Buenos días, babes. I'm still feeling giddy because as I'm writing this, my boy and I are in Barcelona (one of my favourite cities) and it's give or take thirty degrees. I'm working on getting my face full of freckles, sunglasses on and everything I put into my mouth is complete food porn like empanandas, grilled octopus and chorizo (which you pronounce TJORIZO - not GORIZO). Diets don't exist here - thank god - and our glasses are forever half full. Belated birthday presents have never been this much fun.
Barcelona, it had been a while since our last get together. I'm pretty sure I was about seventeen years old and I headed that way for some school trip. My mother had warned me for pickpockets but I told her not to worry. Only to have my wallet stolen two days later in the subway. Because Barcelona, that's unfortunately also a part of your city. Once again, I had been warned so I've been making sure to keep my Lanvin bag glued to my arm.
”Trying to take a selfie without scaffolding at the Sagrada Família still deserves a place in the Guiness Book of World Records”
Seven years later and not much has changed. Gaudi, your mosaics from Park Güell are still shiny as ever, and wandering around La Rambla is still divine and trying to take a selfie without scaffolding at the Sagrada Família still deserves a place in the Guiness Book of World Records. So I've heard since their official completion date is in 2026 which is ironic because everything they have thus far completed can already use a bit of renovation.
Mañana Mañana, is the motto they live by here. Now I have to confess that the first two days I would be fuming when I was sitting at a terrace waiting for food and people who showed up LATER, got their food first. Perhaps something typically Dutch? But luckily was able to add perspective to the situation and zone into the Spanish vibe. I could live in Barcelona. Have someone send over all my things and head back home in a year or so.
”The incomparable ssss of the Corazon, I want it all”
Seriously. Spain is the most realised country that I know. The sun, the mentality, the magical language, the people, the incomparable ssss of the Corazon, I want it all. Especially the language. This is exactly the reason I took a Spanish minor in college but uh, no mucho left of it. Although now that I'm here, I'm starting to realize I understand more of the language than I thought I would.
Have I succeeded in transferring my love for the country your way yet? Good. And If I have yet to succeed, hold your horses. I'll be throwing a lot of Barcelona-ness over your way this week on Amayzine. Because I am far from finished. ¡Hasta mañana!
Buenos días, kids. My luck can't run out. Because right now I find myself with my love in Barcelona (one of my favourite cities) and it is más o menos thirty degrees. I'm working on the mini freckles on my face, wearing hats and eating nothing but foodporn like empanadas, grilled octopus and chorizo (which you actually pronounce as TJORIZO - not GORIZO, Neanderthals.) There is no such thing as dieting here -thank God- and the glass of white seems to be filled forever. Just like the glasses of Licor 43. Birthday presents credit has never been so much fun.
Barcelona, the last time I visited you was far too long ago. I was about 17 years old and went on a cultural trip with my class along all the Spanish beauty. My mother warned me about the pickpockets. I remember how I pedanticly said I could really watch my own stuff. Two days later, my wallet was suddenly gone in the metro. Because Barcelona, that's how you are. I am now once again warned and cling my Lanvin bag so close to my body that the poor thing just barely stopped screaming.
”A normal selfie WITHOUT scaffolding on top at the Sagrada Familia still equals a Guinness Book of Records attempt”
Seven years on, not much about the city has changed. Gaudi, your Park Güell mosaics are still as shiny as ever, it's still lovely strolling down La Rambla and a normal selfie WITHOUT scaffolding on top at the Sagrada Família is still equivalent to a Guinness Book of Records attempt. So I've heard, the current official completion date is 2026, but also quite ironic that the already completed sections are now due for renovation.
Mañana mañana, is the motto here. And that is so lovely. Now I must confess that the first two days I could sit on the terrace like a steaming shrimp if the people who came later to sit on the same terrace got their bocadillo jamon earlier. That really is something typically Dutch, isn't it? That pointing and indignant hissing “But we were here much earlier, look, they already have their food”, said the furious shrimp. But by now I can put things into perspective with my kale head, I've got the Spanish vibe again and it can't go slow enough for me. I would be in Barcelona be able to live there. I would prefer to pack my entire equipment right away only to return to the Netherlands sometime next year.
”The salivating sssss of the Corazon, I want it all”
Seriously. Spain is the most relaxed country I know. The sun, the mentality, the magical language, the people, the salivating slack sssss of the Corazon, I want it all. Especially the language. For that reason, I started doing a minor in Spanish during my studies years ago, but there's eh, no mucho more of that overo, so to speak. And yet I notice the longer I'm here, the more words I suddenly start to understand again.
Have I managed to convey my love for España to you at all? Good. And if not, prepare for a Barcelona orgy in the coming days on Amayzine. Because I haven't finished my girlfriends yet. And now it's time to pop that lappie away and join my bloke on the balcony before ‘he potfully devours all the Manchego, smokes cigarettes and the wine forgetting to share with me. ¡Hasta mañana!
