NOMADIC REVERIES: The beginning of the end: Final days in Barcelona!

THIS FOLKS...IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END...the Thursday before I left Spain I decided to have various despedidas going away parties because I figured that not everyone would be able to make it if it was just one day. I'm also just ME so I want to do everything and see everything and EAT everything I can before I go home. This is a journey through my last days in Barcelona that were very bittersweet.

I LOVE FOOD...there's no way around it. If you don't know anything else about me...don't ever forget that. At home in D.C. where we have the largest population of Ethiopians outside of Ethiopia...I don't eat Ethiopian food because people yell at me about not being proud of my heritage (as if I'm Ethiopian) so I never go...in Barcelona, I decided to go for it. Now I have a spot that I love and wanted to invite some friends to join in the first of many last suppers.

If you're ever in Barcelona. Check them out. It's located at Carrer Torrent les Flors 55 in the dopest neighborhood...Gracia. Abraham is amazingly sweet, give him a hug for me!

My sweetest Kate and I decided to do Ethiopian and she invited some friends. Oliver and his globe trotting, hitchhiking Nuyorican friend were really chill fun people. We had a good time.

cutie Abraham and the non-ethiopian Ethiopian

HASTA MANANA...

Even though there is no picture of my meal...the REAL despedida kick off started with the amazing meal that Enrique aka Pretty Rickay cooked for me. Enrique is the chef and co-founder, along with Miss Fernandez of Hasta Mañana Catering. I had such an amazing fried chicken dinner...and I appreciate Enrique SO MUCH for all the many meals he made for me from french toast, to cous cous, to smothered chicken...if you need anything catered, or you can't cook to save your life and you want to treat your lady or papi to some delicious cooking...holler at them.

The next day on the way to my last day of work I decided to take my old walk to work so that I could try to see this cute Spanish dad and his fly little Ethiopian son...I used to osee them every day on my way to work and they'd make me smile, riding their bikes all smiley. (you have to see it to understand maybe) but they always brightened up my mornings. Although I didn't see them I strolled down my old street to take it all in.

On the way to my old building I was hoping to see my little Indian boy friend. He was so sweet. Everyday I'd walk by he'd try to holler and we'd chat about India. Clearly I didn't entertain the "hollering" but I loved having someone to say good morning to with a smile on the way in to the office. I was hoping he'd be there...and he was.

Here's where the magic used to happen and where I toned up my legs walking up three long flights of stairs to get to my first office in Barcelona. Before December we were located in the International House building near the Urquinaona metro. We moved and I hadn't been back to say hi to my buddies in the cafe so I wanted to make sure I did that and walked that long walk one last time up the stairs...

Here I am in the kitchen with la Bea...the crazy Sevillana with a heart of gold, and energy like an Energizer bunny. She's always so spunky and upbeat. So early in the morning it's hard for most people to be that happy and pleasant...not la Bea. she made me té con leche every morning from August until December and kept in stock the most delicious pastry known as the chucho let me tell you...it's amazing creamy goodness and they have the best ones I ever tried in Barcelona. she was out of them that day because I stopped coming...people stopped ordering them...probably because I'm the only fatty in Barcelona who would even think to eat one of those a day but that's neither here nor there... :)

I wanted to say good-bye to my Argentinian amor Diego who also worked in the café but he wasn't there that day...we'll get back to him later...

Then I was off to work...the new office located on a cute private street that's known as a Passatge or in Spanish Pasaje...basically there are beautiful, enormous homes there that most people have turned into businesses...

When our office relocated i had to find a new Bea and Diego...that wasn't going to happen but I did find two cuties who brightened every morning with a new funny story about the Obama's and random phrases they knew in English. Hermán (on the left) Rafa (on the right) run a tight ship. they remember everyone's name, and their order and they do it with a smile. Check them out for a great café or té at Racó de Lluria and they will treat you like family.

Back at the office I tried to get some last minute things done but it really just ended up being a day of goodbyes and nostalgia...

Nicola is the first person I met from my job. she picked me up from the airport that super hot day in August as I dragged my way too over stuffed suitcases through El Prat airport. She bought me some food for my sad little fridge and gave me the name of a street in Barcelona that I will always love and remember fondly...

this here is the crew. These are the people I have spent the last year with. through the ups and the downs...we made it through. Thanks for the despedida with the pica pica guys!

They don't make them like Ms. López...my Becky! Come visit me in DC...Minnesota is too cold!

soooo why do I have a picture of myself on here with no one else around for my going away??? well if you look closely you'll see that there is someone else in this pic. One and Two New is a t-shirt line designed by my friend Alejandro and his partner in Sevilla, Spain. His designs are fresh, colorful, and DOPE! You can check out the page and he can do some design work.

