There are various ways of doing that, and here are just some of the activities and tours I think would be really fun ways to get to experience Barcelona with locals.

Activities with locals in Barcelona

• Contemporary painting workshop: I took a painting class in Bali, and it was really quite enjoyable. When you spend time with others while creating something, it’s such a great and memorable experience.
• Running: While I no longer run regularly, if ever, it is a great way to see more of a location. It’s even better when you can run with other people.
• Cooking classes: There are all sorts of these classes being offered. Everything from preparing tapas to Indian cooking to a “master” class. I’ve taken these types of classes in many countries, and they’re always a fun way of meeting people and connecting.
• Tours: As you might expect, there are tons of tours one can take in a large city like Barcelona. While most professional tour guides are good and entertaining, I find these smaller local-led groups to be more enjoyable. Often locals will show you places that many tourists miss. It’s also nice not having to be part of a group that is so large you have to keep your eye on a flag or something to make sure you don’t lose your group.
• Market tours: These are some of my favorite things to explore when traveling. Sure you can always go to a market and check it out yourself, but local markets provide a special insight to the culture. A local can explain the history, the cultural parts, and even some of the stories behind certain foods. Also, sometimes neighborhood markets can be a bit hidden so they can easily be missed when on your own. These types of tours are often connected to cooking classes as well. Those are even better.
• Photo tours: During guided tours, I often feel pressured because I’m busy taking photos from various angles, getting macro shots, etc., while everyone else is kind of waiting. Photography tours combine the best of both worlds. You often get a mixture of the history and interesting information about a place while being given plenty of time to get your shots in without annoying the rest of the group. You can also pick up tips on how to improve your photos.

Dining with locals

In addition to cooking classes, you can find situations where people open up their homes and offer meals. We attended a “pop-up restaurant” in Budapest, and it was such a great experience that I look for more of these opportunities when we travel.

Not only do you get insight into the local culture, but you get exposed to traditional home cooking. Some of these are from family recipes that have been handed down for generations. Often you can’t find these foods in any restaurant.

In Barcelona, you can find incredibly varied offerings: organic superfood vegan, organic Thai dinner, seafood paella, Cuban, Basque-Asian fusion (while dining in a penthouse), and so on.

They aren’t simply dining experiences, they’re cultural and social events as well usually lasting at least a few hours.

What’s your favorite way to meet and spend time with locals when you travel?

Barcelona is served by many low-cost carriers, so getting there from other locations in Europe, or even from North America, can be quite affordable. As they use the euro, Americans may feel a bit more of a hit thanks to a weaker currency, but it’s not as expensive of a place to visit as one might assume.

Getting Around

Barcelona has a robust transportation system consisting of a metro, trams, and buses. It is also surprisingly walkable.

While Spanish is the official language of Spain, this wonderful city is located in the Catalunya (Catalonia) region, and they have a language of their own. Important signs are bilingual, however, so don’t fret. Since international tourism is a huge part of Barcelona’s economy, you’ll also find plenty of English speakers.

Beaches

With 4.5 km (almost 3 miles) of coastline, the city has plenty of beaches. We were there in spring so didn’t really visit the beach. In doing some research, though, it appears that the most popular ones are Barceloneta, Mar Bella, Nova Icaria, and Bogatell.

Basilica de la Sagrada Familia

Ok, this is only partially outdoors. If you haven’t heard of this cathedral before, it’s like nothing else in the world. Building began on the cathedral over 100 years ago and won’t be finished any time soon. The admission is a bit steep, but after debating about whether or not to visit it, I feel like you can’t really visit Barcelona without seeing the inside of this famous church.

How impressive is it really? My almost 13-year-old son took one step into the building and immediately pronounced, “OK, I’m impressed.”

If that endorsement doesn’t get you to visit, I don’t think anything else will.

Barcelona from the Sky

You can get an amazing view of the city and many of its big landmarks while riding the cable cars from Parc Montjuïc up to the 17th century castle on a hill. Somehow I didn’t know about this while we were there!

