Trifter

Sweating from the heat and hefty backpack, I collapse on the bottom bunk in a hostel in Barcelona. Looking around, I wonder if we made the right decision of staying here. The four bunk beds with soft, yet dirty, mattresses do not look tempting to sit on, let alone sleep on. I get up from the bed to check out the bathroom. There’s no door except to the toilet. The shower has transparent glass doors for all to ogle our naked bodies. Later we had found out that we would be sharing with guys too, much to our horror.

Amy and I had been planning this trip for the past year, so we were excited over everything new however unpleasant it may get, as it was all part of the experience.

We wanted to make the most of our European trip and thought that Barcelona would be one of the best places to start. Full of excitement, art, music and beaches.

We leave our backpacks and head out to catch some sun and check out the beach, which is literally a few steps from our hostel. Absorbing the heat of the sun we walk barefoot along the soft, white sand taking in the vibrant essence all around us. Drums are being played in the distant beckoning us to come forth. My heart quickens with excitement.

The sounds get closer as we near, until we see the vibrations beating off the sand. People of all ages move to the beat and clap their hands, while a child of eight years old plays on bongos with a huge smile of pure joy across his face. This is the true summer essence of Barcelona. The mix of cultures come together musically and we never want to leave this place.

Heading back to the hostel, we dread the night ahead. As the night passed on we hear rumours that the place is infested with bed bugs and we did not look forward to itchy, red skin the following day. So instead of sleeping apart, we slept (uncomfortably squished) on top of a sleeping bag on the same teeny bed.

As you can imagine, it was a restless night but one free from skin disorders.