My last day of work, the sweet little mail man who always tells me about his time spent in San Fransisco came in to bring a package and he said my name. I thought he was just saying, "Allison...there's a package for you" meaning for the office. Come to find out ... the package was FOR ME from my friend Ale. He sent me a soon to be vintage tee with his fab logo...the cutest dog that you see all over Spain these days. (not as cute as the dog both Ale and I have, westies...but they're pretty cute either way). I was soooo excited that he was so thoughtful and it was perfect timing because it was my last day before going to Granada and then back home...it really made my afternoon that much more special and I had to go model it...even if it was only for myself :)
Gracias Ale!

Friday night was another night of despedida crazy!

So in my last blog you met Arthur, the co-worker and rugby teammate of my friend Guillermo. When he stopped dancing and singing to Lady Gaga he told me that he was going to be on holiday in Barcelona for the week. I told him to come out for the festivities...he did and he didn't come alone!

Because again, I LOVE FOOD...our next despedida was out for a latin flavor night...Cuban food and Salsa dancing at Antilla. I initially thought it was just going to be me, Toni (my new favorite most amazing Catalan guy friend) and Arthur...that was until Arthur informed me that he was coming with 15 other people from France! WTF!!!! Well Cubans make room...here come the French! We had a fabulous dinner at La Paladar del Son, also located in the Gracia neighborhood and then we headed out to dance until ummm almost 6am.

ANTILLA

Me and my Fernie

Mr. Gaga and Ms. Irby

me with the menzzz

The arsty fartsy divas of Metafora (their art work is amazing and so are they)

the charismatic, adorable, funny, open-minded Catalan prince...AKA Toni oh...did I forget salsero!??? watch out for him on the dance floor...he might hurt you, in a good way.

this little cutie I met at intercambio at my friend Noel's bar Can-Can intercambio is language exchange. We met back in the winter and keep finding each other. it was so great to have her out there with us even if only for a little bit. Pais Vasco in the house!!!!

I pretty much danced until my toes almost fell off and then Linda made me walk in circles until my ankles almost broke off. This is the end result...our last train ride at 6am. Linda on her side of la red line L1 and me on the other watching her go crazy as she sprawls out across the stinky gross bench in the metro tunnel. My train beat her train and she threw a temper tantrum :) she's so amazing! I'm so glad I met this crazy lady.

Saturday morning I dragged myself out of bed at my same 10am time even though I went to bed at 7am to get ready for 11am brunch at MILK. Now I am not a fan of Saturday brunch and rarely did it at MILK but since i was leaving to Granada the following day I had to get in more FOOD.

this was the bar/cocktail lounge/brunch spot that me, Enrique, and Linda frequented on Sunday mornings. They were amazing until they started getting annoying about making food requests (I mean if I ask you not to give me a tomato and mushrooms for breakfast...can you just not put them on there??? I mean seriously, save the food...don't put it on my plate cause you're too lazy to do something different but...no customer service is to be expected right??) I had to get my regular...the FRY UP. It was delicious...they gave me extra beans (I know...that's so un-American of me...we eat franks and beans not breakfast and beans but I'm changing it up...) and I think beans with breakfast is amazing! Got to say good-bye to JoAnn the cutie Danish server who always remembers my order and then it was on to preping for my trip to Granada...and recovering from Friday night's festivities.

You'll have to hold out for the Granada blog...it's coming up next...but when I returned from Granada I HAD to go back and see my buddy Diego and see my home for the last several months one last time...

Happy Tuesday...

The coolest, sweetest, smiliest Argentian face you'll ever see. Good hugger too :)

Next up...my lunch spot...3 out of the 5 work days I was at the BCN cafe. These were two permanent fixtures in my routine and they'll be missed as will the cafe's tarta de queso with raspberry sauce :)

I promised my buddies at my fav Indian restaurant, BEMBI that I would come by and say my goodbyes...so that's what I did. He was my favorite (don't tell the other guy. I liked him a lot too though) Their food is delicious. Check them out if you're ever in Barcelona.

This was my home...First floor...Roger de Flor. I will miss your 70s decor and hanging my underwear out of your windows...(okay not really but, it was home)

The very last despedida took place in yet another restaurant...go figure!! SUSHI TIME! at my fav sushi spot in Barcelona. MATSURI. this is the only sushi place you'll go to where they will speak to you in Portuguese and you'll feel like it's normal.

There was a big turn out for sushi night...but I'm sure they were really there for me not the delicious fishy food.

Here is the sweet and beautiful Conchi. (my fav roommate Pete's girl friend)
hold on to this one Peter!

When I was in Aix en Provence in September I met some amazingly wonderful people who introduced me to their friend Myles who also lives in Barcelona...well, let me introduce you to Myles. He's a sweetie and I'm glad we met, too bad we didn't get to hang out more.