End of July

After San Sebastian I caught an overnight bus to Barcelona. Overnight buses are not fun, they take a long time, have you crammed next to some guy who hasn’t showered for 3 weeks and you have to eat Petrol station food. I think I spent my first time in France, I awoke to a French speaking counter attendant and they sold Croissants. It was dark, but I think I was somewhere near the Italian border. Exciting stuff. Arriving at 7am, I waited for a few hours in the city for Barcelona to wake up and found a Pension charging a kind 20 Euros for a single room. I wasn’t in the mood for hostels and the inevitable Americans. By now it was 11am and I had approximately 8 hours to explore what many call the best city in the world (after Melbourne of course). So I decided on taking a nap due to lack of sleep on the bus. A 1 hour nap turned into 2 hours and suddenly I had 6 hours to explore what many call the best city in the world (after Melbourne of course).
I ran around Barcelona. La Sagrada Familia, heavily under construction, albeit a sensational project (that may never end). Parc Guell, another Gaudi creation with huge crafted stone walls, beautiful decorations and views over the city. Then off to Passeig de Gracia to see the La Pedrera museum of Gaudi (actually I just went to the gift store and looked at the pictures). Walked further South East taking in Barri Gotic’s cathedral. La Ribera is a district further East which reminded me a lot of Melbourne. Modern, quirky restaurants and fashionable wares. Had one of the best Gelati’s of my life here. Strawberry and Lemon - heaven. Wandered down to La Barceloneta, the city port, and walked along the beach to Port Olimpic, a shrine to the 1992 Olympics. The beach looked pretty bad, so I wasn’t too devestated that I missed swimming there. As dusk took hold I strolled up the Las Ramblas taking in all the colour and festivities and fell in a heap on my bed. Barcelona is not doable in 6 hours, but this effort will have to suffice until next time. Seems like a very cool city. Melbourne tops it though.

More buses! This time a 6 hour bus to Castellon near to Valencia and my ultimate destination, Benicassim. The Heinekin Benicassim festival is run every year with some huge acts playing over 4 days. I met up with Fi, Sarah, Sam and 4 of their mates in the town just in time to catch the bus to the campsite. We camped out for 7 days 10 minutes from the beach and 20 minutes from the festival grounds. The day consisted of waking up very early because the tent was 40 degrees by 10am, walking to the beach, swimming, showering, reading, sunbaking and chilling out at the beach for at least 8 hours, walking to the nearby supermarket to buy the cheapest Sangria, Cider, Vodka and Beer on offer and then heading off to the festival for a night full of big acts. The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Pixies and Babyshambles stole the show. It was a very tiring festival, but the setting and some of the bands were amazing. Bring on Glastonbury next year!

Next update - Italy and Croatia.