Parks

Barcelona has numerous parks, ranging from small areas of grass to fairly immense spectacles. One such spectacle is Parc Güell. The park was designed by Gaudi, and I think the term “spectacle” is really the best one you can use to describe it. Part of the park is only accessible by paying admission (the spectacle side of things), but the rest of the park is free and worth a visit, even if you don’t want to pay the €7 (just over $9 USD) admission for an adult (kids 0-6 are free, and 10-12 will are €4.90).

We had been walking all day long, so by the time we made it to the park the last thing I wanted to do was pay around $16 to go inside. However, after walking around part of the perimeter and seeing photos online, I wish we had gone inside. Next time.

Walks

There are so many beautiful areas for just enjoying a stroll! One of my favorite areas to walk was Las Ramblas. We ended up coming back to this area a few times because it was so cool. Discover Walks offers a free walking tour (it’s actually “pay what you want”) that touches on a lot of the history in the region and visits a lot of great sites. We didn’t do the tour, but it is well rated, so it’s worth checking out.

The Gothic Quarter is quite interesting, and there are some really attractive areas along the Passeig de Gràcia. Although, if you despise crowds, you’ll want to avoid that area. But, if you’re a lover of shopping, you won’t want to miss it.

If you mix these activities with all the wonderful indoor things to do in Barcelona, you’ll definitely see why the city needs more time to visit. I’d actually like to go back and spend about a month. There are just so many nooks and crannies to explore.

If you’ve been to Barcelona, what’s your favorite outdoor activity?

I had heard so many positive things about this city and the region. When I explained to people on Facebook why I didn’t care for Madrid (full of grouchy people, nothing overly special about the city), a few people shared our feelings about Madrid but absolutely loved Barcelona. That was enough for me to decide to make the jump.

We stayed in the Gracia neighborhood, which was a great decision. We were close to many things to see, including the Sagrada Familia basilica and Parc Guell.

Walking around was really enjoyable. Because of the lovely spring weather, people were occupying the outdoor cafes and enjoying the beautiful sunshine. Being here at the end of April meant we had more tourists in some of the prime spots, but since we weren’t quite in the high season yet, it wasn’t too bad.

One of the first things I noticed about Barcelona was the vibe. The city just has a good feel to it. The big thing I was looking for, though, was the friendliness of the people.

We weren’t let down.

The locals were quite friendly and helpful. Some friends had told me that people would prefer to speak English rather than Spanish (since Catalan is the regional language). I did not find that to be the case. Every person I spoke to in Spanish readily engaged in conversation with me. It was interesting, though, seeing signs written only in Catalan.

It was so nice to walk into a store and be greeted as opposed to the sour looks we had in Madrid.

While lodging and transportation were definitely more expensive than Portugal, food and groceries were cheaper. Entrance fees to some things were also absolutely ridiculous. For instance, if you wish to enter the Parc Guell monument area you’re looking at just over $11 USD per adult. After having just dropped nearly $40 to see the basilica, I wasn’t about to spend so much to see a few funky buildings. Thankfully, there is also a large free area.

After spending a brief time in Barcelona, I no longer say I don’t care for Spain. In fact, I would’ve loved to have spent more time there and will certainly plan on coming back to experience the city further. Tigger enjoyed it as well.

But Madrid is still on our list of poor experiences.

Have you been to Barcelona? What’s your favorite site or area to visit?

I had heard from many people how incredible the cathedral is and that it was a must-see in Barcelona. Being a fan of old religious buildings, I was quite eager to visit it. That is until I saw the ridiculous €14.80 admission price (about $20.53 USD per adult). Children 11 and over don’t get much of a price break, so I had to really think hard about spending around $40 to visit a church.

In the end, I decided that seeing something that won’t be found anywhere else in the world was worth it. Tigger has expressed many times how he is “over” visiting churches. When I explained there is no other church on earth like this place, he agreed to go.

As we entered the basilica, I heard him say, “Okay, I’m impressed.” I have rarely ever heard those words uttered by him, and they have never been used to describe a church or temple. When we were done with our visit, I asked him to rate the experience, and he gave it a 10/10, which was another shock for me.

