Easter is a very different experience in Spain than it is in the US to say the least. Instead of a few dyed eggs and a bunny, it is a week long celebration filled with fun in the sun, vacations, and endless sangria with friends. Needless to say, I think that the latter is a little more exciting.

I arrived in Barcelona a few days ago to visit my friend and fellow business planner, Mr. Nathan Clark (we enjoed solar glory in a beach sense instead of market analysis sense, also much more enjoyable). He met me in Placa Catalunya, a lively square at the head of La Rambla, a bustling street filled with shops, bars, markets, and all sorts of characters. Due to the holiday that we hadn’t anticipated, it was a huge human traffic jam. Literally no moveent was to be had for minutes at a time. We battled the crowds though, and we saw a lot, although probably only a slice of the glory that Barcelona has to offer.

We spent quite a bit of time exploring the different tastes and sights of the city, and found absolutely nothing wrong with it; in fact, Barcelona is spectacular. We enjoyed the architectural workings of the architect Gaudi, including his famous Parc Guell which is filled with twisting turrets and palm trees, and looks like the ultimate dream haven for one Dr. Seuss. We saw the many piazzas filled with sculptures, perfected the science of locating unsung and intricate urban parks, and of course soaked up some sun on the beach.

Gastronaumically speaking, we also had quite the field day. From amazing gnocci to Juicy Jones ( a delicious veggie restaurant, a refreshing change!) and chocolate croissants, our tummies were always smiling. I discovered that my favorite drink could very well be a glass of smooth Spanish sangria, bursting with fresh fruit and bubbling with a trace of champagne… so nice. We also enjoyed a feast in Cambrils because of Easter, which was amazing too.

We took an hour and a half train down the coast to the lovely beach town of Cambrils, where we soaked up some sun before meeting Nate’s friends Javier and Asun from Spain and Mexico respectively. They are amazingly kind people, and quite the pleasure to hang out with. We spent our day enjoying zumo de pina in the marina before a siesta and a lovely dinner made by Javi’s extremely generous parents. It was a wonderful experience connecting with the Spanish culture, and I got to work on my Spanish which remains underwhelmingly marginal. That night, the night of Easter sunday, we went out in a town up the coast called Salou, and I finally experienced the club life in Europe. Needless to say, it was filled with heart thumping music and we stayed out until 5am, but I did enjoy it rather thouroughly. We enjoyed the next day by sleeping in, walking the town, having afternoon wine and a siesta, enjoying a major easter feast, enjoying beautiful views of the coast, and loving life. I love life!