Barcelona: An Experiment in Sleep Deprivation

So, I calculated it and over the past three days I've slept a combined ten hours. That's Barcelona for you. It was a very electric, colorful city but it knocked me down pretty good. Believe it or not, people in Spain go out even later than Italy. We usually ate dinner between eleven and midnight then went out and explored the city with all the other spanairds. There's art work all over the place, which I found out was a byproduct of the 92' city renovation for the Olympics. The famous modernist architect Antoni Gaudi has interesting buildings all over the place. Also, on the first day we checked out the Salvador Dali museum, whose most famous works are portraits of melting clocks. Then we got up bright, early and fueled by Spanish coffee to hike up the 4000ft Mountserrat ("The Serrated Mountain") in Spain's Catalonia region, one hour outside Barcelona. I think all that needs to be said about the view is that at the top of the highest peak you can see France. Yes, wow! I know. Later, that night we went out to a club with some of my roomate's friends who are studying abroad in Barcelona. We had a great time and they showed us where to get some authentic dishes, like Paella (a rice dish) and Tapas (basically a platter of appetizer-size foods you pick out). Last night, we watched the Colts-Patriots game at an English hole in the wall pub. Oh, and if you forgot, we are on a six hour time difference here. So today, three hours after the game ended, I had to get up at five in the morning to catch my eight o'clock flight. And I haven't slept since! In fact, I had to come home and finish a Hemingway novel for class. Needless to say I'm running on empty. I read some short stories by Ampy Hempel on the plane and I think she says it best: "This kind of stuff could wear you down. I'm wearing down." It's seven o'clock at night here and I think I'll leave you now for bed. Gnite!