Wooohoooo! Made it all the way the hostel in one piece!
It took me a while but I managed. Actually, it wasn't even that difficult... I don't know what's happening to me but I have never been so peaceful and calm in my entire life... especially when going somewhere new. I am excited and happy but before it used to be more of a 'timed bomb' type of excitement... Now it's simply... I don't know how to describe it... maybe it doesn't need to be described, important is that it feels DAMN good.
Apparently, this sudden appearance of my inner peace made all the other tourists feel like it's not my first time here... as I was calmly giving out advice on where to buy tickets, when to get of the bus, etc... not because I actually knew all this or was at all prepared... All the information was around one way or another... I think if you decide not to be stressed everything just becomes easy. In any case, it's very pleasant and amusing when people see me as if I knew it all... especially, without finding me annoying... cause, let's face it, I can be an incredibly annoying know-it-all at times.
That is the end of the heroic part of the story. Part number two is dedicated to my legendary inexplicable carelessness... I got off the airport shuttle at La Placa de Catalunya. It took me while to figure out on which side of the square I was and which one of the many streets was 'my' street but I managed... After a 20 minute walk I finally found my hostel... or was supposed to. Instead I was standing in front of a heavy ancient wooden door capable of accommodating a person 4 times taller than me. It seemed to belong to some sort of distinguished Architectural company - or at least that seems to be an image they were going for. I truly couldn't care less... my stomach was having a symphonic orchestra concerto since I left the airport. I was in desperate need of food and shelter.
Despite all this I was not even remotely stressed, as I mentioned, I am am having an episode of inner peace... I stood there staring at the number on the door - 226. Seeing the number, I knew almost instantly what the problem was... I know my brain far too well. Though to save myself some walking - in case my brain was playing tricks on me, cause that also happens quite a lot- I called a friend in Scotland using my slovak number to check the address of the hostel online (because why on earth would I have such useless information with me, right? ... I do have moments of genius but mostly I am clueless).
IN case you care to know... which you probably don't but anyway... the correct number was of course 266. So I walked some more and, hallelujah, I arrived!
I love this hostel... even despite it's name (which is The Hipstel... the idea of it is that they are hipster hip... but yeah... anyway... since when are hipster hip? event the word 'hip' is not hip...). The building is old but renovated... it has a nice 'art nouveau' touch to it... And the staff is awesome! The minute I walked in I was flooded with more information I could possibly process... about everything: the food, drink and dance... I was invited to parties, breakfast, dinners... I was also assured there are some salsa options available in hostel pub crawl outings. I feel like I am staying at a friends house not a hostel... Well, the girls in my room seem a little quiet but then I just arrived, they deserve a chance.
I check in, put clean sheets on my bed to be and 'unpacked' - if I can call 'unzipping my suitcase and making a mess of it' unpacking) took a few Euros and headed straight out. Not to party... just to get a feel of the city and to quiet down the roaring monster in my stomach... cause apparently the dinner in the hostel was sooooo good nothing was leftover for late-comers like myself. So first, I bought myself amazing highly nutritious and healthy dinner - if you are guessing ice-cream, you are 100% right!
As I walked down the streets, summer breeze comforting my skin, -which is still slightly in heat-shock (and I came here at 8PM... it's supposed to be cooler now)- I soaked in the life around me. Because everything WAS alive... in a very relaxed manner.
I know I've been here only a few hours and saw next to nothing, but a feeling is peaking out inside me and boy I think it's love! I look around and I like what I see, what I smell... and I love the fact that I came here in early autumn. The leaves are sliding through the air like falling is nothing but a luxury leisure cruise. Autumn gives every place a character... not that Barcelona needs any extra help.
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