6-27-09 Heading for Italy and noteing my observations from Espalia (Ithink thats Spain)

I can hear the engine underneath the boat reving up, there are a lot of people out back ready for the ship to dis-embark. But me, I am here in the computing commons writing on all of my observations from a very diverse experience. Spain was amazing and also had its little crevaces thats you didn't wish to hear about. We leaned some Spainsh and we learned how to use the Metro Station in Spain. Las Rambles, the main drag in Barcelona is a very crowded, highly trafficed, and full of shops and street performers during the day; but once it turns into night a whole new world emerges, full of prostitutes, transvestites, people selling drugs, and you have to watch your bags and sutff as you walk down. The 3 Barcelona Card  was the best investment that we made, and not only could you use it at the Metro Stations but you could also use it at a lot of different locations to recieve discount on admission and that sort of thing. One thing I wish I would have brought was baby powder cause on the second day after walking and walking and walking lets just say that some things can go raw and once it is night time you cannot find a CVS or something like that. When traveling with a group, do not split up from each other I repeat do not split up unless you have 2 sets of keys or perhaps have made prior arangements to do seperate things. Also it is essential that you experience the Ice Bar, not only do you get to wear amazing jackets and go in sub-zero temperatures but you get a free drink and you can eat your cup once your finished. One thing I disliked about Spain, is that  it was an enviormentally friendly culture besides the fact where the only way you could obtain water was by purchasing a bottle of it, and there is no free water once you get to dinner or lunch. We were a little loud the last night too, not me in particular but other people that I was with and I believe that was disrespectful to their way of life and I would prolly have changed that, cause I just think it was prolly disrespectful. I observed Spain had an abudance of agriculture land devoted to crops and surprisingly acres upon acres of sunflowers and then there were neighborhoods in highly density areas, where mixed use development also played a part in making Spain really cool. Mixed use is having a building where you have shops on the bottom and then living arangements on top of those. I just heard the boats horn and it looks like we are now leaving. Antoni Gaudi's buildings in Spain were breathtaking and would of loved to spent just a day at the park which he constructed on top of a hill with an amazing view of Barcelona. The park was just the most wonderful experience where I met this older lady from Los Angelas and had a 15 minute conversation with her, but at this park there were people playing music and selling jewlery and others just sitting on the grass and just observiong the glorious view of Barcelona. Also I found that Barcelona was a Megatropolis, there was just sooo many people and then mor people, almost everywhere you went just astounded me. I did find a lot of people very very helpful though when looking for something or trying to make someone understand something from your point and most would take their time with you, something that is rare to find even with Americans to Americans. I think that is one of our downfalls as a Global Leader, I mean what example are we really setting for everyone, and how arrogant can we get as to not even willing to spend 5 mintues trying to help someone who looks lost. I mean I am a hypocrit in my own writing but it has really given me a new perspective on things and I will now be more patient with people who do not speak my language or even those who do and are looking for something, cause other people around the world really have no problem helping you out.  Also now I can see how people do not always like them, because in some senses we do not even try to come closer to being a better global citizen, we don't live in a box, we live in a sphere where everyone is a part of. In Spain they also eat at different times of the day and focus on quality not quantity. All that I am saying is we could learn a thing or 2 from how these other nations really do things. That is all for now I am hungry and going to go eat. And Abby listened to your CD again it was fantastico, and really thought of you a lot and your flippin awesome =O