impressions of my brother

7 Days in Barcelona
Finally the 4 Gunters got to España! On the 30th of May my mum, dad and myself flew to Barcelona and visited Heike. It was an excellent week even if it has been a tough time for me as an engineering Student :-).
Heike did all the organisation: a wonderful apartment and a full Barna-sightseeing week. Our apartmenthad everything that you need to survive (included a air-condition and a TV, but just with spanish talking people inside), only the pan made Heike livid when she was cocking Tortillas de Patatas for us. (@Heike: although they were wonderful :-))
The exploration week covered all. We visited tourism-things, like churches (Sagrada Familia, jo!), the Ramblas (a looooong street with some small shops and crazy people) and special quarters, but also the "Barcelonic way of living". Heike took us out several times for spanish dinner. The spanish people generally start no earlier than after 9, rather 10 with eating. Therefore we sat until past midnight in a bar on Plaza de Sol und ate Tapas. These are plates with small things on it, for example: filled olives (very tasty with fish inside), catalanic bread, special cheese, potatos with spicy sauce and much more...
The exploration-tours showed us how beautiful and multisided the city is. So we visited an abbey on top of a mountain some where outside Barcelona, or a church on another mountain besides Europe's oldest amusement park. The artist Gaudi left his marks on lots of buildings in the city. Not only the Sagrada Familia is very beautiful (still in progress), but also several parks und houses. Especially the park ca. 15 minutes from our apartment was very impressive. Heike also presented her uni to us, a very beautiful complex. Everywhere internal courtyards with small gardens in which you can learn and relax in the middle of city.
Barcelona is living round the clock. It doesn't matter of you go out noon or past midnight, there is always life in every alley. Also a child with its tricycle has to be on tour in Barna at half past midnight.
Because of me the beach had to be visited at least one time to get a proper sun burn. At once we were surrounded of massage-Asians ("Massachiiii, Massachiiii?" "No."), drinksellers ("ColaaaaWaaaaateeeerBeer ColaaaaCervecaaaaaaAgua?" "Noooo!") and coco-sellers ("CocoCocoCocoCoco?" Ahhhhhhhhhh). Because the drink selling was forbidden at this beach, the police advanced and distributed all cans among the spanish people short time later. Lots of fun!
A survival tip for foreigners: Never see a crosswalk as a thing with existance and function authority AND never sprint over the street when the pedestrian light is switching to red! The spanish people doesn't care much about crosswalks and prefer to honk the tourists away instead of braking and start to drive every time when the pedestrian light switches to red.
Barcelona is full of motocycles! I think every dog has a moto. So everyone can wiggle through the thick traffic with hazardous moves. Who doesn't have a moto rides the Metro. A super system! Every train has its own line and rides every 2 minutes. Therefore no one runs for his train and all are relaxed.
We were also invited for dinner with Heike's host family. They dished up very very much and I was happy again. Overall 4 courses spanish goodies with noodles, fish, meat, bread, tapas,... Heike really lives there very well and has founded a very nice family.
One week in Barcelona was way too short but because of Heike's organisation we were able to see very much and to get an idea of the live in the city. Thanks to Heike and my parents that we have been there together and have had such a great time!
Christoph