Josh is by far "outposting" me so I better make this good.
The night before we were supposed to go to Barcelona it started snowing in Gort, where we are staying at the cottage, which is insanely unusual for this time of year and in Ireland all together. The next morning at 4 am it was an intense drive to the airport, thanks to Dusty's skills we all arrived safely. We took Ryan Air to Spain and I would recommend it to any person! The planes are brand new and they are very efficient and the on time rating is higher than any European airline. Not to mention the fact that the tickets were $25 roundtrip to Barcelona from Shannon. It gets a bad reputation for all the charges but it is ideal for scrappy travelers like us.
We arrived in sunny Girona and then hopped a bus to Barcelona city center. Not even ten minutes after stepping off of the bus and the metro there was a protest tearing through the city. I would say the median participant was 16 to 18 years old and they were protesting removal of higher education. However, it was in Spanish so I could be slightly off. These people think with their hearts and they aren't afraid to fight for whatever is right. Spanish women are as beautiful as you imagine with an effortlessly chic sense of style. Jagged haircuts, bulky leather boots, and raspy smoker voices. Me on the other hand looked like a color blind eejit, the weather report was completely different than the actual temperature and I had to buy a sweater and a scarf just to walk around. Josh and I were amazed and just sort of floated around from markets to cathedrals to cafes and shops. There was an endless amount to see and I think we wasted some time wishing we had more. We stayed at an extremely inexpensive place that I would recommend called Pension Miami. It was very central and only $25 a night for two! We will definitely be back in Spain someday soon and Barcelona is a must.
I think Josh summed up our little music session last night, but I have to say it was incredible. I felt like I was one of their friends and had only just met them. I love the way, in Ireland, age puts no restriction on what company you will be surrounded by. There was everyone from 14 to 78 there and we all had something to learn from on another. In fact Tom told us that his granddaughter had taught him a few of the tunes the 78 year old played. As the night went on the wine was poured and the stories got louder and funnier. At one point, and for those who know me well this may be a shock, Tom had my mom and I on either arm doing an old Irish jig in the center of the living room. I felt like a peasant on the lower level of the Titanic, it was hilarious and liberating.
Today was the first day I returned to the Markree Castle, it was a strange feeling. I missed it but I appreciated my time there even more now that I can see it for the first time again. It smells the same and there is the same witty crude banter echoing throughout the workers quarters as they all get ready for the events. I hope someday when I have children they can go on an adventure like the one that I was able to go on.
I guess we are getting kicked out of here so I have to go now. I will have a lot more to say tomorrow because we are going out on the Sligo town tonight with an old friend of mine.
Cheers
Lindsey
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