The big event of the week was El Papa's (the Pope) visit to the city & I was more then surprised how un-peaceful of an event this turned into. Naturally, I couldn't avoid such a conflict (blame it on my lack of debate outlets) so I decided to go in Saturday afternoon to take pictures of the mayhem. And thus begin yet another "fail" for Stevie in the city. Short version: I arrive at the protest, take out my camera, and, realize my battery is at home on the charger. Unfortunate, but not a big deal. I still had an excellent time trying to understand the disputes between the pro-pope and anti-pope crowds. Once I got the protesting out of my system, I decided that I should get back to the bus stop and head home, since it's been getting dark earlier here, and since La Rambla isn't a place to be alone at night. Some how, the bus stop disappeared. I've been there many times now, and never got lost, but what I decided would be a short cut, ended up getting me terribly lost. So I walked and walked, and finally decided to ask 2 police where it was. They gave me a wonderfully vague answer of straight and to the left. So I just started walking, not knowing HOW far straight or HOW far to the left, but figuring I was in the general vacinaty. After about 30 minutes or circling, I had my second attempt at asking directions, which, was equally un-helpful. By this time, I had already missed the first bus, and the next didn't leave for another two hours, so I decided that I was probably close to the bus stop, and I'd just get something to eat and then pick up my search. Fast forward 1:45 minutes. I have been walking, and walking, and finally decided that the bus stop must not be anywhere close, because surly I would have seen it. My new plan is to find a metro, take it back to La Rambla, and start again. Fast forward 30 minutes. Still walking, no metro in sight, have missed the second bus, and am on track to miss the third if I don't find a metro ASAP. Right when my panic mode is about to set in, I see the glowing red "M" of the metro sign, and sprint down the stairs to look at the map and see where I am. I think people thought I was crazy, because I literally almost died laughing when I saw what station I was at, and how FAR it was from where I started, or where I was trying to get. And, sad to report, it was probably my frazzled, hysterical apperance that caused me, minutes later, to get my wallet stolen while on the crowded train back to La Rambla. Conclution: I made it to the bus stop, realized my wallet was gone, my phone was dead, and had no way to pay for the bus or call for help. Thank god for a sweet old lady who punched her bus ticket twice so I could get back to the safe haven of Olesa. Then Sunday I got to spend all day cancelling cards, replacing info, all that fun stuff. Note to self: Protesting the pope= lots of bad karma.
Other notes:
I start my internship for an amazing photographer on the 17th! I'm so anxious and nervous and excited. And have been busy trying to touch up and add to my portfolio, which he wants to see!
Tomas (the little one) said his first, full sentence in english without prompt. Normally, he'll say words, like spanglish, or repeat a sentence if you tell him it, but this is the first time he just came up to me and told me something in english. Thankfully, his mom was there to witness this, and she is just extatic, because she was convinced that'd he'd never speak english. The sentence "I'm going to win because I'm faster then you." A little cocky, and scary, especially with the look he gave me when he said it. But i'll take it anyday, if he's saying it in english.
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