Recently, I moved to Spain for various reasons, one of them being that my own country, Costa Rica, doesn't have the best education per-say. It doesn't have public transportation since it is considered to be a Third World country and, of course, because of it's humble area. The only public transportation "tico's use" are buses, one train and taxis. Other forms of transportation include bicycles, cars and two airports.
I've been in my relationship for three and a half years and two of them we did long-distance, which was a struggle for both of us but we made it through. One of the best experiences I've had the opportunity to encounter is the use of the subway and trains to go almost anywhere in Barcelona.
A few weeks ago I went to visit my boyfriend on my own and I wanted to share my experience getting there and some places as well as some of the customs in this time of the year in Spain.
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Subway lights indicate the next stop and the next stop is Sants-Estació. The station is one of the most used stations in Barcelona specially for tourists since it is the one that takes you to the airport and viceversa (I know this because that's how I got from the airport to my apartment). Subways here are explicit and once you get a hang of it you feel a sort of fulfilment and sensation of belonging.
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| In the subway I've seen people with scooters, bicycles and just recently even dogs were allowed on board. This has not been annoying or caused any disturbances (at least not in my opinion). MAYBE I'M JUST LUCKY! |
These are some of the problems I've experienced on the subways since they are so old I've seen many construction sites since I moved here. As you can see, Catalan is the oficial language in Catalunya and that is why everything is in both Spanish and Catalan but I'm not going to get into detail about what Catalunya is and all the commotion going on about the independence they so much desire.
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| The train that leaves at 19:15 is the one I'm getting on. YES!!! I am going to Vilanova i la Geltru. It is a town located in the coast, south of Barcelona about 40 minutes away from the city. I'm excited to learn about Oriol's town and customs. |
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The train is leaving from platform 9.
They announce the platform about 2-3 minutes before the train arrives. |
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In Barcelona trains can be of one or two floors. ISN'T THIS AWESOME... Well not always.
I really don't like sitting on the bottom floor because I feel a little claustrophobic but that's just me. |
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This pictures comes with a funny story that happened to me on the train but I'll make it brief.
So when I sat down I saw a few people with their feet on the front seats just like mine on the picture above. A while after the train left a man from the train staff/crew harshly tells me to put my feet down and as he left I wondered why he had only told that to me and no one else and I realised all the others had their feet down.
Yeah.. they saw him coming and were ready to take their feet of the seat. |
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| Vilanova i la Geltru was the end of the ride. |
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| I was about to try a Spanish snack food which they call castañas. Oriol explains to me as we pay that these are a type of nuts that are consumed by Spanish people only during the short-lasting fall season. They are served very hot since they are burned so that the skin/shell is easily removed. He tells me they are soft and warm while you eat them unlike other nuts that have a different textures and are always served at room temperature. |
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| As we walk down the Rambla in Vilanova I see these fans which Oriol tells me, are originally from Spain and very traditional. These were beautifully hand-painted but, sorry to say, this is NOT a good time to sell these at all. |
I ask my boyfriend why all the stores are closed and he explains to me that on Sundays stores close, all of them, only restaurants open and maybe very very few stores. This is because it is considered in all Europe to be the day designated to rest. All these stores in Costa Rica would be open but would probably close very early.
The picture on the right above this caption is known as a "churreria" or "xurreria" in catalan. This is a place where they sell churros which are long fried-dough sticks usually covered in sugar. I ask Oriol if they are popular and he tells me I should try them and so as we wait to be catered he tells me that the Spanish way to eat them is dipping them in hot chocolate. He also tells me that this is usually eaten as breakfast and not so much as an afternoon snack.
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| And this was Vilanova for you. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. |