If you can handle larger groups, it is recommended to do the visit with a tour guide. We chose to do it with an audio guide instead (it’s the same price, €19.30). While you will learn some interesting things, I think the guide is much more informative. You get a lot more detail from them than from the audio guides. Although, kids are probably more apt to use the audio guide and would probably tune out a human.

Tips for visiting the Gaudi Cathedral

• If you don’t buy your ticket(s) online, you’re a fool. Seriously. We heard from people who had been standing in line for over an hour. If you get your tickets online, you may wait for about 15 minutes. You also get a tiny discount with online tickets. Save yourself a major hassle and buy them online. Note the entrance for people with online tickets is on the side of the church with the more ancient-appearing facade, on the other side from the park. If you chose the audio guide, turn to your right at the top of the stairs to pick them up.
• The website can be confusing about whether or not photos will be allowed. You can take photos of almost all of the cathedral’s interior (and, of course, all the exterior is fair game).
• As it is an active worship center, they are fairly picky about dress. Women will probably be asked to cover their shoulders, and men should plan on wearing pants/trousers. Neither gender should plan on wearing anything that doesn’t at least cover their knees. Hats are not allowed to be worn indoors, and there are staff who will make sure you remove them.
• There is a museum beneath the basilica which is fairly interesting. Plan on spending at least 1-1/2 hours at the basilica.
• If you are arriving via the Verdaguer metro station (lines L5 and L4), take the Sant Joan exit. As you come up the stairs make a U-turn and take the street toward your right. This will lead you to the basilica.

Is it worth the price?

That’s a tough one for me. It’s really expensive for a church. On the other hand, it is incredibly unique. While I didn’t appreciate spending almost $40 USD to enter, I am very glad I went. It’s really quite the experience.

Photos

Here are just some of the 100 photos I took while at the basilica.

Have you visited the Gaudi Cathedral? What did you think of it?

After treating ourselves to some foods we hadn’t been able to enjoy elsewhere, especially a wonderful Thai restaurant in Madrid, I was quite grateful to be able to transfer money abroad! Technology sure has made travel so much easier. But, I still needed to watch our budget.

In the end we had to decide between Seville and Granada.  As the former was quite a bit more expensive for lodging than the latter, the home of the Alhambra, won.  I found a great place just outside of town, and we were on our way.

As I stepped off the bus and could smell olive oil, I grinned.  People smiled back at me and even offered greetings as they walked by.  I felt like this was the Spain I had been hoping to visit.

Tigger needed a chillax day, so our 1st day was spent hanging out in the house.  After that I was even more eager to get out and explore! Our host had purchased a bus pass for us which gives you over 50% off the normal bus fare.  So got on the bus and headed downtown.

Walking around Granada was an amazing experience.  Turning a corner would reveal something wonderful.  European cities often have a great blend of ancient and modern, and Granada seems to have even more of its share than some others.

We had so much fun just walking down the narrow streets and discovering new sights.  I loved pointing out to Tigger how old some of the buildings were.  Coming from the States, a relatively young country when compared to the old world, I never get tired of seeing buildings that are hundreds of years old.  I like to imagine what the surrounding area must have been like before the newer structures sprung up.

I found the Sacromonte area, where caves have been turned into homes, restaurants, and other businesses, to be quite interesting, but I think my favorite area would have to be the Albaicin.  It thrills with narrow streets and the combination of old Moorish buildings and the “newer” ones built as the Spaniards took hold of the area.  The whole area just oozes old world charm.

The crisp fall air somehow added to the whole experience as we walked by the edge of the river that bisects the Albaicin from the hill upon which sits the ancient Moorish fortress and palace known as the Alhambra.  The smells of food being prepared in the nearby restaurants joined with the chilly air and the sight of leaves turning yellow below the watchful gaze of the Alhambra.

