorgabord
one day where I ate
Germanic super-serv
ings and then became
super-sick. I didn't let
that stop my picture
taking and sightseeing
though.