So here I am in my awesome apartment enjoying my first full day in Spain!

The flight was 8 hours, which wouldn't have been to bad but I slept for less than an hour.  We finally landed in Spain, at 8:50 local time (Almost 3 in the morning our time!)  We met some of the people on our program at a cafe in the airport while we waited for Ryan and Naila to find us (these are the program directors via Spain).

When we were leaving the airport nikki had a big cart of all her bags on them.  Spain has a moving sidewalks like the U.S. but they are more of a ramp and the are inclined.  A girl put her bag on nikkis stuff and all of Nikki's suitcases fell off onto the ramp, in front of the cart.  Nikki was behind the cart so she couldn't pick them up.  I ran my suitcases off the ramp and then proceeded backwards up the ramp running towards nikkis to grab what i could.  Nikkis cart got stuck on the end and there was a pile up of 15 other people and their suitcases.  It was really funny and all the spanish peopled hated us.  This was Europe's way of saying welcome. 

After everyone was together we got on a bus to head to our various living arrangements.

The view from our balcony/my and nikki's bedroom window.

I live on the 6th floor of a piso (apartment).   I live with Nikki, Kim and two Mikes.  We have a small kitchen and two bathrooms, and we're about two blocks away from a metro stop so its really convenient.   We're also a couple blocks away from Gaudi's famous the Sagrada Familia.

(this is what it looks like at night)

Nikki and I unpacked a few things and then headed into the city with Mike to explore and buy a few things.  We bought pay as you go phones, and realized our Spanish was much worse than we thought as we tried to communicate with a women who spoke no English.  After we returned to our apartment we finally decided it was time for a quick nap (it was 11 am american time). 

This we headed over to Universitat Pompre Fabre where we met up with Ryan and Naila for orientation.  After the orientation we went to a resturant that was included in the program and they brought out all kinds of food.  They kept bringing out plate after plate.  There was calamari, fried anchovies, mussels, some other kind of fried fish, and bruschetta.  I tried all the fishy things even the anchovies (dad you would be proud). 

fried anchovies (or sardines not really sure)..... they were gross

After the appetizers, I got a huge plate of chicken paella, which was delicious but i was already so full.  They even gave us lemon smoothies, and cookies after the main course, and put 4 or 5 bottles of liquor on our tables. 

After a stroll on the beach of barcelona (its been 60 degrees the last two days!) We're exhausted, and ready to nap.  And then we'll hit up the town later tonight!