As we prepared to leave the Albaicin area, we happened upon a tapas bar.  We had to go inside!  If you aren’t familiar with tapas bars, you order a drink and get a smallish plate of food to go along with it at no additional charge.  There is usually a selection of available foods so you can mix things up.

For people who don’t drink alcohol, you’re still set because even ordering a soda comes with food.  Some tapas places serve a lot of food, and others a smaller amount.  We ended up ordering 3 drinks so had 3 different plates of food.  It’s pretty hard for 2 people to eat out, including beverages, for under 6€ in Europe which makes tapas places even more enjoyable!

While I’m sure Seville is as equally enchanting, I’m glad we came to Granada.  It made a big enough impression on me that I’d like to return to Spain and explore more of the Andalusian region.  And, Barcelona and Galicia still are on my list.

Tips

• The bus is relatively cheap and very easy to use.  You can get the bono card from the driver.  The minimum amount you can recharge with is 5€.  When you use the card on the sensor, it will show you the remaining balance.  If you use the card again within 45 minutes, you won’t have to pay on the next bus (free transfer). This gives you just over 50% off the normal fare as well.  One card can work for the whole group. Just swipe once for each person in the group.  Makes it quite handy.
• Because the bus system is so good, don’t be shy about staying at a place outside of town.  The areas in the hills around Granada are quite beautiful and give you another view into Spanish culture. We really loved “escaping” the city action.
• There are a surprising amount of fairly inexpensive food places, especially once you get out of the main plaza area.  Tapas shops are suitable for children and a great way to save money and to try different foods, esp some kid-pleasing ones.  Pizza can often be quite cheap, so if you’re on a tight budget but still want to eat out, check out the pizza restaurants.
• Grocery stores are excellent places to find prepared foods, and groceries overall are quite cheap in Spain.  We spent less on groceries in Spain than in many places in Central and South America.

I started to . . . appreciate it more as we spent time exploring various neighborhoods, especially on the weekend when you could get a better feel for the quirkiness of neighborhoods and such.  I’m also aware that I’m not a huge fan of most big cities either.  Madrid just wasn’t the place for me.

We did have an absolutely lovely small apartment courtesy of Wimdu.com, and the neighborhood of Lavapies was really enjoyable.  Lots of ethnic food places, lots of places to shop, tapas bars, close to 3 different metro stations as well as the local bus.  It was also within walking distance of the Palacio Real, the Prado, and other Madrileño hotspots.

If you appreciate food, Madrid is great for that.  After spending a lot of time in Latin America, I was so ready for Thai food, probably my favorite food.  Madrid delivered with a fantastic little place that was quite good.  They even doted a little on Tigger, which was rather cool.  Especially in view of the typical standoffishness we had encountered from the locals.  There was also a delicious pasta place that was inexpensive.  Something that was greatly appreciated as we were switching from strong-dollar Central and South America to weak-dollar Europe.

Madrid, like many European cities, has a nice blend of old and new.  It’s easy to find grand, hundreds-year-old buildings standing next to sleek, modern ones.  The people are not so friendly, but they aren’t exactly mean either.  Well, most of them.  I initially chalked it up to just being a big city, but some expats in Spain, as well as some native Spaniards, have all told me that Madrid is just not a friendly place.  The current economic crisis isn’t helping their already sour disposition either.

This big city is actually quite walkable, and the metro system is very handy.  We walked almost everywhere, but one day Tigger begged me to PLEASE let us go on the metro or take a taxi, so we did.  The metro is quite reasonable.  You have to pay about 1.3€ to go for up to 5 stations.  It’s also easy to navigate.  Of course, the frequent protests and strikes can cause some hassles, but they’re usually pretty easy to work around.

When in Madrid, I would highly recommend you plan some time to visit the fantastic Parque del Retiro.  Not only is it relaxing and beautiful, but there are some amazing places tucked away within the park’s confines.  There is no admission fee as it’s a public park.  I would either plan on spending a good part of the day exploring it, or I would make a few trips.  It is truly quite impressive and was my favorite place in Madrid.

