BCN: Final Thoughts (with Poll)
This trip was the first time I traveled alone to a foreign land. On each of my previous trips, I went with someone, and there was a local who showed us around and taught us the ropes and such. While I didn’t mind traveling alone this time, I still wanted an easy path to the locals via a local, and I planned for that. But I didn’t have a backup plan.
That’s the first thing I should have done. Have a backup plan. And a backup plan to back up the backup plan. I realized that I should have planned better once I got off the plane. Looking around the airport for signs to ATMs, taxis, exits, etc., all of the signs were in some unfamiliar language, with English below it, and finally Spanish below that. I wondered if they didn’t even speak Spanish in Spain. Things became worse when I paid 30 euros for a taxi ride to the beach hotel. I could have taken a shuttle for 6 euro. It didn’t help that I couldn’t understand my taxi driver at all. Some simple research would have helped.
But I should have especially planned for things if my first option fell through. After my local chick flaked out, I decided to wing it. Go with the flow and see what happens. Not the best idea when you’re already having trouble communicating with the locals. Like Eminem said, “I thought I had it mapped out, but I guess I didn’t.”
Another thing I could have done was adapted more. I had 2 weeks, so I could have tried many different spots, and not rely on the promoters so much. I thought about that while I was there, and 2 things kept me from doing it. First, I’ve heard, and read, that Spanish girls are some of the toughest girls to crack in the world. Why go against that with my rookie status? So I decided to concentrate where the tourists would be. Tourists are usually more loose. And second, if these local spots were dead or charged a cover, I’d miss the boat on the free entry and 1 free drink that the promoters provided.
But there is one type of venue that would have served me well. Reggaeton clubs. I had the best time in Costa Rica at these clubs, because all I had to do was show up. Girls approached me, and passed me their friends if we couldn’t understand each other. Does Barcelona even have reggaeton clubs? Of course, I should have researched that before I went.
The final thing that I should have done was simply approach more. I used the crutch of a “new environment” as an excuse, but then again, approaching more is something I must work on in the States as well.
And now, I leave the final thought up to you, my loyal readers. Was this trip a complete waste of time? Was it worth it? Vote now, or die.
It was worth it as long as you truly learn from the comments I and others have left, as well as your own realizations.
The trip was only a waste of time if your goal was to approach and get laid. If you wanted to have fun and explore a country while possibly getting laid, then it was a success. With trip of two weeks or less you really have to decide ahead of time what your goals will be and dedicate to yourself to one of them.
Anything that takes you out of your comfort and gives you more experience is worth it. Even if it didn’t go so well in the girl department it doesn’t matter if it can help you develop as a person.
This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are very good blogger. Thanks for posting this informative article. So, go Barcelona
if you had fun and learned something, you woke up today better than you’d gone to bed last night. traveling is good for the soul.
Being that you were in Barcelona, the unfamiliar language may have been Catalan. Many people in that city prefer speaking Catalan instead of Spanish.
Not having a backup plan sucks, but at least you got out of North America for a while. I’m not the type who travels looking to get some, if it happens it happens.
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