Making it Out of the Group Chat: Day 12, Barcelona
I finished my book last night, so the first thing I did this morning was buy the second in the series of ACOTAR. I woke up still not feeling up for exploring, so I didn’t force anything. Instead, I used my time to work on my blog. Luckily, I had the perfect cafe down the street to set myself up in for the afternoon.
As the cafe was never busy (secluded from most of the foot traffic on the main drag) and since I had already made myself a regular, I felt comfortable getting comfortable, and I had no problem spending money on lattes and pastries. I was in the zone and in my happy place, surrounded by light pink walls and French music, and I would’ve happily camped there all day, cranking out work and enjoying the vibes, but I got a gentle boot around 4 pm as my friends informed me they were closing early.
No sooner it felt than I left, I started trudging back to my hostel. Luckily, God graced this dark and dingy garage of a hostel with a light and breezy rooftop terrace. I did my best to stay in my happy place and continue my flow here, but since the wifi was putting me on the verge of a crashout, I decided it was time for a break, and I felt a writer’s block creeping up on me anyway. On top of everything, I was getting rather hungry and in need of some socialization.
I decided to try out Hostelworld’s chat room to see what other travelers in the area were up to this night. After trying to coordinate several group and private chats, waiting for responses, and deciding on places to eat, a few of us girls decided on a rooftop bar at the Intercontinental Hotel — just in time for another gorgeous, pastel sunset. One was from Brazil, living in Denmark, and working in agriculture. The other was American and a server, like myself, who also had an interest and experience working in permaculture. We talked about WWOOFing and our passion for the environment and eco-friendly farming. I smiled as we talked, knowing the universe was listening to my call for environmental work, and I knew I was exactly where (and with whom) I needed to be in that moment. We ordered food and drinks and chatted until well after dark. Keeping my eye on the time, but also not wanting to disrupt a good time, it was hard to peel away in time for the magic fountain light show that was making its grand debut just a short walk away. We could see the blue lights shooting up into the night sky in the distance and agreed that was our cue to get the check.
As one of the girls had an early flight to catch, we said our goodbyes at the fountain steps, promising to stay in touch, and it was just the two of us who made our way up the large stairs and through the thick crowd of what felt like mostly locals to view the light show that had already begun. The show had been shut down for years, and you could feel the energy of excitement from the crowd with their loud cheers and joyous dancing. You really couldn’t help but smile. If you have ever seen the water show in Las Vegas, it was similar to that. Each song was different, however, and the lights and water changed color and speed to fit the mood and melody. We heard everything from Spanish to French to American numbers as the lights switched from reds and greens to blues and yellows, and we were immersed in mist and splashes. I watched as a young boy from the audience stood above the crowd and conducted the water. His authenticity and unapologetic play inspired everyone and made my heart burst with love.
We felt the show coming to an end and decided to try to beat the metro crowds by heading out early, though many had similar intentions. My newfound friend and I said our goodbyes and parted ways. Still feeling energized from the show, I looked at my Hostelworld messages and almost met up with another group for a night on the town, but decided it was too far and too late, so I rode my high back to my hostel and settled down with a shower and a few chapters in ACOTAR as my nightcap.
Travel tips:
Put yourself out there — there are always connections to be made if you look for them.
Hostelworld Chat — I was pleasantly surprised by how many travelers use this chat to connect and socialize. If you’re ever feeling lonely and in need of some connection, this is a great resource! I’ve also learned not to overcommit yourself with all the different chats; you’ll be trying to coordinate too many cooks in the kitchen. You also can’t rely on any one person, so don’t put all your eggs in one basket in case they ghost you or don’t get back to you in time.
Don’t forget to check restaurant hours — especially in Europe, they can tend to be unpredictable.