A very common place for tourists to visit is the Palacio Real. The admission is 10€ (kids get a 50% discount), and you can pay by credit/debit card if you wish.  Do avoid bringing backpacks (day packs) or large bags with you.  They’ll want you to put them in a locker.  If it isn’t too big, a backpack will be allowed, but you’ll probably be asked to wear it on your chest.  Unfortunately, they also don’t let you take photos inside the buildings (even with the flash turned off).  There are quite a few security guards that keep watch for naughty shutterbugs.

The inside is quite beautiful, and I thought the royal pharmacy was kind of interesting, but unless you’re just looking to kill time or do something when it’s bad weather, your time and money are better spent at other sites.

As you come out of the external palace gates, turn to your left and walk past the complex.  There is a gorgeous park on your left and a great view of the palace.  Across the street you’ll also find a couple of wonderful ice cream shops that also serve sandwiches.

With Spain having some other great areas to visit, I just can’t really suggest you either plan a visit to Madrid or plan to stay too long. Although, if you’re a fan of big cities or a major museum lover, Madrid could very well be an enjoyable place to visit.

Get your tickets online at least a few days before your visit.  If you’ll be coming on a weekend, I’d buy them 1-2 weeks ahead minimum.  You can purchase them about a year ahead if you’re really that anal of a planner.  Make sure you use a credit/debit card that you will have on you, because you will need that card to print out your tickets once you’re in Granada.  Once purchased, there are several ATMs in the downtown area that will issue you the tickets (look for La Caixa), or you can just wait until you’re at the famed 10th century Berber fortress where there are plenty of kiosks.

We had the added bonus of knowing another traveling family who were in southern Spain and wanted to visit Granada as well.  After looking at the forecast and discovering what day was supposed to be nice, we planned on that and arranged our meeting time.

They had a car, but we were coming by city bus.  Little did we realize that would be just the beginning of our day’s adventure.  The day before, which had been predicted to be crappy weather, wasn’t too bad.  This day was supposed to be sunny.  Apparently, someone forgot to tell that to Mother Nature, because she was awfully grumpy and it rained.  All. Freakin. Day.  Until after we left of course.  *shakes fist at the sky*

The grounds where La Alhambra are located are very impressive.  There are some beautiful gardens and great views.  There are also some very beautiful and fascinating ruins as well as remnants of fortresses.  Navigating some of the tight paths is very interesting because the Spanish seem to have a cultural blindness of other people’s presence.  Or maybe they’re genetically predisposed to absolute crap spatial perception.  When they see a rather robust body (mine) coming up stairs that are barely wide enough to accommodate my bodaciousness, something tells them they can still fit in the remaining 1-mm space.  Let’s just say there were many people who were lucky I believe in nonviolence.  And that I have no desire to discover what the inside of a Spanish prison looks like.  You, at least, would have had some rather entertaining news to watch and read, though.

The structures here rage in age from the medieval baths to the more modern Palace of Carlos V, which took over 400 years to complete with work beginning in 1527.  So many of them are quite unique from each other, that it really is worth exploring all of them.

I wish they would have included more markers, though.  Unless you’ve paid for a guide or an audio device, you have no idea you’re standing in the dressing room of the empress, for example.  The only signs we saw were on the outside of structures.  Once inside, you often have no clue what exactly you are looking at.  Not a big deal, but it would be nice.

The crown in the diadem, so to speak, of the entire complex is the Nasrid Palace.  Entry to that monument is strictly controlled.  Your tickets will tell you which group you’re in.  We had a couple of hours before it was our time, so we got quite familiar with the rest of the buildings and gardens.  By the time we entered, we were all a bit wet (some of us more than others) and cold.  My friends had 3 small children, and since Tigger had decided to not bring an umbrella he was completely soaked through.  After walking around “old boring buildings” in these conditions for two hours, he was starting to get whiny, and I was getting testy.

Then we entered the palace.  When I spotted the outside of Versailles during my first trip to Paris, it literally took my breath away.  Entering this palace was fascinating but lacked the grandeur my mind had expected.  Until we rounded the corner and entered the Patio of the Lions.  My friends were ahead of us, and one of them came back out and said to me: “Oh, Talon, you’re not going to like this AT ALL.”

