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A second ode to Barcelona

By: Lauren Talley Posted: 05/16/09 5:20pm

Barcelona, I’m back, and this time it’s different.

This time there’s no calendar date mix up and no missed concert fiasco. This time there’s no 10:30 a.m. check-out from a hostel on the far side of town and no wandering aimlessly sleep-deprived and hungover around a city that deserves more attention. This time I’m traveling with my parents. I’m sleeping in a hotel that’s still on the far side of town, but check out is at noon, the hotel has free breakfast and I have four days to explore instead of less than 24 hours.

Traveling with my parents is undoubtedly different than traveling with other students. In a way, I’m sort of playing travel guide. I lived in Valencia and I’ve visited Barcelona and Madrid twice before. Even though we’re visiting places I’ve already seen, marvels like Spanish architect’s church, La Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona, and the Royal Palace in Madrid amaze me each time and I have no qualms with seeing them again.

Additionally, my parents know a couple words in Spanish, but otherwise depend on me to translate, order food and ask all travel-related questions. My parents met my host family and I took a stab at simultaneous conversation and translation. It is not easy. I’ll tip my hat to all the translators when I’m not accidentally speaking to my parents in Spanish and my host family in English.

Three days ago, I said adios to my host family and to Valencia, the city that had become my second home for four months. Because I’m living out of a suitcase (or two), it still hasn’t sunk in that I’m leaving Spain indefinitely in four days. It still really hasn’t set in that I left Valencia and until I’m back on U.S. soil, I’m trying not to think about how this will affect me when it’s all over.

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Spanish Encounters in Valencia

Journalism junior and former State News copy editor Lauren Talley is studying Spanish at the University of Virginia at Valencia for the spring 2009 semester.

This is her account of life in Spain’s third largest city.

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Commentary:

Go ManUnited

05/16/09 11:30pm

Sorry, but I was disappointed to see no mention of Barcelona’s upcoming appearance in the Champion’s League final against ManU. As someone staying in Barcelona, I was hoping you’d touch on the fervor that is surely sweeping the region.

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