Valencia y las Fallas

The Fallas are one of the biggest fiestas in this area and are actually held in commemoration of Sant Josep, but nowadays it's a huge party going on from the 15th-19th of march and attracts half of spains population (seems like) and some lonely tourists. Each neighbourhood of the city has an organized group of people, who don't do anything during the year besides working on a enormous construction (up to 5-6m) which is eventually burnt on the last day of las Fallas. My room mate told me about this event and that it's absolutely worth going. 
So I decided, spontenously to buy tickets to go to Valencia. Didn't know with whom or where to sleep (of course all hostel were booked weeks ago^^) but I knew that I'll spend this weekend in Valencia...at least I could check this off my list :)
Only days before I went to Valencia, I got to know a nice girl, from Canada, who just moved to V, to work as an Au Pair and also didn't know anybody. So we decided to meet in V. and spend the weekend together...and we got along perfectly and since her host family went away for the weekend, I could also stay at her house! Sweet :)


I didn't know what exactly to expect, but I didn't expect this mass of people.
First thought that comes to my mind when I step out of the train: how to find a girl in this city who I've never met before!!??...it wouldn't have been as hard as it was, if her phone didn't go off just right before she arrived at our meeting point. I couldn't reach her, waited for nearly an hour and decided then to just explore the city by myself....and trying to ignore this nagging thought of "where am I going to sleep tonight, if I'll not find Linda -.-  
While I was waiting for her, I started asking random girls (who looked remotly like her) if their name is Linda. So I asked: " Eres Linda?" and after a while it dawned on me why all the girls looked at me like I am crazy: lindo/a in spanish means sth like pretty, cute... :D 
2 hours later, Linda called (from a strangers phone) and we finally met!

In every street there are people...EVERYWHERE and we barely can't get through. In every corner of the city, those giant constructions are set up and tons of people standing, staring and taking pics of them. Although I have no idea what's the reason, one essential part of las fallas are fireworks, no matter what kind, as long as it's loud.
Every day during las fallas there are 2 big public fireworks at 2pm and 1am, which explode in a choreography, but actually it's just loud. And since the streets in the center of the city are really narrow, the sound and noise get boosted even more and you can feel the vibrations of the explosions going through your body. (in the beginning I thought, this is how war must sound like...) 

Saturday we spent the entire day walking around the city, admiring all the big figures and awesome dresses and costumes of the fallas groups and trying not to loose each other in this crowd. Fireworks at 1am, party, in bed at 5am. The next day we are back in the streets of Valencia by 11....the party is still going on. Tons of people, music and the smell of deep fried Churros.

seriously - it was crowded

las fallas drum group

But today we want to escape this rush and stroll down to the Valencias famous Science Museum, which looks cool and strange at the same time.

Bienvenido...

...a BARCELONA

Finally I'm here, in one of the most awesome cities Europe has to offer.
Can't wait to explore, get to know new people, places, la cultura y más importante: learn spanish!

1. Fin de Semana (weekend)

To check-in online was no help at all, cause the queue of the germanwings counter at 6am was endless. When it was nearly time for boarding and I was close to freakout, one nice assistante called for passengers flying to Barcelona and we were allowed to skip the queue.

Flying to Barcelona and finding my new home was quite easy. The new neighborhood is clean and quiet.
My room mates are simply awesome:
Katja: german, 30years, lives in Barca since 5 years
Alejandro: peruvian, 30years, lives in Barca since 7 years
They're really helpful, show me around, explain everything to me AND  the best thing: cook for me! :)

The flat is small but neat. Got everything you need (incl. whirlpool) Except that the window of the living room is broken that way its always quite chilliy inside. But I'm positive that it won't last longer than 2-3 more weeks that the temperatures will go up...and I don't need 3 blankets to sleep with anymore^^

Lunch: Tapas
Against the cold: dancing lessons (salsa, merengue and bachata) in the living room for more than 2 hours.
And since Iam almost a pro now in latino-dances Alejandro wants to take me out at the same night, after work...at 2am! (That's when they usually go out) But I need to refuse because I'm just too tired. But I promise to join the next day...

....What I did! Staying awake until 1am is not as easy as I thought, especially if you don't have any entertainment but listening to salsa-latino-music to get into the mood.

So we went out at 2am and ended up in a typical latin-club where only locals go to...and I. :)
And if I have learned something that night than it's the word: la cadera - hip. And that I will never be able to move it like the chicas latinas :(



Lazy - Sunny - Sunday

Sleep in til 3pm! Went downtown to have some coffee with my roommate, went back, dinner, movie

Impresiónes de Barcelona

My internship in Barcelona

I was close to accept the fact that I'll never find an internship in Spain or South-America. But this is what I wanted so badly to improve my spanish speaking skills.
And finally...everything went so quickly. I had a telephone interview with Corinna, my future mentor and after our talk I knew that I will spend the next 6 months in Spain :)

Despite all the exams I had to write in January/February I had to organize everything from finding someone who will move into my room in Karlsruhe for the next 6 month to finding a new room in Barcelona, flight, insurance and much more.
But somehow, everything worked out and pretty soon it was February the 12th and I was ready for take off :)

Adios amigos y Alemanía