And he was right.  It was jaw-droppingly, incredibly ornate, beautiful awfulness.  I was ready to pull up a chair and just sit admiring it for HOURS.  I tried to imagine what it must have been like to live among its 124 carved marble columns.  If this was built to inspire or cause one to reflect, I’d say the mission was accomplished.  It was absolutely stunning, and pictures just can’t do it justice.

The remainder of the palace did not disappoint either.  Almost every inch is covered in carvings, from about waist high all the way up to and including the incredibly tall ceilings.  To accomplish something like this in the modern day would be quite the feat.  I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to do all this as early as the 10th century.

This should be added to your list of must-sees in Spain.  It really shouldn’t be missed.  And while you’re in Granada, make sure to also visit the cave homes in Sacromonte and my favorite area of Granada—the Albaicin.

Tips for visiting:

• Make sure to get your tickets well in advance.  If you want to explore the palaces when they are all lit up at night, the nighttime option includes the ability to return the next day during daylight, which is really nice.
• It is very easy, and cost effective, to access by bus.  Just realize that in a week of riding buses in Granada, we only had one that actually showed you what the next stop is.  Don’t be shy.  Ask the driver which stop you need, or ask for their help when going to see La Alhambra.  They’ll probably act grumpy, but they’ll be helpful.  I would personally avoid the #13 bus.  Not because of a superstitious fear of the number, but because it only comes by each stop about once an hour, whereas the smaller buses dedicated to touring the Alhambra, Sacromonte, etc., come by much more frequently, and there are numerous buses for each route.
• You can easily spend HOURS here.  I would allot a minimum of three hours, and I’d say that’s a tight minimum.  Ideally, 4-5 hours would be best.  You can bring your own food and beverages, and there are also quite a few places around the complex where you can purchase them, including some cafes and snack shops.
• I rarely rent audio guides, but I think they would add a great benefit for doing a self-tour here.

Have you been to La Alhambra? What was your favorite part? What tips would you like to share?

When our time was up at our apartment, we eagerly left the bustling city life and headed for a smaller town.  It was tough to decide between Seville or Granada, but in the end the size of the city won out, and we headed to Granada.

We had a rather uneventful bus ride, and I enjoyed seeing the beautiful Spanish countryside as we headed further south.  As soon as we left the bus station, I immediately smelled olive oil.  People smiled when I smiled at them, rather than glared as they had in Madrid.  “I think we’re going to like this place,” I thought.

We had rented a room in a lovely house up in the hills outside the city.  The cute young couple picked us up from the bus station free of charge.

The next several days would be cold, cloudy, and sometimes rainy.  In fact, when we went to the Alhambra, the amazing 10th century Berber fortress/palace nearby, it rained almost nonstop for the entire freakin’ day.

Our time to leave Granada was drawing close, though.  I enjoyed meandering its ancient streets and discovering little tucked-away places, but I was ready to move on by this point.

In the morning we were greeted with sunny, blue skies.  We headed to the train station to pick up our tickets for the next day’s journey and then went walking.  The sun warmed my skin while I breathed in the crisp fall air.  This is my favorite time of year, and I had so missed a splendid, sunny fall day.

As we walked by the buildings and fountains that are hundreds of years old, mixed in with some that are much more modern, we discovered an amusing little tapas bar so we popped in.  The food was excellent, and I enjoyed a couple of tasty drinks as well.  We had 3 drinks with 3 plates of tapas for a whopping 6€.  At tapas bars, you order a drink for 2€ and the plate of food is free,

We continued walking.  Being a Sunday, most stores and shops were closed, and the streets were full of friends and families eating in outdoor cafes, strolling down the streets, enjoying the parks, etc.  It was fabulous.

Eventually, we found a park that Tigger deemed wasn’t “too much for little kids” and stopped to play.  We discussed the value of sitting on a park bench while soaking up the sunshine.

