Hola!

Spain. Is. Gorgeous.

Barcelona has been great so far, honestly though, we have been here for maybe 4 hours. I'm just pumped about our hostel. I think it's the nicest we have had so far and its located right on this famous street, Las Ramblas. The street is bustling with tourists and street performers and the occasional frustrated local trying to get somewhere. The buildings remind me somewhat of the French buildings with flat roofs and blending of juxtaposed borders. The beach is located just down the street and on the way is about 100 tapas bars.

We are currently trying to "absorb the culture" by taking a 3 hour nap, from 1 to 4pm. Seriously. They shut down for at least 3 hours, something I think ACC should look in to.

We just made dinner reservations for my birthday that is on Friday. I cannot believe I'm 23. I have no idea where the last 5 years went. Birthdays get weirder and weirder as you get older. It's like every year leading up to 21 is a countdown, and every year after is a day to evaluate life. Like judgement day for yourself. Questions like: Where am I going?; What is next?; Where did I think I was going to be?; Do I still want to go there?; How do I get there?; they keep popping into my head. These questions are important, and very relevant to life, but if being out here has taught me anything, it's to make these questions apply to the now.

Let me explain: life goes so fast, especially when you are trying to see 3 countries in a matter of days. So when planning and evaluating the future takes away from the moment of experience, then all you are doing is planning for more moments of planning. You will be constantly evaluating how far you have come and how far is left to go. If you take the first question, "Where am I going?" and apply it to the now, it becomes less about trying to write a future and more about the fact that I want to see what tapas are like in Spain. So in answer to that question, I'm probably gonna head out to a tapas bar.

Do I have a lot I want to accomplish in the coming years? Yes. Do I have dreams that I have not yet attained? Yes. But right now, in this moment, I'm a 22 year old (going on 23) in Spain, and I intend to live every moment in the now. I plan on starting this revelation in 3 hours, when siesta is over.

Adios!