Te Quiero, Juanita

My mother had a big concern that I would go to Barcelona and not come back to the states because I would meet the man of my dreams, a Spanish Casanova by the name of Juan Carlos.  And here, World, I announce to you that it is true, I have met the love of my life.  But her name is Juanita…and she is 6 months old.

I ran into Juanita and her owner last night right around the corner from my apartment.  There are many dog owners in my neighborhood and in the dim lighting I almost mistook her for a small black pup…that is, until she let out the cutest little oink I have ever heard.  My friend and I squealed (no pun intended) with delight when her owner gave us little treats to feed her, and naturally, that is how we fell in love.  The first thing I’m going to do when I get back to the states is find a pig retailer and get a Juanita of my own.  It’s very “Charlotte’s Web” chic, don’t you think??

My lovely friend Annette and I wined and dined at this hidden gem of a restaurant called Doble Zero last night.  Since I had had tapas for dinner the two nights before, sushi was sounding pretty divine.  Annette ordered enough sushi to feed a squad of Sumo wrestlers, and we stuffed ourselves to the brim.

What I loved about this place most of all, however, was the interior.  On the left-hand wall, there was an enormous mural of an ancient Chinese warrior, yet instead of smoothing the wall and evening the surface, the nooks and cracks were kept to give off a weathered feel.  As you can see, the ceiling was planked with dark wood panels in a diagonal formation, which really magnified the small space.  I definitely think I’ll be heading back for another sushi fix sometime soon…

And tonight, we dined together again!  Orígens is a tiny storefront in a ramblas spilling out from a large cathedral in the area of Barcelona known as “Born”.  There are many boutiques, restaurants, gelato shops, and other attractions that line the streets.  The nuance of this area is particularly special because it is where the young meets the old…many original buildings dating back at least a century are home to hip new shops.

Annette makes me wish I was European in the worst way.  Effortlessly stylish, trilingual, and a cross between a young Meryl Streep and Reneé Zellweger, she truly is the essence of cool.  What amazes me about the office is that everyone who works there is at least bilingual, and here I am doing my best to make my Spanish sentences come out in the right order.  I was discussing the school system in France with fellow intern David…not only is school much, MUCH cheaper in Europe (tuition is only about €3,000 a year for him in France), but he was required to take English as well as Spanish since middle school.  If the youth of America had opportunities like these, their potential would soar…

As for now, I must say adios…another early morning awaits, with new adventures ahead!