Then it was time for ice cream.  He had a gelato while I enjoyed a strong cup of coffee with a wonderful little pastry.  While it’s chocolaty goodness spread over my tongue, I smiled.  Not one of those “oh this is nice” smiles, but the kind of smile that begins from your toes and works its way up until it lights your whole face with sheer joy.

This had been a perfect day.  I was filled with the type of contentment that makes everything you see and experience wondrous.

I was, once again, in love with my life.  And I had surprisingly fallen in love with something else, too.  With Spain.

What and where was one of your “perfect days”?

We headed out, enjoyed a lovely bus ride, and walked for hours all over Granada’s downtown area.  Traveling by bus in Granada was a breeze!  The next day we would be traveling to La Alhambra, the 10th century Berber fortress and palace complex for which the area is famous, to meet another traveling family.  I checked out the bus route map.  This was going to be a slam dunk!

Famous last words.

Despite our time in Latin America, I am still quite fond of arriving to places earlier than scheduled.  Because of that, I had planned an hour for us to arrive, even though it should only take maybe 30-45 minutes.  That gave us more than enough of a buffer.

Right.

The bus system in Granada is quite good. For many routes, buses pass every 10-15 minutes, or even less.  How can you complain about that?  They’re modern, comfy, fairly roomy, and the driver will even make change for you (or recharge your wonderful card).

There’s just one slight problem.  Unlike buses we’ve been on previously during our travels, there is rarely ever anything to indicate what the next stop is.  So unless you’re familiar with the city, have memorized just how many bus stops lie between you and your destination, or are a very talented psychic, you’ll probably have a bit of an adventure.

Which will be even more fun when it’s raining for hours.

Our joyous journey began when I rather confidently uttered those jinxing words above and boarded our first bus.  While waiting, I had tried to identify a couple of landmarks to help us get off at the right stop.  After all, we were Granada bus system pros by now.

We got off on the wrong stop.

No problem.  The handy map at the bus stop showed me a nearby parada that would still get us onto a bus that would work.  Except that line is currently out of service due to construction.

We walked until we found another stop with a map, which wasn’t as easy to find in this section of town.  Upon seeing how many more stops we’d have to walk to catch that particular line, I decided to use our free transfer and bus the remaining distance.  This time I was smart! “I’ll ask the driver!” Novel idea, no? I was so proud.

She pulls over at the very next stop, opens the door, and says “You want the #13.”  What? That wasn’t on the map!

“The #13?” I repeat.  She indicates quite fervently that I heard correctly.  So we hop off.

The bus stop DOES say the 13 comes by.  I decide to trust her, and we wait.  Other would-be passengers quickly crowd the covered area.  I find myself having to bat umbrellas away before they stab me in the face.  I have been told that Spaniards typically aren’t . . . as conscious of other people around them.  They weren’t kidding.

And we wait some more.

I’m now getting a little anxious because we are supposed to be meeting our friends RIGHT NOW.  We continue to wait and we’re now 20 minutes late.  I have no way of contacting them.  I have 20€ in my pocket and need to recharge our card for the bus trip home, so that means I’d have 15€ at the most for a taxi.  I wasn’t convinced that was doable.

At 35 minutes late, I’m ready to stop a taxi and see what it would cost.  Just as I step off the curb I spot the #13 bus coming.  “FINALLY!” I say and Tigger cheers.

The map tells me this is a fairly straight shot up the hill, and the Alhambra is huge, so I should be able to see it from the road and know when to get off, right? RIGHT?

As we near, I decide to throw caution to the wind and ask our cranky bus driver anyway.  “Which is the best bus stop for the Alhambra?”

“The one before this one.”

Of course.  Might as well keep the morning’s theme alive, eh? He doesn’t say it, but you can tell he’s thinking Stupid tourist!  At least he didn’t voice it.

So we jump off the bus and then walk back down the hill (at least it was downhill and not up!).  We arrive at our meeting point only an hour late.  Thankfully, they’re more patient than I probably would’ve been.  Maybe it was all those years they spent in Latin America, too, where mañana doesn’t mean tomorrow but “not today,” and un momento means “anywhere between 1 minute and several hours.” I’m just glad they’re still there and smiling.

