Ballin and Barcelona (or My Experience with Genius) [Updated]

Hola Amigos,

Here's what I've been up to the last few days:

Monday (9/8): Played basketball less than a quarter mile from the Eiffel Tower. I was just going for the ball, so I didn't bring my camera, biggest regret from Europe so far. It becomes part of the background when you're playing, but every now and then I'd look up and just be in awe. And the competition was good and fun as hell to play with. Every drive to the hoop contained about 4, 5, or 27 fakes before a behind-the-back or between-the-legs pass. When I did a behind-the-back and the recipient didn't see it coming, he apologized for missing it rather than asking me what the hell I was doing. A few funny notes too. While they had a boombox with Dr. Dre playing, a couple of differences from the US were that they smoked cigarettes between games and all brought their purses with them. So while we were playing there were about 10 or 12 purses on the sideline and not a single girl amongst us, that will never cease to amuse me. (Side note: I feel like this trend in Europe may originate with the heavy usage of coins. I hate them rattling around in my pockets, so a purse may be handy; but I don't think I could ever bring myself to buy one).

That night at L'Antidote, I had a surreal moment. There were a bunch of French lads and ladies my age at the bar, a handful of whom were rather sloppy (to put it nicely). When ordering their final round of shots, they asked where I was from. When I answered, they gave me a shot and hummed the first part of the national anthem before regaling me with their stories of their time in the USA. I've heard stories and rumors about how the French are rude to travelers, especially those from America, but my experience couldn't be more of the opposite. Many people in Paris went the extra mile to make my stay as good as possible. After I live in Shanghai for a few years, I'll probably have to live here and learn French. (Also, I'll have to learn their anthem so that I can hum it to the first French person I meet in a bar back home)

Tuesday (10/8): I went to Napoleon's tomb, a massive monument to a tiny man. Afterwards, I chilled at a cafe for a couple hours arranging travel and the like. Pretty slow day. I ate at a North African restaurant around the corner from my hostel, which was delicious and the host was stellar in guiding me through my options; there was food from Senegal, Cameroon, and Madagascar, all tres bon. If I can find the name I'll pass it forward for future travelers. In my last night at the Young and Happy Hostel in the Latin Quartier (can't say enough good things about it, great staff, clean rooms, always felt my possessions were secure), a bunch of new travelers just got in. I took them over to L'Antidote to hopefully continue traditions after I leave. I'm gonna miss that place, it was a chill bar to start the night and Will is a cool bartender, always talking with the folks and providing quality service/music (really good music actually).

Wednesday (11/8): Spent 6 hours in the airport due to delays, let's not talk about it. It was late, but I got to Barcelona.

Thursday (12/8): Wandered around Las Ramblas before heading over to Picasso museum. Talk about mind blowing, I think I got an aneurysm. I spent 3.5 hours looking at the over 300 paintings there and they have over 700 more in the vault (Picasso liked the idea of a museum in his hometown and just up and donated 1000 paintings that were "laying around his house"! What!?!). Genius doesn't have an off switch, and it showed. It started with paintings when he was 12 and he died with a brush in his hand. I could look at his works all day. My favorite was his interpretations of a Velazquez piece. When I see a picture, I try to come up with two or three ideas of what is going on in it before moving on. Picasso put his own spin on fellow Spanish painter Velazquez's "Las Meninas"... 60 times. 60. All cubist, but all different, with the colors perhaps conveying the souls/emotions/true intentions of the main characters. Mindblowing. Loved it.

That night, I met Lauriane, Elise, Dave, and Ryan who explored the streets of Barcelona with me. We punctuated the night with my first dip into the Mediterranean Sea around 3AM. The perfect way to start my time in Spain

Friday/Saturday (13-4/8): When I first posted this I got the days off by one, now I can't differentiate these two (Barcelona will do that to you). I did a Gaudi tour, went to Casa Milla (a house designed by him), Sagrada Familia, and Parc Gaülle (a community designed by him). He's definitely a genius too, just centuries ahead of his time. He was an architect, sculptor, and an engineer, his buildings are all twisted and crazy (I'm standing on the roof of Casa Milla in the photo above). I wish he didn't die, I definitely would've commissioned him to design the future Lauer Mansion.

On Friday afternoon, I explored the Gothic district with Lauriane, Elise, Dave, and Ryan. Then I had the first of my Culinary Adventures (coming next post).

Sunday (15/8): Very lazy day today, just laying low after some late nights partying this weekend.

Tomorrow I head out to Figueres for another of my favorite geniuses, Salvador Dali.

Shameless Plugs: I've eaten like a king every night in Barcelona thanks to Kip Lange, Dot Kelleher, Alex Baddock, and Jeff Devine. My map, which is peppered with their recommendations, is treated like a holy relic. So far they're batting 1.000 (knock on wood), I have no doubt it'll keep up. I will tell you all about it in the next post.

Also to the Young and Happy Hostel. I wish I could remember the manager's name, he learned mine on the first day and made sure that my experience was as pleasurable as possible. Either he does that for everybody there or the Scublog has gained popularity faster than I expected. He's a real class act.

Finally, to Gabi, Olivier, and Will for being excellent people to talk with, learn about Paris from, and for making an American feel comfortable abroad.