Madrid

I decided to go to Madrid to meet up with one of Melissa's college friend Jesica. I got to her place early Friday morning and we went sight seeing right after a shower and get to know you chat. 


Here are some sights. 

We had a meal downtown but a lesbian couple really ruined the mood cause they were super drunk. Things got wild and they got kicked out but then just went to the bathroom for a long time? Later we saw them stumbling around in the rain. We got a full bottle of wine with lunch. I was intoxicated and we went to a museum for free where I saw more art. 

We went grocery shopping and discovered pomelos and I got Jesica her first Kinder surprise ever! Then we ate and got ready and met up with the girls... there were lots of them and I remember Rose and Ali's names only. I decided Jesica and I should be the same amount of drunk so we were going drink for drink at this house party. After a failed attempt to improve the music I had a nap in a bed I found. 

Next day we just relaxed (aka had hangovers). It was nice to relax though and we ate a nice burger around the corner from Jesica's.

Sunday we went to the market which has some weird other name (El Rastro). I got a watch, sunglasses and two button ups.

We went to El Tigre for Sangria and tapas. It was fun and the portions were  large and free. Somehow Jesica dumped a fritata er something in her drink. I laughed out loud and very hard.

After shopping for some time downtown I spotted this lovely sunset, others followed suit.

Then I drank a cup of chocolate and the rest of Jesica's.

We went to pick up my stuff and then Jes came to see me off at the bus station. She is the best and I was sad. 


This got so stuck in my head that I got it stuck in Jesica's head. Here you go...

Barcelona

The one night I stayed in Barcelona I stayed at a hostel up in the Northern part of the city. I couldn't check in yet BUT there was a computer available which I was in desperate need of since my memory card was full on my camera. My camera is so old that the memory card it uses isn't even sold anymore also it takes batteries. Anyway I edited and copied them to FB and my ipod which took HOURS but was finally on my way. I was so pumped for Barcelona cause I researched Gaudi for that class I took when I thought I wanted to be an architect. 

Sagrada Família

             

                                                   New                                                                     Old

Then I went for a walk to find a weird hospital and stumbled into this. Only friends of Korea will appreciate this. Sorrrrrry. 

Here is the weird hospital. 

Then I headed to Park Guell. I had to take this escalator in the garden. 

This was the view when I was on top. 

Here is the longest bench and a building. There were too many tourists around and I really couldn't get great pictures in the park. Like this one of some Asian guy. 

 

 

I walked through La Ramba to the pier. This is the Columbus monument, then boats then birds. 

I walked around trying to find some other Gaudi buildings and ran into this. Everyone around this fat cat looked like a crackhead though. 

I passed the modern art museum and several prostitutes but despite this the area seemed to be the coolest I had found yet. I think some crust punks tried to rob me by trying to get me to hold their dog or something, while they pick pocketed me but I wouldn't know. Too cool to talk to them and my Catalan is non-existent, Spanish only so so.  Went to the hostel and met two nice German ladies in my room. I accidentally stole their key and used their toiletries. Maybe the second one not so accidental. After locking up my shit at the bus depot I walked through this and the Parliament grounds where I met a cat and this fountain. 

Then I went to Palau Güell by accident I actually wanted to go to Casa Mila and Batllo. My bad. Pictured below in order.

I still had tons of time before the bus so I went to the Joan Miro Museum which was in a park on top of a hill. I saw this weird graffiti on the way. 

Here was the view from on top of the hill. 

 

The I went back to the bus depot and waited for my overnight to Madrid. Then I came back on the Monday I think? I decided I wanted to check out the casa's again and the modern art museum. I had a sit on a bench in a park and actually fell asleep. Like fully out. I went through the shopping alley and finally found the casa's. I looked at them from outside but didn't want to pay and the modern art museum was closed?!?! When I asked why he said it was private?!?! I came all the way from CANADA or KOREA which ever makes you feel worse and I specifically wanted to go there and I just can't for no apparent reason. FU. Then I ate a kebab and while I was dining a cockroach joined me across the table. Despite this still really love Barcelona. Then I walked to the beach, I thought about going to a movie but there was no indication anything would be in English so I just looked for a good spot to watch the sunset. This was moderately disturbed by some dummies trying to get long board footage. Really guys long boards? Save your memory space and time, it's boring and you certainly do not need a helmet. 

I really, really loved it here and I would move there in a second. 

I listened to this a lot walking on the beach and it made me think of a friends dog that licked a frog and got high. Also yeah I know it's been out for a bit it's just a little too hip for me but I decided to give it a listen way after the fact and it turned out I didn't mind it.


M83 - Raconte-Moi Une Histoire from Jw on Vimeo.

Paris

This might take forever so I am just doing pictures and captions. 

First night I walked around saw Arc de Triomph, Champs Elysee and Eiffle Tower. 

Then I went to the Notre Dame and Louvre.

 

Friday a lovely lady named Hannah arrived. We chatted and it was nice. She went to museums I  went to Luxembourg park and the catacombs. 

That evening two more friends arrived. Kelly and Chelsea, we went to Versailles in the morning, then Notre Dame, Luxembourg, Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge. Then back to the hostel and to eat a meal. I had steak tartar. After that I visited Winnipeg friends Tyson, Jan and Freja. 

One day I went shopping and the next I went to Centre Pompidou. When I was leaving this band started playing but they were in this box and you couldnt see in but then on a wall close to it they were projecting what was happening in the box. Art. 

Centre Pompidou by melaniereimer

 

Then it was Halloween so I went to a cemetery all alone, but when it finally got dark and spooky I got kicked out and the guard even gave me a ride to the gate. 

After that I went to a market that sucked and thats about it. 

I listened to this song a lot. Cause it's true... you don't... 

Brussels

DRUNK POST (sober edit)

I had a place to stay lined up but the girl was flaky so I booked a hostel for one night then planned to stay with a host for the weekend. So I got in pretty late and found my hostel. Then I decided to find a beer (sour cherry beer) and chips, I found the center which kinda blew my mind cause it looked like a disney castle but was real. I called my aunt on skype on free wifi from mcdonalds to validate my feelings.

Then I went back to my hostel only to befriend the some girls. We resolved to meet back in the morning and go to the flea market. I went to bed which sucked cause the room was freezing and I had to sleep in all of my clothes on. I left my shit with one of the girls and we went to the market. We waited for a long time to see Stephen Spielberg cause Tin Tin was dropping and paparazzi were swarming his hotel. It was cold and I didnt really care so we moved on. Saw Mannekin Pis. 

next day we went to a flea market. it was okay but one girl was obsessed with pins so we had to look through many. the legit world war two gas masks were only fifiteen a piece also a cop told me to close my purse. Some wares available for purchase.

Then we ate a waffle, if you can call it that.

and I was late to meet my lovely host Eve. She was so nice. Her boyfriend Julien referred me. We went to museum park and talked about architecture a lot. Then we went to Julien's and watched several music videos and had a nice dinner.

Next day Julian had two french girls coming to stay with him and we went out with Eve's school friends. We went to a super old bar that closed at one. Then from there we went to Madame Mustaches which was a kinda soul and mod night. Drank a lot things got silly and we met Johnny Depp. Kidding he was just a weird creeper with a pony tail and goatee.

Next day we went to the comic museum and Horta's house. it was okay. My lovely host... choice comics and Horta's place.

 

 Later Sunday we ate fries and a polish girl came and I talked a lot about Korea and how different Asia is. I tried another beer. the end.

Julien and Eve introduced this video to me.