When in Granada, don’t do a Talon.  Just ask the freakin’ bus driver right away so they can help you out.  They seem kind of terse, but that thick plastic window between you and them keeps them from biting you, so you’re safe.

Third world has come to be used to describe any country that seems poor, isn’t as developed as areas like the US, Canada, or Europe, and is often spoken like it’s a cut to an area.  “Oh, that’s third world poor!”

Spain is definitely not “third world poor.”  In fact it would seem their poor are one of the invisible people, except for the very occasional homeless person I saw sleeping on a bench huddled against the October morning chill.

We began our Spain experience in metropolitan Madrid.  I’m no big city person to begin with, but walking around Madrid immediately set me a bit on edge.  I felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.  “We’re no longer in Latin America, Tigger!”  Except for the very differently accented Spanish that surrounded me, this could’ve be any big city street in America.  There were 2 Starbucks within a short distance of each other, and at least 2 McDonald’s.  Building-sized ads greeted my vision selling mostly fashionable underwear, name-brand clothing, and expensive cars and wrist watches as Mercedes Benz and other fancy cars whisked by.  I immediately felt out of place.

I smiled at passers-by and in traditional third world fashion greeted everyone with a buenas tardes.  I got cold sideways glances if I had any response at all.  I noticed grumpy-looking shop owners standing outside their businesses, and so I put on a bright smile and greeted them as well.  I was surprised I didn’t get “the birdie.”

As we continued walking down trash-laden streets, some of which were quite strongly scented with urine, I thought “So what’s to like about first world?”

Sure, here I can flush toilet paper down the toilet rather than putting it in a bin.  And when I’m thirsty, I can just turn on the tap and fill my glass.  Chances are I won’t get frequent power outages or wild surges.  There is also a great metro system, but the one in third-world Medellin was pretty damn decent, too.  And cheaper. Yeah, the taxis don’t drive by honking their horn or flashing their lights at me in hopes I’ll be in need of their services.  Instead, they keep a respectable distance and attitude until they’re flagged over, but I can’t afford to take one here even if I wanted.

The cleanliness of health laws, I’m guessing, also means I can’t find any street food.  Where is my meat on a stick?  My churros, marquesitas, and tamal vendors?

My apartment has a washer in it? Excuse me, but I used to pay $3 for someone else to wash, dry, iron, and fold my clothes.  How is this progress?

I can turn my stove on without lighting a match.  Actually, I had a bit of trouble figuring it out.  It’s one of those electric, flat panel jobs with no knobs.  I felt like I was in a Star Trek movie trying to figure out which alien symbol I pressed to first turn it on, and then it would turn off before I could figure out how to select which burner I wanted to use.

And can we talk about the shower?  I can’t turn around in it without bumping the handle that controls the flow of the hot water.  My toilet has so much water pressure it sounds like a 747 getting ready for takeoff.

Neither Tigger nor I have really ever had travel-related GI issues in those third-world countries, but a couple of days in modernity and we’re either hugging the porcelain throne or burping up gastric juices.

Tigger is as oblivious as ever, although he has joined my whine about the lack of street food.  When I asked him what differences, if any he saw, he said:  The people are less friendly.  Things are more expensive.  There are a LOT more people.  And the buildings are HUGE.

Don’t get me wrong.  Spain is nice, and I’m adapting.  I’m having fun with the challenge of working with new accents and a form of conjugation that’s really only used here (the Spanish version of y’all).  The grocery stores are interesting and much lower priced than I expected.  I’m also enjoying exploring and finding something new around almost every corner.  There is so much history here!

We’re now in southern Spain in Granada, and we have a bathtub which is quite a luxury for us.  Prospects are looking up, but I can still see “first world” all over the place.  I long for my simple, happy, third world.  Frankly, I’ll take third world over first any day.

Have you ever experienced culture shock? What was it like for you?