I laugh at the thought of last week’s project. “Be gentle and kind today. Show self control, joy and peace.”
How does one have self control when there’s SO MUCH FOOD. Seriously, friends. I’ve had the best Indian food in my life, a mascarpone and coffee cinnamon roll that nearly killed me. I’d like to be drowned in red vermut, please, and also had take away pizza that made me sweat.
Joy and peace, that’s more of a moment to moment thing. Of course I’m in Barcelona, it’s hard to feel joyless. But some moments I’m too afraid to try and speak to people, some times I’m too exhausted to try. I’ve been averaging about 9 miles of walking a day.
Still, Casa Mila, despite being a total tourist destination, was the most peace I’ve had in a week. The incredible architecture, the history, it was so therapeutic and inspiring. I want to fly away. I want to write music and paint a mural and swim in the middle of the ocean. Most of Gaudí’s architecture has that affect.
AND Y’ALL, THE SMELLS HERE. (I wrote a piece about my favorite part of Barcelona here). Everything, no seriously everything smells so good. The streets smell good, the lavender, the basil, anise everywhere, incense. So floral and warm. The air just smells so good. The parks?! Don’t even get me started. If I’ve learned anything from Barcelona it’s that even your dingy AirBnB rooms can smell like flowers and cinnamon and eucalyptus if you just try. That scent is more than an appearance, it’s an environment. It’s a history.
As far as the album This is Your Life by Out of Eden goes, it’s not entirely “walking through Spain” music. It’s like a full album of the least popular songs on Destiny’s Child’s first album. Like early J.Lo or Ashanti, but the ones that you only listened to once and don’t know the words to.
It’s def catchy, but then you realise you’re saying “On a day like today, all has gone wrong and my life seems crazy. Gotta hold on, smile on my face. Cause I know the sun’s gonna shine my way.”
Which is just inherently not my style. Like, if you’re into this kinda stuff you’re 100% not reading this blog right now.
This time next week I’ll be Lyon, France AND it will be my birthday. My 30th birthday. So you’ve been warned. I expect well-wishes. I’m also taking myself to get a day long spa treatment because I’ll be lonely and sad lol
I leave on Wednesday and I’m very excited for another new adventure. It’ll also be my first hostel. Which, as I’m in bed at midnight right now writing, wonder how much it’s going to change everything I know. *Please bring me friends, travel gods.*
Alright, I’ve got four more Christian albums and I’m really running out of anything else to do. Soooo, I’ll make this short:
Transform by Rebecca St. James.
That’s all folks.
Wish me luck this week and I’ll see you in France!
JACLAND 