Implementing the advice I received, I began preparing to travel. I had only a few days left, so I was only able to travel for 10 days including transit. I visited Barcelona, Spain and Mainz, Germany🤭.
PRE GERMANY: BARCELONA
8TH SEPTEMBER 2022
Having flown with KLM, I landed in Barcelona on the 8th of September 2022, and I was glad , grateful and happy.
I stayed at Air hostel because it was close to the airport and I was going to leave for Germany the next day.
After resting a bit, I strolled out that day to view the city and grab something to eat.
I eventually lost my way because I had no internet to access Google Maps.
How it started – when I was food hunting
Translation from Yoruba: Face of a lost person in a foreign land.
I had to eat regardless of the situation.
On my way back to the hostel.
9th SEPTEMBER 2022
On this day I was set to embark on a 24hour road trip to Germany using FLIXBUS. Since my trip was scheduled to begin at night, I decided to explore Barcelona a bit beforehand.
To avoid getting lost again, I went to buy a sim card (30 Euros) .
I didn’t really enjoy using the Vodafone sim. The network and data coverage were bad. Although, I guess it was the area that I stayed.
Afterwards, I went to buy an adapter because the socket plug is different from what we use in Nigeria ( I wasn’t informed prior to my travel).
My first culture shock😂
While strolling, I randomly came across a restaurant (though I can’t remember the name). As a sometimes picky eater, skimming through the menu to find something I can eat is already a challenge—let alone when the menu is in another language. Luckily, “Ensalada de Arroz” (Rice Salad) caught my attention. I was relieved because, thanks to Duolingo, I could understand it and figured it was something I could eat. I ordered it, along with patatas fritas (chips), just in case I didn’t like the Ensalada de Arroz.
Then I experienced my second culture shock: The rice was COLD! Freezer COLD!
Surprisingly, I ended up liking the food. After a while, I continued my journey, touring the city.
Then I decided to go back to the very first place I stepped foot on after getting off the metro from the Airport. I took a couple of pictures.
I was fascinated by how you could barely walk 1 km without encountering parks for kids. To indulge my childlike wonder, I decided to visit one of the parks and take a swing😛.
Afterwards, I decided to get some things to eat as well as shop in preparation for my 24 hour road trip to Germany.
My Eating Story
POST MAINZ, GERMANY
After returning from a 24-hour road trip from Germany to Barcelona, I decided to make the most of the remaining three days I had.
I visited my prospective school, ESADE, took a tour around the city, enjoyed some paella, had the best muffin I’ve eaten in a while, and went shopping for my folks.
Lastly, let me share my second “wrong route experience.” This moment always comes to mind whenever I see that Japanese legend’s quote.
On my last night in Barcelona, I was heading back to the hostel when I realized I was on the wrong metro route. Instead of getting off at the next station, I convinced myself I might be mistaken and kept going. Three stops later, it hit me—I was definitely going the wrong way! Naturally, I ended up getting to the hostel much later than planned. 😂😂😂
A lesson that has since been invaluable: Always check the metro stop board for the arrow direction. It shows the movement of the train, so you can avoid heading the wrong way!
DON’T BE LIKE AYO😂
