Spring Has Sprung

Highs in the 80's, Barcelona has never looked better. The trees that peak over my balcony are covered in new blossoms, and the streets are filled with people soaking up the sun. Yesterday was so much fun. Joanna and I took her 4 friends who are visiting from other study abroad trips around Europe to the Barcelonetta beach. On the way walking to the sand, we passed a line of cafes, and from behind, I noticed someone familiar. It was my favorite female singer in the world--Adele!! I could tell it was her from behind, I play her music videos on YouTube all the time when I am hanging around my room, and recognized her red pony-tail and giant sunglasses. My stomach dropped, and Joanna and I frantically tried to decide if we should go over to her to say something or not. She kept walking down the lane of cafes, and time was running out if we wanted to catch her. So we sprinted across the street and politely said to her "Hello, Adele?", while trying to catch my breath. She said "Hello!", and I said "I am a huge fan, do you think I could get your autograph?" She was very nice and said "Yes, of course", but I am sure she was a little off-put by 5 overly-excited girls mobbing her when she was about to sit for lunch. I scrambled for anything for her to sign, and one of Joanna's friends had a piece of paper. She asked me what my name was, and wrote "To Megan, (heart) Adele", she spelled my name wrong, but I wasn't about to correct Adele....
She told us that she was performing at Bikini that night, but later when I looked online I saw the tickets were 35 euro...out of my price range. We got our picture with her too, and then said goodbye. Anyways, it was the first time I met someone famous, and not just any celebrity, but one of my idols! I have been following her career for years, and she is from England, and in the last year or so, she has become HUGE in the United States. Well, we said thank you, and giddily jumped and hopped all the way to the sand, continually shouting "Oh my GOD we just met ADELE!!!"
We laid out on the beach for a while, while I read a copy of Spanish ELLE magazine I found in the closet at my apartment. After about 30 minutes we got a call from my friend, Tamar, saying they got a volleyball court just a little ways down the beach. We all went to meet them, and ended up playing a pick-up game for about 2 or 3 hours. It was so much fun, and we met a lot of funny people who would pass by and want to join our game for a little while. After we finished at the beach around 5:30, we walked up La Rambla and stopped at La Boqueria for some fresh fruit. I bought 2 kilos of plums, red and yellow, a kilo of strawberries, and 2 kilos of red apples, and it all costed 4 euros! The fruit there is amazing too! If only I didn't have to pass through mobs of tourists to shop there...
When I got home, I scared myself looking in the mirror when I saw that my whole body was beet red! I seriously looked like a lobster from being in the sun all day without sunscreen. We went out last night for dinner at a tapas restaurant in Gracia, and came home after a lovely night. This morning, hoping to see a tanned version of yesterday in my refection, was disappointed to see that the redness had not only intensified, but had been accompanied by puffiness. Needless to say, it is 5 o'clock and I have not yet left my apartment. I am saving Barcelona from the horrifying sight. I will wait until night fall, and then am going out to dinner with some friends...just got to make sure to stay in the shadows!
Next weekend, Rachel and I are taking a trip that I have been dying to take and thought I would have to miss out on---MALLORCA!! It is the largest of the Baleric Islands, and a paradise in every way. While looking up hostels, I discovered that regular hotels are actually much cheaper than the multi-bed hostels we have grown accustomed to. So, I gladly booked us a room at the 4-star hotel on the beach, with THREE pools, 100 feet from the beach, with breakfast AND dinner included, for just 20 euro a night! I am so excited to spend a weekend laying on the beach or poolside with a good book, my ipod, and some of the most beautiful views Spain has to offer. Then, in just two weeks from today, Molly is coming to Barcelona!!!! I am so excited, she will be here for a whole week! The day she leaves, I head out to Italy for a week, and 3 days after I return, Emily and Victor are here!! Then, the weekend after they leave, I am going to Portugal for three days! I am so excited for everything coming up, I just hope it doesn't go by too quickly!
I hope you are all doing well, and I will write again after I get home from my island vacation!!!