Introduction

Perhaps the most vital thing I can tell you at this moment is that this blog will attempt to shy away from the stereotypical rants that many other travelers frequently write. It will avoid touristy reviews and suggestions and will hopefully highlight the shenanigans and cultural predicaments I may stumble into. For those of you who do not know my writing style, it is abrupt, light hearted and desperately existential at points. For those of you who don't know me, I have an unearned sense of confidence, no filter, and I have an unhealthy addiction of trying to command a room. This preliminary post is much longer than any of its predecessors due to the fact that I have already been in Barcelona for a week. This first post will also deal more with the city in order to give you an idea of my surroundings. Hopefully pictures will be a rare occurence. I am embracing the true challenge here of making you see this world through my highly elevated eyes.
In Midnight in Paris, undoubtedly my favorite movie of 2011, Owen Wilson's character says,
"..how is anyone ever going to come up with a book, or a painting, or a symphony, or a sculpture that can compete with a great city. You can't. Because you look around and every street, every boulevard, is its own special art form.."
This statement was poignant when I first saw the film, however, it is now resonating on a whole new level. The rounded street corners, stylized balconies, and open air eateries create a catacomb of culure unlike anything I have experienced. Entering the Gothic Quarter at dusk is an immediate transportation to a world that I only thought existed in film and literature. As you aimlessly wander the car-less avenues, each corner spurs a sense of excitement. The atmospheric contradiction of shadowy figures in the distance and the smell of fresh baked bread trapped within the medieval corridors heightens your senses and baffles your intuition.
Every day puts forth a undeniable vibe of summer. All the shops close from 2pm to 5pm and the streets empty as people return home for lunch or stroll to the nearest park or beach. The parks are one of the two things that have amazed me most in my short time here. You can locate one within two blocks of wherever you may be in the city. And these parks are not your run-of-the-mill American swing set, slide, and a field set up. No. Even the most disregarded parks in Barcelona have some beautiful architectual achievement emerging from their core. I had always believed that Chicago's emphasis on architecture was strong, however, it does not measure up to what I have witnessed here. The second thing that has astounded me about this city are the dogs. No leashes, no pooper scoopers, no problems. Dogs promptly trot along side their owners and exchange looks of tranquility and respect to other canines as they pass. There are no ferocious territory battles and I haven't heard a bark yet. Perhaps their contentment lies in the fact that they can shit wherever they so please.