Beautiful Barcelona

Barcelona, my first taste of Spain.

Our first night was spent in a local pub, amidst the locals, cheering on Barcelona to a victory over Real Madrid. What a fantastic, truly authentic experience that was. To find a local place to watch the match, we kept our eyes peeled for walking red and blue stripes. After a few minutes of shameless stalking, we found our "stadium." The small pub was filled with locals, the excitement and anticipation of the match coursing through the room. Perfecto.

Seating was at a minimum, so we squeezed into a corner, mixed in with Madrid and Barcelona fans (and what a lively mix). Sangrias in hand, we're ready for the game. Three local guys sit across from us -- one that speaks English, one that speaks baby English (the basics), and another that just smiles a lot. His actual name is German, he doesn't speak German, his dad is German, but he lives in Barcelona and speaks Spanish. Okay.

I got to practice my baby Spanish with the guys, asking them their name, where they're from, and their telephone number. (In high school Spanish, I made sure to remember the important phrases.) We learned Barcelona cheers, strained to see the television through the crowd of seatless fans, and finally celebrated a victory with high fives and toasts. Coming from a non-soccer player, this was one of the most amazing sports experiences I've ever had. Soccer presents such a different environment than football, baseball, etc. It's youthful, joyful, encouraging, non-Barbaric.

Walking outside and hearing the shouts and cheers of Barcelona's fans was surreal. The plaza right outside the pub was lit up with celebration, men hanging off lampposts proudly waving team flags, the whole mass of people yelling "Barca! Barca!" What an incredible moment that I'll never forget.

Ohhh, the food in Barcelona... Tapas are a must if you're in Spain. We landed at a tapas bar called La Flauta the first night. Red shrimp, cuttlefish, sautéed mushrooms and asparagus were eaten first, followed by Cabreos (egg style) coming out second. To make sure that we didn't leave hungry, we ordered mini baguette sandwiches filled with cured meat and local cheese. Mmmm. My favorite dish was Cabreos, hands down. The dish consists of what I like to call French fry potato chips (similar to hash browns but crispier), a semi-spicy sauce, and two eggs, cooked over easy, right on top. The waiter mixed the eggs in at the table, transforming the dish into a gooey concoction that looks suspicious but tastes amazing.

My first taste of Spain, literally and figuratively, was addicting. The beauty that is Barcelona is captivating -- the Spanish culture permeates the air, creating a sweet aroma that carries with it laughter, youth, and warmth.

Next up, Madrid.